Lecture on basic concepts related to democracy for American Government class at Atchison County Community High School.

1. BASIC CONCEPTS OF
DEMOCRACY
How to make it work

2. OBJECTIVES
Students will identify basic elements of democracies.
Students will analyze news stories to better understand
issues of public policy in action.

3. VOCABULARY
compromise: public decision making that involves
identifying the position most acceptable to the largest
number of interested parties.
free enterprise system: private ownership of capital
goods with decision making power and success or failures
occurring by private entrepreneurs.
mixed economy: Government’s participation in a market
economy that serves to protect the public and preserve
private enterprise.

4. DEMOCRACY: BEST
CHOICE?
Winston Churchill: “No one pretends
that democracy is perfect or all-wise.
Indeed, it has been said that democracy
is the worst form of government, except
all those other forms that have tried
from time to time.”

5. 5 BASIC NOTIONS OF
DEMOCRACY IN U.S.
1. Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of each person
2. Respect for the equality of all persons
2.1.“... all men are created equal.” - T. Jefferson
2.2.Equality of opportunity
2.3.Equality before the law
3. Faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights
3.1.Majority of the people will be right more often than they will be wrong
3.2.Not searching for ‘right’ answers - most satisfactory

6. 5 BASIC NOTIONS OF
DEMOCRACY IN U.S.
4. Acceptance of the necessity of compromise
4.1.Must be able to find agreements that are acceptable to the largest number of
parties
4.2.Individual freedoms ⇔ Everyone is equal
4.3.Several ways to answer any one question; must make the best choice that
meets the needs of the largest number
5. Insistence upon the widest degree of individual freedom
5.1.“The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” - O.
Wendell Holmes
5.2.Striking a balance between freedom for the individual and the rights of society

7. FREE ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM
US commitment to freedom is rooted in its economy
Free enterprise system - private ownership
Success or failure determined by choices of the
individual
American economy is a market economy where the
government regulates the economy
Mixed economy where the government
regulates activity to protect the public and
preserve private enterprise

8. REGULATION
Anti-Trust laws
Pure food and drug laws
Anti Pollution standards
City & County zoning ordinances and building codes

9. PROMOTION
Grants of money for transportation systems,
scientific research, etc.
Build roads and operate public schools
Provide services: postal system, weather alerts,
national currency