1. Does a Republican form of government reflect the public’s will?

2. New class rule: total silence for 1 st 20 minutes of class – Direct: everyone votes – Indirect: Your rep. votes (ME) – Did I represent you?

3. Should Americans have the right to vote on critical/controversial issues? – Congress? – Judiciary?

4. Direct Democracy Devices Initiative – not in PA – Petition on ballot measures or proposals to enact new laws or state constitutional amendments – 24 states – Proposal on ballot – Ex: cannabis, healthcare, prayer

5. Referendum – not in PA – Proposal to repeal a law – Citizen petition – 24 states – ex: abortion, personhood Recall – not in PA – Allows citizens to remove & replace a public official before the end of his term in office-(Grey CA; Walker WI) – Specific grounds for removal not needed – 19 states – ex: CO, CA, WI

6. More democracy? Intentions? Tyranny of the Majority? – DeTocqueville: democracy, nothing can resist the “absolute sovereignty of the majority” – Am belief: superiority of the intelligence of a group over an individual- – Interests of the many are to be preferred to the interests of the few

7. James Madison’s thoughts on majority rule / minority rights – Federalist #10 – Solution: republic form of government instead of a democracy Allows for many groups/many opinions

8. Constitutional Principles Equality of all persons – Equal opportunity – Equality before the law Majority Rules/Minority Rights – Rights of the minority must be recognized

9. Necessity of Compromise – Give/take among competing interests. – Equality of all opinions, process of achieving a majority agreement Individual Freedom – “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins” Oliver Wendell Holmes Worth of the Individual – Importance, regardless of station

10. American Society changing characteristics individualism / sense of community moving from / towards Assimilated Melting pot Associated Tossed salad

11. Are American core ideals so exceptional that only persons who share those values should be allowed citizenship? Divided nation culturally? What unites America / Americans?

12. Polling Information http://www.gallup.com/poll/1660/immigratio n.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/1660/immigratio n.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/Conserv atives-Remain-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/Conserv atives-Remain-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx