Democracy #1

• Democracy

  "Power of the people"
• Democracy


  • People hold the supreme power
  • Power is vested in the people
  • People possess the sovereign will
  • Hereditary class distinction & Arbitrary class privileges are non-existent
• Kratos


  "Strength" or "Power"
• US President Abraham Lincoln: 'Government of the people, by the people, for the people.'
• Democracy


  Contradicts absolute monarchy and oligarchy
• Oligarchy


  Only a small number of individuals wield power
• Absolute Monarchy


  Power is concentrated in the hands of an individual
• Types of Democracy

  • Parliamentary Democracy
  • Jeffersonian Democracy
  • Jacksonian Democracy
  • Constitutional Democracy
  • Social Democracy
• Parliamentary Democracy


  • Leading party or coalition of parties whose leader becomes the prime minister or chancellor
  • Began in Great Britain
• Jeffersonian Democracy


  • All male citizens are entitled to equal political opportunities
  • Need for leadership by those with great abilities to be chosen by the people
  • Ideology of the democratic-republican party
  • Formulated by Thomas Jefferson
• Jacksonian Democracy


  • Needs of the ordinary than the educated
  • Granted more rights to the common people and extended suffrage
  • Symbolized by Andrew Jackson
• Constitutional Democracy


  • Free and fair elections
  • Universal right to vote
  • Competitive political process
  • Qualified people can run and be voted for office
• Constitutional Democracy can be found in


  • Constitutional Monarchies
  • Constitutional Republic
• Constitutional Monarchies


  The monarch's power is limited by the constitution
• Constitutional Republic


  • Federal Republic
  • Unitary Republic
• Federal Republic


  • Self-governing states
  • Share some administrative power with a higher national or federal government
• Unitary Republic


  • Run as one entity
  • Has a strong central or national government
• Social Democracy


  • Seeks to reform capitalism
  • Promotes universal access to health, education, just compensation for workers & social services
• Dimensions of Democracy

  • The Sovereign People
  • The Principle of Democracy
  • The Structure of Democracy
  • The Practice of Democracy
• The Sovereign People


  • Refers to "Body-politic" or People who rule
  • Unified people who exercise sovereignty
  • The citizens and registered voters
• The Principle of Democracy


  • Equality: People are the ultimate source of sovereignty
  • Political thinkers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Baron de Montesquieu had the common view that people in a democracy are sovereignty equals
  • Political thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe: Men are born equal and free regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or beliefs
• Democracy

  -”Power of the people”

  -People hold the supreme power

  -Power is vested in the  people

  -People possess the sovereign will

  -hereditary class distinction & Arbitrary class privileges are non-existent