Principles of Democracy

Chapter 3

Key elements of Democracy:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Citizen Involvement System of Representation Rule of Law Electoral System Equality Freedom, Liberty, and Rights Education
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1) Citizen Involvement
Direct Democracy: Citizens take part personally in deliberations and vote on issues. Citizens debate and vote on all laws.

Representative Democracy: Citizens choose (elect) other citizens to debate and pass on laws.
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Participation
1. Voting. 2. Political parties and/or interest groups. 3. Political meetings or public hearings, discussing politics, calling your representative.

Voter Participation of Top 10 Countries (1945-1998)

1 Italy (14) 92.5 2 Seychelles (2) 90.2 3 Cambodia (2) 90.5 4 Iceland (16) 89.5 5 Angola (1) 88.3 6 Indonesia (6) 88.3 7 Somalia (1) 87.1 8 New Zealand (18) 86.2 9 Uzbekistan (2) 86.2 10 South Africa (1) 85.5

USA Voter Turnout?

139/172 USA (26) %48.3 (Data from1945-1998). 2004: ? %64 (Ages: 18 and older) %47 (Ages: 18-24) %73 (Ages: 65-74) Men: %62 Women: %65

--Source: Washington Post, May 26, 2005

Consequences of low voter turnout?

Who decides? Monarchy Aristocracy Democracy Who Rules? (one) (few) (many) Dictatorship Oligarchy Tyranny

Models of Democracy
Elitist theories of democracy Pluralism Corporatism Participatory Democracy

Elitist theories of democracy

Proponents Say: Elites (usually experts but not necessarily) should rule. Citizens choose between elite proposals. Result is a smoothly running and efficient government and society. Politics is too complex for average citizens to be able to create good policy.
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Elitist theories of democracy

Opponents Say: Efficiency is not as important as citizen influence on policy making. Average citizen is capable of understanding the complexity of politics.

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Pluralism
Proponents Say: Competing interest groups check each others power none become too strong. Protects citizens from centralized power. Recognizes, Protects, and Promotes diversity of interests within society.

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Pluralism
Opponents Say: Overriding interest remains: stay in power! Does not protect freedom unless freedom is in the interest of the powerful. It maintains the status quo does not provide opportunity to change an unjust system.

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Corporatism
Proponents Say: Interest groups are integrated into the government. More harmonious interactions within society. Interest groups help government make policy that reflects the common good and interests of the society.

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The Iron Triangle

Department of Labor (Government)

Business Organizations

Unions

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Corporatism
Increases the power of unelected people The concept is irrevocably tainted by Fascism. Reduces citizen involvement

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Participatory Democracy
Low voter turnout should not be rationalized. Advocate Citizen Law Makers People are more likely to follow laws they help make. If we must have representative democracy then we must create incentives for more participation. For example: 1. Term limits 2. Recall Elections (California)

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Participatory Democracy
Opponents Say: Impractical in large republics Policies will less often be made by experts

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2) A system of Representation
(p. 26) A lawyer represents a client when he or she acts in place of or for the client. Citizens delegate power to representatives to act for them. Based upon the 2000 census there is one representative for every 646,952 citizens.

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Should representatives simply reflect the interests of its constituency or should they be independent agents?
Edmund Burke (1729-1797): representatives are independent agents. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): Any law which the people have not ratified in person is null, it is not a law.

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Katrina
FEMA's top three leaders had no previous experience with disasters. 1. -- Director Michael D. Brown, Previous job: Commissioner of Horse sports group. 2. Chief of Staff Patrick J. Rhode. Former television reporter; Commerce Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration. 3. Deputy Chief of Staff Brooks D. Altshuler Presidential Advance Man
Source: Washington Post, September 9, 2005
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3) Rule of Law
Law is supreme, nobody is above the law, even those who make law against divine right doctrine popular sovereigntyall power emanates from the people.

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4) The Electoral system

Conflict over procedure of choosing representatives (questions on 29). Electoral process begins with the selection of candidatesBut how does one become a candidate? Importance of access to information. Result of not voting is the transference of political power to others.
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Majority Rule
%50 + 1 What happened in 1992 Presidential election? US system is Winner take all or first past the post. Result: Minority view is not represented

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In Europe
Proportional representation Seats are allocated in the legislature on the basis of percentage of votes cast for party A=%35 B = %30 C= %25 D = %10. Governments are formed in coalition with other parties in order to make %50 + 1.

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Regime Change:
The Bullet or the Ballot?
Peaceful Transition Limit power

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James Madison (1751-1836)

1. 2. fear of majority solution = States Rights Separate powers (e.g. legislative, executive, judicial branches of government) 3. Diversity of a large nation
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Minority Voice
Some rights cant be taken away by the majority. In the USA, government cannot take rights away without 2/3rd house and senate and of state legislative

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5) Equality
A. B. C. D. E. Definition: sameness in relevant aspects Disagreement over definition: political equality equality before the law equality of opportunity economic equality equality of respect or social equality;
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A) Political Equality
I. Voting II. Running for Office III. Political Influence

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Voting
Access Choice Weight

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Constraints on Voting
1. 2. Must be a citizen Must be appropriate age Felons cant vote Informal constraints: Race and Sex Age or physical disability

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Choice
Anonymous or blind voting ensures freedom of choice in the ballot booth. Even the internet is traceable. But: what were the choices in the 2004 election?

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Weight
A person who cannot influence what names are printed on the ballotis not equal to those who can. Two ways to influence: 1. Money 2. Active participation in the political system Size of Voting Districts
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Running for Office

Everyone who has the vote can be elected to public office. But: 1. campaigning is expensive. 2. Social Constraints: racism, sexism, classism.

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Political Influence
All who choose to participate can do so without any formal limitations based on their membership in any religious, racial, ethnic, gender, or economic category. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPToZBpzf-0

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B) Equality before the law (35-36)

All people treated equally in legal system But: Does money undermine justice?

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Tangent: Puerto Rico

Under the Commonwealth formula, residents of Puerto Rico lack voting representation in Congress and do not participate in presidential elections. As U.S. citizens (since 1917), Puerto Ricans are subject to military service and most federal laws. Residents of the Commonwealth pay no federal income tax on locally generated earnings, but Puerto Rico government incometax rates are set at a level that closely parallels federal-plus-state levies on the mainland.
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C) Equality of Opportunity (p. 36)

Related to social stratification and mobility system. 1. Every individual in society will be able to move up or down within the class or status system depending on that individuals ability and application of that ability. 2. No artificial barriers to upward mobility. But: what counts as artificial? race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation?
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D) Economic Equality
Strict definition: Same income and Living standards. But we really mean: minimum level of social and economic security. Without this security we get no or low participation in certain classes poor folks vote less than rich folks. undemocratic effects of economic inequality Boots and boot straps.
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E) Social Equality
(Equality of Respect) We are equal in our fundamental humanity. But: Often respect is withheld because of certain characteristics (sex, race, sexual orientation, religion). Education is seen as the antidote to social inequality: How? But: even education can entrench existing social hierarchies: How?
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6) Freedom, Liberty, and Rights (p. 38)

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)-People are equal in the rights they have. Freedom: ability to act without restraint; but: harm principle: your freedom to swing your arm stops at my nose. Liberty: social and political freedom. Right: Legally guaranteed freedom.

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Freedom vs. License

Freedom: the ability to do what you want within a set of rules/boundaries. License: the ability to do what you want without rules or boundaries.

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Natural Rights and Civil Rights:

Natural Rights: Rights a person has a human being Civil Rights: Rights derived from government.

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Night-Watchman State
John Locke (1632-1704) argued that human beings have natural rights that should never be taken away by government (limited government). 1. Life 2. Liberty 3. Property This is liberalism at its core.
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Isaiah Berlin (1907-1997)

Negative and Positive Liberty Negative Liberty: limits on government activity Congress shall make no law Associated with democratic capitalism. Result: space for freedom Example: speech, religion, press, and assembly. Protects people from the government.
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Positive Liberty
(associated with Democratic Socialism)

Generally defined: government should ensure conditions in which the full development of each individual is possible. Right to self-preservation Food, clothing, shelter Universal Declaration of Human Rights Right to education, basic needs, work.
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Property
Widely debated 1. People should be allowed to accumulate as much property as they can. 2. Some limits should be imposed. Examples: Roads, parks, schools, transportation etc.

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How do we limit Government?

Frequent elections Watch dogs Civil disobedience Protest Revolution

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Types of Liberty (Civil Liberties)

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Right to Vote Speech Press Assembly Religion Movement Freedom from arbitrary treatment by the political and legal system.
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I. Right to Vote
Without interference ability to change the political system ultimate check on government.

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II. Freedom of Speech

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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Why so important?
discussing opposing view points and expressing ones opinion Important for voting dissemination of information J.S. Mill (1806-1873) search for truth requires debate, disagreement, challenge 4 reasons (read p. 43): find out truth, identify error, refute error, progress of society.
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III. Freedom of Press (43-44)

1. 2. Related to Free speech But: how far should it go? Pornography? Manuals for Violent Revolution (The Anarchists Cookbook)? 3. Government Secrecy? Media Self-CensorshipThe Chilling Effect
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IV. Freedom of Assembly

audience for your speech Limits? Parades, demonstrations? When does a demonstration cease to be free? Order Vs. Freedom

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V. Freedom of Religion
1. 2. 3. 4. Does one religion really have the answer? Answer: separation of church and state. Really? Flags in churches. Ten Commandments in court houses. Swearing on the bible. Prayer before athletic games Could a Jew, Muslim, Hindu, or Atheist get elected?
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VI. Freedom of Movement

Why important? Necessary condition of previous rights. 1. Escape persecution. 2. Employment. 3. Whats the alternative? Limits: pass port, identity cards, surveillance Problems: security?
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VII. Freedom from Arbitrary Treatment

Procedural rights to guarantee that individuals will be treated fairly by system. Also, necessary condition Bill of Rights habeas corpus trial by a jury of ones peers freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
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1. 2. 3. 4.

Tolerance
Acceptance of another person believing or doing something that you think is wrong. Required for a Democracy

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Silence and Unenforceability

Two additional aspects of freedom: 1. If there is no law saying you cant, you can. 2. If everyones doing it, you can too.

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7) Education
Role of education: 1. Ability to make informed political choices 2.illiteracy undermines democracy But: How do we educate citizens? Do we educate for participatory or elite forms of democracy?

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Todays Issues (48-52)

a) b) c) d) e) f) Democratization Civil Society Group Rights Multiculturalism Difference Consociational Democracy

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Why Criticize?

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President Bush
The Patriot Act is fully consistent with the United States Constitution, and as a result of that act, we're getting results. Our law enforcement intelligence officers have used the Patriot Act to help break up terror cells and support networks in California and New York and Ohio and Illinois and Virginia and Florida and other states. Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08 /20050822-1.html
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Unconstitutional
Ideology? Issues? Why?

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One hundred and fifty years ago, Americans who had gathered to protest the expansion of slavery gave birth to a political Party that would save the Union the [BLANK] Party. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois carried the [BLANK] banner in the Presidential election and was elected the Partys first President. He became our nations greatest leader and one of our Partys greatest heroes.
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 Every day, we strive to fulfill Lincolns vision: a country united and free, in which all people are guaranteed equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. His legacy goes beyond the borders of America. It can be seen in free governments all over the world.
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 Lincolns successors have been united by a common purpose defending freedom at home and promoting it abroad. Today, the BLANK Party gathers to renominate a man who carries on the best traditions of our Party by carrying the banner of freedom.
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Democratization
Major Pillar of The National Security Strategy of the United States. The 7th pillar states: Expand the circle of development by opening societies and building the infrastructure of democracy. But: Is US democracy the only acceptable form?

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