A small tribe or villageThe United States  Direct Democracy Citizens, WITHOUT elected public officials, make public decisions.  Representative Democracy Citizens elect officials to make political decisions, formulate laws, and administer programs for the public good.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITYCIVIC DUTIES Things that we should do but not things we have to do, like pick up a piece of trash in a park or vote. Civic duties are things we have to do in our country, such as get an education and obeying the laws of the government.

The belief that a government exists only with the consent of the governed (the people). Part of the Social Contract Theory

The right of a society to govern itself. Elections and representative government.

Democracies recognize government at all levels (national, regional, and local) & makes the citizens a part of all. Majority rule: when the greater number agree

 Individual Rights: A society is free when it secures man’s moral rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. Basic human rights also give citizens equal protection under law, and the opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life of society.

 Equality: All members of a democracy wield equal power.

 Personal liberty: Government cannot tell you how to live your life.

 Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to citizens of voting age.

 Democracies offer their voting citizens a choice of political parties

 Democratic societies are committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, and compromise.