Democracy

US Government

Why do we have governments

• John Locke=political philosopher• Natural rights philosophy• What would life be if there was no

government? = state of nature• Our Human Nature

− Self-interest− Not all people are good

The need for a Government

• The need for authority• The need to protect natural rights from

human nature

• Legitimate Government = consent from the people

I.e. a representative democracy

• Illegitimate Government = no consent from the people

i.e. a totalitarian governmentSocial Contract

• Agreement between government and the people

Part 2

The Role of the Government

Constitutional Governments• A Constitutional Government has limits

• Limited Governments = restrains in the power of government

• Constitution = customs, traditions, rules, and laws a government operated under− Written and unwritten

• Unlimited Governments = no retrains in the power of government

• A Constitution is the higher law of a nation

Characteristics of a Constitution• Provides the basic rights to all citizens• It gives government a set of

responsibilities• Private domain

• government cannot interfere in certain areas of individuals’ lives

• Gives Government limitations• Open to the change of time

• Written• The “written” Constitution

• Unwritten• President’s cabinet• Congressional Committees• Political Parties• Judicial Review

A Democracy

• Representative Democracy• Presidential system• Parliamentary democracy• Direct Democracy

Direct vs Indirect Democracy

Presidential System vs Parliamentary Democracy

Representative Democracy

Presidential system• The President • chief executive and

the head of state. • Elected

independently of the legislature.

Parliamentary Government

• the head of state:• ceremonial role

• the chief executive: • head of the nation’s

legislature

• the chief executive is not chosen by the people but by the legislature. • the Prime Minister.

What if Government does not do its job

• According to John Locke = • Government obtains its authority

from the people = Social Contract• People give authority• People can take it away• The right to revolution

Forms Of Government

• As distinguished by Aristotle• Ruled by One, a Few, and All

Political Triangle

Libertarian

Libertarianism

Totalitarian

Socialism

authoritarianism

U.S.S.RAuthoritarian

Saudi Arabia

USA

Great Britain

Nazi Germany

Sweden Japan

Democracy

• Compromises different political formulas

• Belief in open society, civil rights, and free elections• Voting majority override minority• Human rights

Pillars of Democracy

• Sovereignty of the people• Government based upon consent of the governed• Majority rule• Minority rights• Guarantee of basic human rights• Free and fair elections• Equality before the law• Due process of law• Constitutional limits on government• Social, economic, and political pluralism• Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and

compromise

Five Cornerstones of an ideal Democracy

• Robert A. Dahl• Equality of voting• Effective participation• Enlighten understanding• Citizen control the agenda• inclusion