Basic Concepts of Democracy “No government demands so much from the citizen as Democracy, and none gives so much back” What does our democratic government demand from you? What do you get in return?

September 16, 2013 Objectives: Students should be able to identify the concepts of democracy and the early forms of governmental influence. Objectives: Students should be able to identify the concepts of democracy and the early forms of governmental influence. Question: What does equality mean? Give an example. Question: What does equality mean? Give an example. Agenda: Notes/finish and turn in packet Agenda: Notes/finish and turn in packet

Worth of the Individual WHAT? Puts the individual first, every individual is important. Respect other individuals at all times For example: Laws aimed at limiting abortion, laws geared to special need students Exception: Sometimes a few individuals make sacrifices for the majority

Worth of the Individual Balance between individual freedom and needs of all the people in society Balance between individual freedom and needs of all the people in society Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Universal Declaration of Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Equality of All Persons WHAT: Democracy provides the equality of opportunity and equality before the law. No person can be held back for any reason based on race, gender, religion etc. For example: Every person should have an equal chance for success and should be treated the same under the law

Equality of All Persons Equality of opportunity and equality under the law Equality of opportunity and equality under the law What is “equality of opportunity?” What is “equality of opportunity?” Why does the text dismiss the idea of “material equality” so quickly? Why does the text dismiss the idea of “material equality” so quickly? Do ”worldly goods” sometimes help “opportunity?” Do ”worldly goods” sometimes help “opportunity?”

Majority Rule, Minority Rights WHAT: The will of the people and not the few determines public policy The majority must recognize the voice/rights of the minority - must listen to the a minority’s argument, criticism, objections and suggestions

Majority Rule, Minority Rights Majority rule restrained by minority rights Majority rule restrained by minority rights EX: public breastfeeding/civil unions are “minority rights.” EX: public breastfeeding/civil unions are “minority rights.” Why do democracies protect the rights of the minority? Why do democracies protect the rights of the minority?

How are minority rights protected in a “majority rules” system? CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AS A CASE STUDY CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AS A CASE STUDY

How are minority rights protected in “majority rule” system?

1) Public Pressure/Civil Disobedience

Branches of government: Legislative Branch (Congress) Voting Rights Act of 1965

The Executive (President) Lyndon Johnson with MLK, after Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Why was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 necessary? Southern post- Reconstruction (> 1877) Southern post- Reconstruction (> 1877) governments devised loopholes to keep African-Americans from voting: governments devised loopholes to keep African-Americans from voting: Literacy tests /constitutional tests Literacy tests /constitutional tests Poll taxes Poll taxes

It all began with Freedom Summer 1964 Northern white liberals joined southern blacks to register black voters. Northern white liberals joined southern blacks to register black voters.

It was difficult and dangerous and people lost their lives to register black voters Schwerner Schwerner Chaney Chaney Goodman Goodman

Edgar Ray Killen: convicted years later

An example of the failure to protect minority rights 1943: Internment camp Heart Mountain, WY

Necessity of Compromise WHAT: In a democracy we make decisions through compromise to satisfy the largest number of people Compromise is blending different views Each sides gives and takes to find a position that most can accept Compromise is important since there are many sides/angels to an issue

Necessity of Compromise Our representatives must compromise to get legislation passed Our representatives must compromise to get legislation passed EX: Civil Rights Act of 1964 /Voting Rights Act of 1965  Describe a recent failure at compromise in Congress President Johnson “working the phones”

Individual Freedom WHAT: Democracy can thrive only in an atmosphere of individual freedom, but cannot provide complete freedom Each person must be as free to do as he/she pleases as far as freedom of all will allow

Individual Freedom Not absolute but balanced with rights of the majority Not absolute but balanced with rights of the majority EX: Tinker v Des Moines (1969) EX: Tinker v Des Moines (1969)

Economic Freedom: The Free Enterprise System Private ownership of land and business Private ownership of land and business Success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace Success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace In reality, heavily regulated by the government and much of the market is controlled by big business In reality, heavily regulated by the government and much of the market is controlled by big business

Final 5 What is an example of an individual freedom/right? What is an example of an individual freedom/right?