Current Events Research Paper/ WEEK 5 AMERICAN GOV. PROJECT

POL2076 American Government Week 1 Lecture

Nature of American Democracy

It is essential that we understand the nature of American democracy. American democracy is unique because of its history and the specific social and economic conditions that have shaped its development.

The American Revolution differed fundamentally from comparable movements in Europe. American political leaders did not appeal to a body of privileges that the actions of the monarchy were allegedly violating. Instead they appealed to traditional rights supposedly enjoyed by all British subjects, regardless of status, and to theories of popular sovereignty and natural rights advanced by John Locke and others. When conciliation and compromise with the British government failed, the Declaration of Independence in 1776 gave eloquent expression to these concepts. The lack of a rigid system of estates and hereditary privileges in American society, the fluid boundaries that separated the social strata, and the traditions of local government in the colonies from New England town meetings to the elected legislatures blunted the kinds of conflicts between aristocrats and commoners. These differences help to explain the unique character of the American rebellion, which was simultaneously a war for independence and a political revolution. The theories that supported the rebellion, and the continuing alliance between social strata, made it the most democratic revolution of the 18th century. However, more importantly, it was the first successful rebellion by an overseas colony against its European master.

Our form of democracy is not a true "democracy" in the Greek sense of the word. Unlike the old "New England town meetings," we are too large and too diverse a nation to allow everyone to have a direct hand in governing. Rather, we are an "indirect" or "representative" democracy. In theory, we all have the right to have a say in our government, but are not necessarily involved, directly or indirectly.

Characteristics of American Democracy

The characteristics of American democracy are: individualism, political equality, popular consent, majority rule with the preservation of minority rights, and personal liberty.

Individualism

American democracy places a tremendous amount of weight on the individual. In actuality, the individual is deemed more important than the state.

Political equality

The definition of political equality has varied considerably over time. The importance of political equality is another reflection of American stress on the importance of the individual. The adage "one person, one vote" implies a sense of political equality for all.

Popular consent

This is the idea that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed. Derived from social contract theory, the notion of popular consent was central to the Declaration of Independence and its underlying assumption that governments must derive their powers from the consent of the governed.

Majority rule with the preservation of minority rights

Majority rule implies that only policies supported by most of the population will be made into law. The theory says that the citizens have the right to decide what is best for them. In the United States, the majority does wield the most power; however, in the United States, respect for minority rights are fundamental, best embodied in the Bill of Rights. Even a minority of one may trump majority rule if fundamental rights are involved.

Personal liberty

Personal liberty is perhaps the single most important characteristic of American democracy. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence best expresses that the role of government is to secure "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for its citizens. Over time personal liberty has changed to the freedom "to" do those things that are important to us, free from government interference.

Democracy or Representative Republic?

Democracy is associated with the ancient Greek City-States in which all citizens met in the public forum to discuss and debate the issues of the day. Every eligible citizen could participate in the discussion and vote in this forum with the majority deciding the outcome. This is known as direct or pure democracy where all eligible voting citizens vote and decide the outcome with majority rule. This form of democracy is associated with the “town hall meetings” used by the early Pilgrims.

A Republic is a sovereign or government in which power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body and government leaders exercise power per the rule of law. Another definition is a form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives. An easy way to remember is the Pledge of Allegiance to flag and to “the Republic for which it stands.”

One of the characteristics of American democracy is popular consent which is the power vested in our elected representatives. Today, our population is too large and we elect representatives which speak for us and decide issues on behalf of those they represent making us a representative republic.

Characteristics of American Democracy are what we Americans hold near and dear to our hearts. It is what makes us who and what we are. It colors our beliefs, politics, and actions, both here and abroad. Our American democracy was born out of a desire to allow people to determine their own paths and their own futures. It provided the opportunity for the downtrodden, abused, and misrepresented to have a say in their lives and their government.