Principles of Democracy

Ms. NesticoUnit 1

What is Democracy?

Form of government “Rule by the people” Representative or Direct? People have the right to vote Democrat or Republican - political

parties Freedom or right to choose

Purposes of Government

1. Make Laws -- Legislative2. Enforce Laws -- Executive3. Interpret & Change Laws - Judicial

What is government’s responsibility to its citizens?

1. Ensure National Security/Protect Us

2. Maintain Order/Resolve Conflict3. Provide Services

Functions of Government

Maintaining Order

How does the government maintain order?

Police Courts FBI/CIA Congress and making laws

Providing Services

Welfare - cash assistance Food Stamps Healthcare

--Medicaid/Medicare--Medical Assistance (MA)

• Social Security• Education• Transportation• Regulatory Agencies

--EPA, FDA, FCC• Employment

Protecting Us

Military Homeland Security Jails/Detention Facilities Police and Fire Departments

I. Origins of Government Aristotle - ancient

Greek philosopher 384-322 BCE

Coined the term “polis” or city-state--refers to ancient Greek government

-- serves as the basis for democracy

• Aristotle known as “Father of Democracy”

Characteristics of a “state”(Based on Aristotle’s definition)

The term “state” is interchangeable with: country or city-state

1. People - population2. Territory3. Government4. Sovereignty - the ability to rule oneself

II. Division of Political Authority - Aristotle

1. Distribution of Powera. Unitary systemb. Confederate Systemc. Federal System

2. Economic 3. Who Rulesa. Capitalist a. autocracyb. Socialist b. oligarchyc. Communist c. democracy

Distribution of Power How does power flow?A. Unitary System

one central government with full authority over all political subdivisions or states

B. Confederate System states are sovereign and individual but are all working toward a common goal; central government has limited power

C. Federal System

power is shared between a central government and its political subdivisions

Capitalism Free enterprise system Businesses/industries are privately owned Potential for income is unlimited People have to provide their own means

for basic needs and services (ex. Healthcare, education, etc.)

Extremes in social class structure Sometimes a high poverty rate Complete freedom and choice Social Darwinism (Charles Darwin) -

“Survival of the Fittest” - only the strong survive

Socialism Government owns and operates some

basic means of production (ex. Power plants, some hospitals, some farms, etc.)

There are still some privately owned businesses but they can be heavily taxed

People still have some choices regarding careers, etc. but government provides basic services (welfare, healthcare, etc.)

Robinhood Theory - take from the rich and give to the poor

Attempts to balance out the social class system

Communism Government owns virtually all means of

production (food, electricity, housing, higher education, hospitals, etc.)

The goal of pure communism is to be a classless society - everyone is equal, there are no rich and no poor

Communist Manifesto(1848) - Karl Marx & Frederik Engels - viewed communism as a utopian society where a collective government provides everything

Government provides most basic necessities but most people are employed by the government

Major Criticisms: no freedom of choice, no competition or drive to excel, breeding ground for corruption

Who/How Many Rule?

A. Autocracy - one ruler1. Dictatorship - single ruler with absolute power.

--no elections--may use force to maintain control

2. Monarchy - single ruler who gains leadership through inheritance

--some have absolute power but not common today

-- Saudi Arabia - example

3. Despotism - rule by a single authority who holds all the power and everyone

else is considered his slave Implies tyrannical rule

4. Authoritarian Rule by a single authority who requires strict obedience to the

state Maintains social control through oppressive measures (limits

resources provided to the people).

5. Totalitarian The state regulates virtually every

aspect of public and private behavior Maintain power and control by extreme

measures Examples:

secret policepropagandacontrol of mass media restriction of free discussionwidespread use of terror

What is the difference between authoritarianism and

totalitarianism?

6. Absolutism - one person withabsolute power

from the time of the “nature of law” and “divine right of kings”

Divine Right Theory

Identified in the 1600’s Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan

(1651-1690) in which divine right is initially discussed

Divine right = a king’s or ruler’s power comes directly from God

Focus on the ruler, not the people Introduces the notion of a social

contract

Social Contract Theory

Identifies that people do have rights Focus is on the people, not the ruler Government should actually be an

“agreement” or “contract” between a people and its government

Based on Natural Rights - the “nature of law”

Social Contract Theory is extended to acknowledge that people have natural rights:

Natural Rights:

(derived from the study of natural law through Thomas Hobbes and John Locke)

Life, Liberty & Property

Social Contract Theory (con’t.)

John Locke - Two Treaties of Government (1690)

Social contract theory extended further to assume that people agree to obey the government in exchange for the government providing services and protection for the people.

Key to the beginning of US Government: John Locke’s Social Contract Theory says that if the government does not hold up its end of the agreement, people have the right to break the “contract” and revolt

B. Oligarchy - a few/small group of rulers

1. Totalitarianism - small group that rules the government that takes over virtually every aspect of people’s lives.

2. Junta - small military group seizes power and begins their own government

3. Aristocracy - rule by an elite upper class (our founding fathers)

4. Meritocracy - people with the highest IQ and effort/ability to rule.

5. Plutocracy - rule by the wealthy6. Technocracy - run by the highly

educated who believe that major business should have the most say in government

7. Theocracy - rulers rule on behalf of God and religion

• Vatican City• Israel• Iran

C. Democracy - rule by the people

1. Republic - elected officials vote on policy issues/representatives of the people conduct the government’s business

2. Direct Democracy - every man has a say or vote on every issue

3. Representative Democracy - synonymous with “republic”

4. Social Democracy - capitalist democracy begins incorporating aspects of socialism into its government practices & economy - “controlled capitalism”

Citizenship - 14th Amendment

A. US Citizenship Rights1. Vote2. Serve on a jury3. Hold public office4. Public Services/Education5. Own property/business6. Due Process/legal protection

B. Obligations of US Citizen1. Pay taxes

2. Obey the law

C. Ways to Be a US Citizen

1. Jus soli - “of the soil” --anyone born on US territory (military bases, embassies, etc.)

2. Jus sanguinis -- “of blood” --when both parents are US

citizens --if at least one parent has been a

citizen for a minimum of 10 yrs.

3. Naturalization(requirements)

a. Ability to read, write and speak English

b. Good moral characterc. Working knowledge of Civics/US

Historyd. 5 years of permanent residency

(3 years if married to a US citizen)e. Favorable disposition toward the US & the Constitution.

Citizenship Status

1. Legal Aliena. Permanent resident - lives here permanently, has a green card and is working toward citizenshipb. Non-resident - here temporarily, usually for work or education

F-1 Visa = Student visaH-1 Visa = work visa

c. Illegal Alien - obvious