Foundations of American Democracy and Types of Democracy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the classical origins of democracy, key English political documents, Enlightenment philosophy, colonial American foundations, and modern models of democracy.

The Assembly

A meeting place in Ancient Greece where Athenian citizens discussed and influenced political decisions. Athenian males joined at 18, and by the 4th century, members were paid so all citizens, including the poor, could participate.

The Consuls

Two leaders elected at a time in the Roman Republic so no single man could become a king, with each consul possessing the power to veto (say no to) the other.

The Roman Senate

A governing body in Ancient Rome whose members held their jobs for life and served as advisors telling the consuls and other leaders how to handle money, laws, and foreign countries.

Magna Carta (1215)

An English document that limited the monarchy to guarantee rights and protections to nobles.

Petition of Rights (1628)

An English document that applied the protections of the Magna Carta to the rest of English citizens and further restricted the monarchy.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

An English document that guaranteed free parliamentary elections, speedy trials, prohibited cruel and unusual punishment, granted the right to petition the monarch, and established no taxation without consent of Parliament.

The Age of Reason

An Enlightenment period during the 17th to 18th centuries inspired by the Scientific Revolution that applied empiricism, logic, and natural laws to human behavior and society.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that each individual is born with, consisting of life, liberty, and property, which could never be denied like the laws of nature.

Social Contract

An established relationship between individuals/citizens and governments based on mutual consent.

Thomas Hobbes

An Enlightenment thinker from England who wrote Leviathan (1651), described the state of nature as 'The war of all against all', and advocated for a social contract where people submit to a strong, undivided government.

John Locke

An Enlightenment thinker from England who wrote Second Treatise on Civil Government (1689), asserting that individuals in a state of nature have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and advocating for consent of the governed and the right to revolution.

Baron de Montesquieu

An Enlightenment public intellectual who advocated for separation of powers and checks and balances in government.

Voltaire

An Enlightenment public intellectual and author of Candide who advocated individual freedoms and criticized traditional institutions.

Rousseau

An Enlightenment philosopher who authored On the Social Contract, which was based on the General Will.

House of Burgesses (1619)

A representative form of government established in Virginia.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

An agreement made in 1620 between settlers at New Plymouth establishing a social contract for the general good, survival, and civil Body Politick of the colony.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639)

The first written constitution in colonial America, which outlined individual rights.

Direct Democracy

Also known as participatory democracy, a system of governance where power rests with the people and citizens directly influence policy decisions through voting on laws and policies.

Representative Democracy

A common form of governance relying on elected representatives to make policy decisions on behalf of the people.

Liberal Democracy

A form of representative democracy that emphasizes the rule of law, individual liberties, and limitations on the power of elected officials.

Illiberal Democracy

A form of representative democracy where limitations on the power of elected officials are weak or nonexistent.

Parliamentary Democracy

A type of representative democracy where the legislative branch appoints the executive branch.

Presidential Democracy

A type of representative democracy where the executive branch is elected separately from the legislative branch.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy positing that political power rests with competing interest groups (such as labor unions, corporations, and advocacy organizations), ensuring no single group dominates decision-making.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy suggesting that political decision-making is primarily influenced by a small, elite group, often composed of wealthy and well-educated individuals.