AP Gov ch. 2

direct democracy (participatory democracy)

- A system of government where citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf. - Citizens warmly embrace the concept of participatory democracy (direct democracy). However, in the US and other democracies, participatory democracy is rare. Participatory democracy is commonly rejected on the grounds that in large, complex societies, we need professional, full-time government officials to study problems, formulate solutions, and administer programs. Also, relatively few people will take part in participatory government. Participatory works well on the neighborhood level, but not on a national level. Representative democracy works better because elected officials are able to represent voters' views and interests.

Explain the substantive view of democracy and assess the key problems inherent to it

- The substantive view of democracy is the view that democracy is embodied i the substance of government policies rather than in policymaking procedure. This view rejects government policies that would violate a substantive principle like freedom of religion. - In general, the main problem of substantive democracy is that it does not provide clear, precise criteria that demonstrates whether a government is democratic. This is especially true when from civil rights to social rights and economic rights. Because substantive democracy is unclear, it can be difficult for everyone from ordinary citizens to theorists to agree.

indirect democracy (representative democracy)

- a system in which citizens participate in government by electing public officials to make decisions on their behalf. - Within this context, we adhere to the principles of universal participation, political equality, majority rule to guarantee that elections are democratic, and government responsiveness to public opinion. Also, not everyone wants to be involved in directly voting, they rather just have a representative vote for them. That is why it is important for people to vote for the representative that they think will represent them and their beliefs best.

Explain the typology of government based on rule by one, few, or many

- autocracy: a system of government in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual. (ex. North Korea under Kim Jong-il) - oligarchy: a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few people. (ex. Countries ruled by military leaders). - democracy: a system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either indirectly or directly. (ex. U.S., Britain, France, etc)

Define the four principles of procedural democracy

1. All adults should participate in government decision making; everyone within the boundaries of the political community should be allowed to vote. If some people, such as recent immigrants, are prohibited from participating, they are excluded only for practical or political reasons. The theory of democracy itself does not exclude any adults from participation. We refer to this principle as Universal Participation. 2. Political Equality- how much should each participant's vote count? According to procedural theory, all votes should be counted equally. 3. Majority Rule: The principle—basic to procedural democratic theory—that the decision of a group must reflect the preference of more than half of those participating; a simple majority. (37) 4. Government responsiveness to public opinion: This one is added for representative democracies. Elected representatives should respond to public opinion-what the majority of people wants. This does not mean that legislators simply cast their ballots on whether people back home want alternative A or alternative B. Issues are not so straightforward. The government must do what the majority wants, regardless of what it is. (39)

How many votes are needed to reach a decision?

50 % plus one person majority needed (majority rule). If there are more than two alternatives and none has a simple majority, plurality rule is used--what most participants want. Plurality means you win by less than 50%.

responsiveness

A decision-making principle, necessitated by representative government, that implies that elected representatives should do what the majority of people wants

democratization

A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one

oligarchy

A system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few people

autocracy

A system of government in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual.

democracy

A system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either directly or indirectly

representative democracy

A system of government where citizens elect public officials to govern on their behalf

participatory democracy

A system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf

procedural democratic theory

A view of democracy as being embodied in a decision-making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness

pluralist weaknesses

A weakness could be that under a pluralist government could create multiple power sources within the government instead of just one hierarchy. Another weakness could be the declining civic participation makes it difficult to enhance instruments of direct democracy at the local level.

elite model weaknesses

A weakness is if those elite people decide they want to drastically change the government then they can because they have the power. Additionally, if they start favoring one set of ideals over another, then the country could start portraying those ideals, both good or bad.

majoritarian weaknesses

A weakness of majoritarianism can be the tendency to treat minorities in a harsh or intimidating way. Another weakness can be that in a majority rules democracy most people will go along with the majority of people. In this sort of democracy, we assume that the public are educated. Additionally, people have to be willing to participate in political and social happenings.

Who should participate in decision making?

All adults (with a few exceptions) should participate in government decision making (Universal participation)

How much should each participant's vote count?

All votes should be counted equally. (political equality)

pluralist model of democracy

An interpretation of democracy in which government by the people is taken to mean government by people operating through competing interest groups

interest group

An organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public policy; also called a lobby

elite model strength

Business is best represented in the Elite Model. Another strength of the elitist model is that they press their various viewpoints on the government through representatives that are well informed on the certain topic.

political equality

Equality in political decision making: one vote per person, with all votes counted equally

majoritarian model

Interprets "government by the people" to mean government by the majority of the people. One of the key mechanisms is the popular election of government officials. Elections allow for universal participation, political equality, and majority rule, three principles that are very important to the democratic theory. In the Majoritarian model, elections are also used to make final decisions about government policies. There are called referendums. The majoritarian model assumes that citizens are educated about government and politics, that the people want to participated in the political process, and that they make rational decisions.

majoritarian strengths

Majoritarian government allows the people to have a direct role in democracy within the limitations of representative government. Majoritarian government also forces the government to respond to public opinion. A Majoritarian government provides the people with the power to choose their elected official, therefore deciding government policies.

e-government

Online communication channels that enable citizens to easily obtain information from government and facilitates the expression of opinions to government officials

pluralist strength

Pluralism does not demand much knowledge from citizens. Pluralism tend to rely on strong leaders of interest groups and a decentralized government structure- mechanisms that interfere with majority rule, therefore protecting minority interests. It has been said that Pluralism allow minorities to rule.

Explain the global trend toward democracy

Since 1975, there has been an increasing global trend towards freedom and democracy. Many governments meet some criteria from a procedural democracy (universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and government responsiveness to public opinion) but fail to meet others due to ethnic and religious conflict.

elite model

The Elite model holds the view that a small group makes most important government decisions. It says that the important government decisions are made by identifiable, stable minorities that share certain characteristics such as vast wealth and business connections. It states that this small minority group wields power in America because they control financial, communications, industrial, and government institutions. The small circle of powerful leaders provides advocates for individual companies and for the interests of capitalism. It also supplies people for top government jobs. The Elite theory states that the U.S. is not a democracy; it is an oligarchy. Elite theory typically appeals to those that believe wealth dominates politics. The Elite theory believes that its power derives from its ability to keep people from questioning fundamental assumptions about American capitalism.

minority rights

The benefits of government that cannot be denied to any citizen by majority decisions

majoritarian model of democracy

The classical theory of democracy in which government by the people is interpreted as government by the majority of the people

universal participation

The concept that everyone in a democracy should participate in governmental decision making

pluralist model

The pluralist model is "government by some people." These smaller, organized groups that seek to influence government policies are known as interest groups. According to the Pluralist model, democracy exists when multiple organizations operate separately from the government. In comparison to the majoritarian model, pluralist theory shifts the focus of democratic government from the mass electorate to organized groups. The two prominent mechanisms are interest groups and a decentralized structure of government that gives access to public officials and is open to hearing groups' arguments for or against government policies. In a centralized structure, decisions are only made at the top of the hierarchy. Pluralism promotes representative democracy while, at the same time, "declining civic participation makes it difficult to enhance instruments of direct democracy at the local level."

majority rule

The principle—basic to procedural democratic theory—that the decision of a group must reflect the preference of more than half of those participating; a simple majority

Outline the central principles and controversies of the substantive view of democracy

The substantive view of democracy looks more to the actual content legislation rather than the procedure to obtain it so as to protect minority rights. The central principles/most everyone that follows the substantive view are that the government should guarantee civil liberties and civil rights; however, they disagree on whether or not it should guarantee social rights and economic rights. Because of this, some substantive theorists can use the argument of substantive democracy to promote their own individual values.

elite theory

The view that a small group of people actually makes most of the important government decisions

substantive democratic theory

The view that democracy is embodied in the substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedure

Define the three principles of procedural democratic theory

principles: universal participation, political equality, and majority rule