Types of Democracy (Topic 2)

Essential Question: How are models of representative democracy visible in U.S. institutions, policies, events, and debates?

The U.S. reflects pluralist democracy through competing interest groups, elite democracy through influential and wealthy actors shaping policy, and participatory democracy through citizen involvement in initiatives, referendums, and grassroots activism.

Anti-Federalists

Those who opposed the consolidation of the states under a federal government.

Elite Democracy

Elected representatives make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them. Inequity in the spread of power among the general populace. People with resources and influence dominate. Leaders tend to have the necessary skills and education to represent the governed and can prevent popular but possibly unwise positions from forcing their way into policy.

Federalists

Those who supported the proposed constitutional structure, a strong federal government, and full ratification.

Initiative

a process that allows citizens to propose and vote directly on laws or constitutional amendments, bypassing the legislature. (A form of direct democracy at the state level)

Interest Group

An organization of people who share common goals and try to influence government policy to benefit their members or causes. (They use tools like lobbying, public campaigns, and research to influence legislation and public opinion)

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad involvement of citizens in politics. Citizens vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them instead of voting for people to represent their interests.

Pluralist Democracy

People with widely varying interests find others who share their interests and organize and unite into nongovernmental groups to exert influence on political decision-making. The process of changing policy is usually due to competition among interests and the need for bargaining.

Referendum

a process that allows citizens to vote directly to approve or reject a law or policy passed by the legislature. (a way for citizens to check the gov)

Representative Democracy

A government in which the people entrust elected officials to represent their concerns.