Chapter 4 Flashcards
Where was the first significant example of pure democracy practiced?
Ancient Greece
Is the United States a democracy or a republic? Explain your answer.
Democratic republic. Democratic in principle (leaders are held accountable to the people) and republic in structure (ruled by law, not monarchal)
What two major questions confronted the framers of the U.S. Constitution?
- How they would incorporate demographic ideas into the new American government.
- How to make a democratic republic work over a vast territory.
What characteristic of mankind eventually destroys direct democracy?
Man’s sinful nature
What key policies did the founders include in the Constitution to ensure that the majority would not tyrannize the minority?
The division of power and the Bill of Rights
What two innovations were adopted in the Constitution in order to overcome the geographic limitations of a democracy?
Self-government by representation and division of power between national and state powers (3 branches)
What is the difference between a popular majority and a representative majority?
Popular majority is the majority of all voting citizens.
Representative majority is the majority of elected officials within the legislature.
Give four observations concerning majority rule in America that show why it has been effective.
1) It provides a better approach to governance than unanimity.
2) It isn’t a fixed, well-defined group.
3) It’s limited by pluralistic restricted by the Constitution.
4) It must be accompanied by other democratic principles.
In what two ways are all American citizens “equal”?
Equal voting rights
Equal rights under the law
What is the difference between personal and political liberty?
Personal liberty is the right to think, associate, and speak your mind.
Political liberty is the right to vote, campaign, and seek office.
What are the three main conditions necessary for a successful democracy?
Opportunity, educated citizenry, moral responsibility
What dangers arise when people lack economic opportunity?
The poor people lose hope. With the small middle class, the contrast between the poor and the rich is glaring and the two classes may eventually clash.
What is potentially undemocratic about the welfare system in America today?
Welfare entitlements undermine democratic principles by stifling initiative, whenever welfare becomes more profitable than work. By borrowing to pay for welfare programs government restricts government opportunities by settling us with debt.
What is the difference between universal education and civic thinking?
Universal education is teaching all citizens to read and write.
Civic thinking is the ability for citizens to understand political ideas and value their heritage and evaluate current political issues.
How does a moral responsibility help to moderate the power of the majority?
Moral responsibility implies submission to the rule of law provides the standard for judging the actions
What four systems of government helped shape the United States government? Defend your answer.
Democratic, Representative, Republican, and Federalist.
What are some of the problems inherent in a pure democracy? What solutions did the founders adopt when introducing democratic elements into the new government?
A pure democracy tends to be unstable because it may degenerate to mob rule and tyranny. It is also impractical in a large scale.
Solutions that the founders adopted:
1. Limiting the power of the government (splitting into the 3 branches of the constitution).
2. Limiting the power of the governing by indirect elections.
What are the benefits and the dangers of majority rule?
The benefits are better rule, naturally limited than pluralistic society. Dangers could degenerate to mob rule, if the majority rules or oppress minority.
What does the Declaration of Independence mean when it says “All men are created equal”?
All citizens have political equality
What conditions made the American colonies ideally suited for democracy?
Through economic opportunity, educated and civic minded society, and a moral responsibility to submit to the rule of law.
Who came to rule as a result of the Glorious Revolution?
William and Mary
What form if government is based in each citizen having an actual voice in the decision making process?
Direct democracy
Where was the first democracy created?
Athens
How did the founding fathers go about establishing a national republic while preserving democratic ideals?
Instituted federalism and self-government by representation
What did the framers of the constitution see as a source of man’s tendency towards mob rule under direct democracy?
Man’s sinful nature. The result of man’s inclination to do wrong when he is not restrained.
What is popular majority?
A majority consisting of a majority of all voting citizens
What is a government by the people?
Democracy
How did the founding fathers feel about democracy?
They feared it would lead into tyranny.
Originally, what was the only body at the national level that was elected by direct popular vote?
Legislative Branch
Name the five principles of a democratic government.
Majority rule, equality, liberty, necessity of compromise, and individual worth.
ESSAY
Five principles of the democratic government. List and explain.
- Majority rule-a numerical majority of the electorate makes decisions that are binding upon the entire electorate
- Equality-Equal opportunity ensures that no one is restricted from educational, occupational, or political opportunities based on race, religion, or sex
- Liberty-involves personal and political freedom. Political freedom is the freedom to influence the government through any legitimate means available. Personal freedom is the freedom of expression provide not only the cherished right to worship and serve God openly, but also the opportunity for political associations and the expressing of opinions.
- Necessity of Compromise-Compromise on methods and amoral issues provides a way for each differing opinion to accomplish its most important objectives without causing a deadlock in legislation. This is the genius of majority rule.
- Individual Worth-protect the minority of individuals from majority coercion. In a democracy, individual worth protects the minority from oppression but does not allow them to do whatever they please.
ESSAY
How does moral responsibility strengthen democracy?
First of all, moral responsibility among citizens implies submission to the rule of law. Apart from the rule of law, democracy would rapidly degenerate into tyranny or worse. Moral responsibility also provides a standard for judging the actions of the majority. Moral responsibility counteracts the force of public opinion by asking, “What is right?” rather than “What is popular?”
ESSAY
How does the Constitution limit government?
It created delegated powers, which gave power to local, state, and federal government. It clearly sets boundaries and does not let the national level of government control everything, and has built in checks and balances between the different branches of government. There are checks and balances so that one branch can’t have all the power. It also gives rights to the people so that the government can’t do what they want to them.
