CT

Heimler's AP Gove Unit 1.2

AP Gov – Models of Democracy (Heimler’s History)

Goal

  • Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in U.S. institutions, policies, events, and debates.

1. Participatory Democracy

  • Definition: Broad participation by as many citizens as possible; people vote directly on laws.

  • Framers’ View: Rejected at federal level (too impractical as population grew; feared uneducated masses).

  • Modern Examples:

    • Town hall meetings (local politics).

    • Initiative: Voters propose a law directly on the ballot.

    • Referendum: Citizens vote to overturn laws passed by legislatures.

2. Elite Democracy

  • Definition: Limited participation by well-educated, informed elites who govern on behalf of the people.

  • Rationale: Specialists better suited to handle complex government; prevents “mob rule.”

  • Examples:

    • President appoints Supreme Court justices (no popular vote).

    • Electoral College: People don’t directly elect the president—electors do.

3. Pluralist Democracy

  • Definition: Group-based activism by non-governmental interests influencing decision-making.

  • Key Feature: Interest groups amplify citizen voices by pooling resources and lobbying.

  • Examples:

    • NRA (gun rights).

    • NAACP (civil rights).

    • States themselves act as interest groups in Congress.

  • Effect: Competition among interests prevents any single faction from dominating.

Tensions Between Models

In the Constitution

  • Elite Model: Representatives legislate on behalf of the people.

  • Pluralist Model: Lawmaking requires compromise among competing interests.

  • Participatory Model: States retain power to make their own laws (federalism).

In Foundational Documents

  • Brutus 1: Favored participatory democracy, feared a strong central government → wanted state-level power.

  • Federalist 10 (Madison): Defended pluralism → in a large republic, many factions compete, preventing tyranny.

Key Takeaways

  • Participatory democracy = broad citizen involvement.

  • Elite democracy = leadership by informed elites.

  • Pluralist democracy = group-based competition for influence.

  • U.S. government contains elements of all three, creating constant tension in practice.