Democracy Review

Slide 1: Foundations of Democracy Influences for Our Own Government

Slide 2: Democracy Itself Demos + kratia = “rule by the ruled” or “rule by  the people” Direct Democracy: All vote, numbers added  up (think Presidential Election or American Idol) Indirect Democracy: Citizens elect  representatives to vote / conduct business on their behalf Which type(s) of democracy used in U.S.?

Slide 3: Good Government Vocabulary Rule of Law: Laws are laws to be enforced  What would happen if I inconsistently  enforced lockout? What happens when I consistently enforce  lockout? Due Process: Citizens can expect to be  treated a certain way by the government when arrested, charged with a crime, conducting government business

Slide 4: American Democracy First country founded as a democracy since  city-state of Athens Not an original invention, but an effective  compilation Influences:  Greeks (Athenian Democracy)  Romans  British Constitutional History  Judeo-Christian Tradition  The Enlightenment 

Slide 5: Greek Influences Legacy:  Indirect and direct democracy both used in gov’t Assembly: all citizens could propose laws  Council of 500, Board of Generals: executive offices  selected by citizenry Trial by jury (but, had 201 person jury, 1-day trial, no  appeals, no lawyers) Flaws: Women and slaves not citizens, could not speak in court  Foreigners not citizens  Conquered and taxed occupied states to finance  democracy

Slide 6: Roman Influences Legacy:  2-house legislature (Counsuls and Senate)  All laws written down  All equal in eyes of law  Innocent until proven guilty, burden of proof on accuser  Separation of Powers in gov’t Flaws:  No way to select emperors led to civil war

Slide 7: British Constitutional History Legacy:  Magna Carta: limits king’s power, “No Taxation without Representation”  Parliament: Britain’s version of Congress  English Bill of Rights: Common Law that all citizens can take for granted  Constitutional Monarchy: King is not above law Flaws:  All reforms intended to help nobles, not average person

Slide 8: Judeo-Christian Tradition Legacy:  All equal in eyes of God, can have personal relationship with God  All have responsibilities for actions, to control oneself, to take care of others  Basic religious laws foundation for many of our current laws (10 commandments)  Reformation: Challenged religious monopoly of Catholic Church, allowed people to interpret teachings of church

Slide 9: Enlightenment Legacy:  Movement in France, Britain that believed that individuals have right to determine own government  John Locke: believed that people naturally good, gov’t should protect natural rights of “life, liberty, and property”  Thomas Hobbes: believed that people naturally evil; we need king or dictator to keep ourselves in line

Slide 10: Enlightenment, Cont’d Baron de Montesquieu: believed in separation of  powers, checks and balances to keep government from being corrupted by single person or group Cesare Beccaria: Advocated more humane treatment  of convicts, no cruel and unusual punishment Voltaire: Extremely critical of Church, believed in liberty  and freedom of speech of all: “I may completely disagree with what you have to say, but I will die for your right to say it.”