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 Each individual is important Can be forced to do things for the betterment of all Pay taxes Register for Draft

Equality of All Persons “All Men are Created Equal” Does not mean: Right to equal share Means: Every person entitled to equality of opportunity Equality before law *A person’s race, gender, religion should not stop from anything

Majority Rule, Minority Rights Majority will be right more often than wrong Not looking for right or best way Simply searching for what is satisfactory At same time must respect the minority Must have chance to become Majority

Necessity of Compromise Decision making must be Give and Take Compromise to benefit the greater majority COMPROMISE Process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests A MUST in a democracy for 2 reasons Individual first and = to all others Very few public decisions have only 2 answers

Individual Freedom Not Absolute Freedom Only exists in Anarchy One man’s rights ends when another man’s rights being stepped on Democracies find difficult balancing one’s liberty with one’s authority

Objective Analyze connections between democracy and free enterprise system

Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship Jury Duty Serving as a witness Attend School Pay Taxes Register for Draft (Males ONLY) Obeying Laws Respect rights of others Responsibilities: Voting Volunteering Participating in Government Understand how our Government works

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System Private ownership of capital goods, investments made by private decision, success or failure determined in the marketplace Based on 4 fundamental factors: Private Ownership Individual initiative Profit Competition

How the System Works Government decisions not necessary Marketplace makes decisions: What to Produce How to Produce For Whom to Produce Democracy is a Political System Free Enterprise is an Economic System HOWEVER, The 2 reinforce each other with INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

American Government and the Free Enterprise System Government participates in the Economy To Protect the Public Preserve Private Enterprise 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