Chapter 1-3 Struggle for Democracy Study Guide
Chapter 1 – Democracy and American Politics
I) Democracy – demos (the people) & kratein (to rule) a. Oligarchy – rule by a few and a minority group holds power over a majority as in an aristocracy or a clerical establishment b. Monarchy – rule by one where power rests in the hands of a king or queen c. Athens was known for the purest form of democracy that has ever existed. d. Direct democracy – form of political decision making in which public business is decided by all citizens meeting in small assemblies. (school, city, workplaces, etc.) e. Representative democracy – indirect democracy in which the people rule through elected representatives. f. Benchmarks of a liberal representative democracy include: popular sovereignty, political equality, and political liberty. When all 3 flourish the society is named a healthy democracy. i. Popular sovereignty – basic principle of democracy that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and of the policies that government leaders make. 1. government policies reflect wishes of the people 2. government leaders are selected in competitive elections 3. elections are free and fair 4. people participate in the political process 5. high quality info is available 6. the majority rules ii. Political equality – the principle that says that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business and also involves 14th amendment which means equal protection which mean all are treated equally. Together they are known as civil rights which are guarantees by government of equal citizenship to all social groups iii. Political Liberty – refers to basic freedoms essential to formation and expression of majority opinion and its translation into public policies. (speech, religion,
I) Democracy – demos (the people) & kratein (to rule) a. Oligarchy – rule by a few and a minority group holds power over a majority as in an aristocracy or a clerical establishment b. Monarchy – rule by one where power rests in the hands of a king or queen c. Athens was known for the purest form of democracy that has ever existed. d. Direct democracy – form of political decision making in which public business is decided by all citizens meeting in small assemblies. (school, city, workplaces, etc.) e. Representative democracy – indirect democracy in which the people rule through elected representatives. f. Benchmarks of a liberal representative democracy include: popular sovereignty, political equality, and political liberty. When all 3 flourish the society is named a healthy democracy. i. Popular sovereignty – basic principle of democracy that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and of the policies that government leaders make. 1. government policies reflect wishes of the people 2. government leaders are selected in competitive elections 3. elections are free and fair 4. people participate in the political process 5. high quality info is available 6. the majority rules ii. Political equality – the principle that says that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business and also involves 14th amendment which means equal protection which mean all are treated equally. Together they are known as civil rights which are guarantees by government of equal citizenship to all social groups iii. Political Liberty – refers to basic freedoms essential to formation and expression of majority opinion and its translation into public policies. (speech, religion,