Basic Concepts of Democracy Chapter 1 Section 3

Objective  Identify and Explain the Foundations of Democracy

Basic Foundations  Worth of the Individual  Equality of All Persons  Majority Rule, Minority Rights  Necessity of Compromise  Individual Freedom

Worth of the Individual  Can be forced to do things for the betterment of all  Pay taxes

Equality of All Persons  “All Men are Created Equal”  Does not mean:  Means: *A person’s race, gender, religion should not stop from anything

Majority Rule, Minority Rights  Not looking for right or best way  Simply searching for what is satisfactory  Must have chance to become Majority

Necessity of Compromise  Decision making must be Give and Take  COMPROMISE  A MUST in a democracy for 2 reasons

Individual Freedom  Not Absolute Freedom  Only exists in Anarchy  Democracies find difficult balancing one’s with one’s

Objective  Analyze connections between democracy and free enterprise system

Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship  Duties:  Serving as a witness  Attend School  Register for Draft (Males ONLY)  Respect rights of others  Responsibilities:  Participating in Government  Understand how our Government works

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System  Based on 4 fundamental factors:  Private Ownership  Profit

How the System Works  Marketplace makes decisions:  How to Produce  For Whom to Produce  Free Enterprise is an Economic System  HOWEVER,  The 2 reinforce each other with

American Government and the Free Enterprise System  Government in the Economy  EXAMPLES  Anti-trust laws  Food and Drug Adm.  EPA  Zoning laws  Government Support Systems  Transportation system, public schools, USPS  How much should Government do is part of POLITICS