Characteristics of a Democracy

2 Different Forms of Democracy

A small tribe or village The 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.

Characteristics of a Democracy

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY CIVIC 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

Popular Consent

• The right of a society to govern itself.

• Elections and representative government.

Popular Sovereignty

• Democracies recognize government at all levels (national, regional, and local) &

makes the citizens a part of all.

• Majority rule: when the greater number agree

Majority Rule

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.

Individual Rights

Equality: All members of a democracy wield equal power.

Equality

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

Personal Liberty

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

Free & Fair Elections

Democracies offer their voting citizens a choice of political parties

Political Parties & Elected Representatives

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

compromise.

Values