Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Direct Democracy (Definition, System, and Risks)

Allows citizens to directly govern and make laws.

Considered a chaotic and inefficient system

Risks: Majority violating rights of minority

Participatory Demoracy

Values broad based public participation in governing.

In theory, it keeps government closest to the people and encourages engagement.

Representative Democracy/Republicanism

A system of government where elected officials represent the interests of the people, making laws and decisions on their behalf.

Allows a smaller and more manageable group to make decisions more quickly.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy where a small group of wealthy and well-educated individuals hold power. This system favors having a small group of the best informed people to govern.

Majoritarian Democracy

A democratic system where the majority's preferences dictate policies and decision-making. It emphasizes the importance of majority rule in governance.

Consensus Democracy

A democratic system that seeks broad agreement among diverse groups, prioritizing cooperation and compromise over majority rule.

*Commonly Criticized because it creates unnecessary delays in decision making

The Decleration of Independence (Date, Declared from who?, Relies on 3 theories, argued that)

July 4, 1776

Declared independence from Britain

Relies on theories of:

A) natural rights

B) Social contract

C) popular sovereignty

Argued that the formal colonies are empowered to make their own goverment because of the abuses suffered under British rule.

Natrual Rights

Fundamental rights for all individuals, including life, liberty, and the property, that governments cannot infringe upon.

“People are ought not to kill us (Life), ought not to interfere with us (Liberty), and ought not to take what is ours (Property).”

*Proposed by John Locke

Popular Sovereignty

People are the highest level of power in society. The power of the government comes from the consent of the people.

Social Contract Theory

States that people should be consent to be governed in exchange for protections and certain public goods.

*Proposed by Thomas Hobbes

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union ( United States’ First ___, Created by, Date, Gave our country its __

Constitution/Form of Government

Second Continental Congress

November 15, 1777

Gave our country its name, the United States of America

Both the Articles of Confederation and Decleration of Independence relied heavily on John Lockes theory of:

Natural rights.

Confederation

A form of government where smaller government units, in this case— the states, are the sovereign (OR highest level of authority)

The structure of Goverment Under the AOC

The national governments size, power, and role was very limited.

A) 1 Branch of government: Congress

B) Equal Representation from each state in congress

C) All laws must be passed with a super majority

Failures of the AOC:

A) No executive branch

B) No national judiciary

C) No power to tax

D) No power to compel states to obey national laws or contribute to funding

E) No power that was not explicitly stated in the articles

Shays Rebellion ( Uprising in , Protests 3 things, Led by __, Demonstrated __,

Massachusetts

High taxes, abusive debt, and economic conditions

Daniel Shays

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Virgina Plan ( Proposed by , created a Congress with , both based on __)

James Madison/Larger States

Two houses

Representation

New Jersey Plan (Proposed by, created a Congress with, based on __)

William Paterson/Small States

One house

Equal representation

3/5 Compromise

“Free” Person: Counted as 1 whole person

Slave: Counted as 3/5 of a whole person

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature

House of Representatives: Based on population

Senate: Based on equal Representation from each state

*Combines both NJ and VA Plans.

Separation of Powers

*Charles M., A French philosopher, had an idea of government involving 3 separate branches.

Each branch of government is given specific and unique powers that could not be exercised by the other branches. Prevents one branch from getting too much power.

*Executive, Judicial, and Legislative

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Electoral College

An element of elite democracy, a designated group of individuals vote for the president and vice president of the United States, representing the interests of their states in the election process.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically stated in the constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the constitution, but necessary to exercise the enumerated powers.

Article I/1

Creates the Congress and legislative branch.

House of Representatives (Based on, How many seats, Age requirement, must reside, elected by, has the power of, Bills raising taxes must)

Based on the population of each state.

The more populated a state is = the more Representatives it gets.

There are currently 435 seats in the HOR.

Must be at LEAST 25 years old, a citizen of the US, and reside within the state they represent.

Elected every 2 years by the people of their districts.

Impeachment

All bills raising taxes must be originate in the house.

Speaker of the House

The most powerful person in Congress. The speaker leads the HOR and is selected by its members.

Census (Included in Article __, Requires)

Included in Article 1, Requires a population count at least every 10 years so that representation of each state is proportionate.

435 Members= Each member represents 700,000 people.

Powers of Congress

Article II/2

The President

The Vice President

Article III/3

The 3 different courts and how much are there

Article IV/4

Article V/5

Article VI/6

Article VII/7

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

The Federalist Papers

In Federalist #10…

In Federalist #78…

Anti-Federalists published a series of Articles under the name Brutus…