1. Who Makes the Rules Addresses Indicator 1-5.2 – Rule making process, direct democracy, and representative democracy

2. Why do we need rules? To prevent problems with everyone wanting his or her own way To protect the rights of individuals To prevent bullies from always getting their way To keep order and control To live in peace and harmony with each other

3. People may suggest rules that they want to see made into laws. If enough people want the new rule the people can vote on the rule. People do not always get their own way.

4. Direct Democracy In a direct democracy everyone takes part in the decision making process. This works for small groups but not for a country because there are too many people involved. If you are in a club, you might use Direct Democracy to make decisions.

5. Examples of Direct Democracy in action In some families everyone votes on decisions they make as a family. In some classrooms the students help make the rules for all to follow. In some clubs or groups everyone has a voice in what decisions are made. All of these are small groups.

6. In ancient Athens every citizen voted on decisions by putting either black or white pieces of pottery in a jar. If there were more black pieces that was a “No” vote.

7. What is Compromise? Sometimes, when people are trying to make decisions they cannot come to an agreement. They can either throw out the idea or they can try to compromise. To compromise means that each side will have to give up a little of what it wants in order to come to an agreement.

8. Representative Democracy This is the system used in most countries, and large groups, today. The entire country or group elects people to speak for the entire group. The representatives make decisions that they think the people they represent would like. The United States of America is a representative democracy. Do you know some of the people who represent you in your government?

9. The United States of America – a Representative Democracy We have representatives to speak for us at all levels. City Councils, County Councils, State Governments, and also the men and women that we elect to represent us in Washington, DC.

10. How does a Representative Democracy work? Each state has two Senators who speak for the people in that state. Each state has a number of Representatives that is based on population of the state. South Carolina has 2 Senators and 6 Representatives They were elected to speak for South Carolina. If they do not, South Carolinians can elect new representatives. This is true of the nation also.

11. America’s Founding Fathers The men who created the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America wanted a government that would represent all people fairly. In our history as a nation we have had to fight many times to protect the rights of people.

12. Gettysburg Address, 1863 Speaking at the dedication of a national cemetery at Gettysburg in the midst of a war that was fought to preserve the United States as a country, President Lincoln gave us his most famous statement that is the best-known definition of democracy in American history… "government of the people, by the people, and for the people"

13. "...that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not vanish from this earth." -- President Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln was speaking about our government - a representative democracy. He felt that this kind of government was worth fighting a war to preserve and protect….

14. Created by Carol Poole August 2007