Ideals of Democracy

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." -Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Based on the text, what statement would the author most likely agree with?

A government is only just if citizens have a voice in it (Jefferson writes that governments derive just powers from the consent of the governed)

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

After a House of Representatives member supports an unpopular tax despite protests from his constituents, he loses his bid for reelection. This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?

Popular sovereignty (The power of elected officials comes from the "consent of the governed." The Congressman's constituents voted to replace him because he did not act according to their will)

Several oil companies donate to a pro-fracking interest group after hearing that the federal government plans to pass a law banning fracking in the United States . The interest group then appeals to members of Congress in attempt to get them to vote against the bill. What democratic ideal does this scenario best exemplify?

Republicanism

A member of the Senate makes a statement to the press that she is unsure of how she is going to vote on a bill. After numerous calls from her constituents asking her to vote for the bill, she votes in support of the bill This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?

Republicanism (the Senator represented her constituents' interests by voting for the bill)

"In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. "The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions." -Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison's journal, 1787 Based on the text, what statement would the author most likely agree with?

Stronger central government (Randolph points to the "defects of the confederation," referring to the weak Articles of Confederation)

Republicanism

The system by which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders (Republicanism, as understood by the framers of the Constitution, meant that people would elect leaders who would represent their interests)

Social Contract

The agreement between people and the government (defining the rights and duties of each)

"In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions." -Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison's journal, 1787 What was a consequence of the ideas described in the passage?

The development of a new national Constitution (Randolph and Madison gathered with other delegates from the states at the Constitutional Convention to create a new republican governmental system)

What can illustrate the concept of limited government?

The president vetoing a bill from Congress (By creating checks and balances within the federal government, the Framers attempted to ensure a limited government that would not allow one branch to get too powerful)