POL 101: U.S. Government Dr. Kevin Lasher

Definitions Democracy – system of govt. in which the people rule, either directly or indirectly Republic – system of govt. where elected officials rule as agents of the people Republican(Representative) Democracy – system of govt. in which the people rule through elected representatives

Winston Churchill : “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Pro-democracy

2016

Types of Government Monarchy/Autocracy – rule of the one Oligarchy/Aristocracy – rule of the few; rule of a small elite Democracy – rule of the people Alternatives like theocracy (rule of God) and anarchy (lack of any government) are very rare in human history

Types of Government Monarchy/Autocracy – where one individual has most of the political power

Types of Government Oligarchy/aristocracy – where a small group of individuals have most of the political power

Types of Government Democracy – where the citizens have most of the political power (or are supposed to)

Types of Government For much of human history, rule of the one or rule of the few were the only two forms Democracy is the “new kid on the block” Democracy (?) in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Native American tribes, others (was this really democracy?) Democracy as an “idea” in the 1700s

2019 Democracy has become the “dominant” form of government 125/195 countries are electoral democracies (Freedom House, 2016) Many countries in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe have adopted democracy in the last 30 years or so

Success and Failure Russia was moving toward democracy in the 1990s, but has moved steadily away from democracy since 2001

Models of Democracy Procedural democracy Substantive democracy

How Procedural Democracy Procedures or set of steps in making decisions How

Procedural Democracy Universal participation – everyone has a vote Political Equality – everyone has ONE vote Majority rule – 51% decision-making

Procedural Democracy Universal participation Political Equality Majority rule Combine for direct procedural democracy (very rare, if not impossible) Very difficult for even small groups to make joint decisions

Procedural Democracy Universal participation Political Equality Majority rule Real representation (elect people to make decisions for society and they reflect the people’s will) Combine for indirect procedural democracy (representative democracy)

Procedural Democracy Universal participation Direct Procedural Political Equality Majority rule Real representation Direct Procedural Democracy Indirect Procedural Democracy

Substantive Democracy Doesn’t reject procedural democracy Nature or essence of decisions for a society Democracy as the good, just, and fair society (not perfect) WHAT

Substantive Democracy Civil liberties – freedom of speech, press, religion, jury trial, right to lawyer, etc. Civil rights – “equality” and non- discrimination of all racial, ethnic, religious, gender groups Social rights – right to health care, decent education, etc. Economic rights – right to a decent standard of living

Substantive Democracy Are we really building the “good, just and fair society” in the areas of social and economic rights?

Procedural/Substantive Democracy A 21st century understanding of democracy would combine aspects of both procedural and substantive democracy

Is the USA a “healthy democracy” in 2019?

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