Recording-2025-10-28T20:15:58.495Z

Need for Government

Society requires a governing body to maintain order, but there is a fear of excessive power leading to tyranny or oppression.

Madison's Dilemma

The struggle to form a government strong enough to serve but weak enough not to oppress, calling for limited government.

Limited Government

A call for a government that balances power while ensuring democratic principles are upheld.

Federalist 51

A document by James Madison suggesting that elections alone may not suffice to safeguard democracy; auxiliary precautions may be necessary.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens directly participate in decision-making (e.g., California, Switzerland).

Representative Democracy

A system where authority is delegated to elected officials who make decisions on behalf of citizens.

Majoritarian Democracy

Characterized by citizen control, where citizens choose between distinct policy packages through elections, resulting in a winner-takes-all scenario with clear accountability.

Proportional Democracy

Characterized by citizen influence, where voters select representatives who bargain on their behalf over multiple competing policy preferences, leading to coalitions and wider representation.

Citizen Control (Majoritarian)

Voters select specific policies and expect their enactment, typically in a winner-takes-all scenario.

Citizen Influence (Proportional)

Voters choose representatives who advocate for a myriad of policies without a singular outcome, leading to bargaining and compromise.

Accountability

A backward-looking evaluation of incumbents by voters, focusing on past performance, requiring clarity of responsibility and decisive replacement.

Mandates

A forward-looking concept where voters elect representatives to fulfill promises made during campaigns, based on comparing policy platforms and future expectations.

Representativeness

The idea that decision-making should incorporate broader societal factions, not solely reflecting majority interests.

Powell's Framework on Elections

A two-by-two matrix cross-referencing retrospective vs. prospective choices against targets of choice (government or representatives) to understand electoral systems.

Majoritarian Systems (Electoral)

Typically involve single-member districts with a clear winner for each race (e.g., U.S. congressional elections), often resulting in a two-party system.

Proportional Representation (Electoral)

Translates vote shares into seat shares inclusively, enabling multiplicity in party representation and encouraging coalition politics.