Activity: Activity:

What is What is Democracy?Democracy?

CivicsCivics

Pair-SharePair-Share

•Define “Democracy”Define “Democracy”•Explain the different types of Explain the different types of

democracy.democracy.•What are some characteristics What are some characteristics

of democracy?of democracy?

Standard

•CA 12.1 Students explain CA 12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles the fundamental principles and moral values of and moral values of American American democracy democracy as as expressed in the U.S. expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other Constitution and other essential documents of essential documents of American democracy.American democracy.

•Students will be able to explain the Students will be able to explain the fundamental principles and moral values fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy by summarizing of American democracy by summarizing the major concepts of democracy.the major concepts of democracy.

Objective

DemocracyDemocracy

•a system of a system of government in which government in which the people rule either the people rule either directly, or through directly, or through elected elected representatives.representatives.   

Forms of DemocracyForms of Democracy  

• direct or pure democracy direct or pure democracy - - a form of democracy in a form of democracy in which the people as a whole make direct decisions, which the people as a whole make direct decisions, rather than have those decisions made for them by rather than have those decisions made for them by elected representatives.elected representatives.– Examples of Direct Democracy:Examples of Direct Democracy:

• referendumreferendum - - The practice of submitting a law to a popular vote at election The practice of submitting a law to a popular vote at election time. The law may be proposed by a voter's initiative or by the legislature.time. The law may be proposed by a voter's initiative or by the legislature.

• recall recall - - A procedure whereby the voters can vote to remove an elected A procedure whereby the voters can vote to remove an elected official from office. official from office.    

• representative democracy representative democracy - - A political system in A political system in which leaders and representatives acquire political which leaders and representatives acquire political power by means of a competitive struggle for the power by means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote.  people's vote.  

• Critical Thinking: What kind of democracy is the United Critical Thinking: What kind of democracy is the United States?  States?  

Which One is It?Which One is It?

Direct Direct or or

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Ariz. Referendum Drives Ariz. Referendum Drives Targeting New Law Targeting New Law DroppedDropped

• PHOENIX -- The two proposed PHOENIX -- The two proposed referendum drives challenging referendum drives challenging Arizona's new sweeping law Arizona's new sweeping law targeting illegal immigration are targeting illegal immigration are being abandoned, organizers being abandoned, organizers said Monday.said Monday.

• Andrew Chavez, a professional Andrew Chavez, a professional petition circulator involved in one petition circulator involved in one of the efforts, said its backers of the efforts, said its backers pulled the plug after concluding pulled the plug after concluding they might not be able to time they might not be able to time their petition filings in such a their petition filings in such a way as to put the law on holdway as to put the law on hold. .

Direct

Representa

tive

Direct

CongressCongress

Representa

tive

FoundationsFoundationsThe American concept of democracy rests on these The American concept of democracy rests on these

basic notions:basic notions:

(1)(1) A recognition of the fundamental A recognition of the fundamental worthworth and and dignitydignity of every person; of every person;

(2)(2) A respect for the A respect for the equalityequality of all persons; of all persons;

(3)(3) A faith in A faith in majority rulemajority rule and an insistence and an insistence upon upon minority rightsminority rights;;

(4)(4) An acceptance of the necessity of An acceptance of the necessity of compromisecompromise; and; and

(5)(5) An insistence upon the widest possible An insistence upon the widest possible degree of degree of individual freedomindividual freedom..

Pair ActivityPair Activity

•With your partner read U1 S3 With your partner read U1 S3 Basic Concepts of DemocracyBasic Concepts of Democracy and complete the and complete the corresponding worksheet. corresponding worksheet.

•Be sure to write the definition Be sure to write the definition in your in your OWN OWN words.words.

Worth of the IndividualWorth of the Individual

• every individual has the potential for every individual has the potential for common sense, rationality and common sense, rationality and fairness and are entitled to "certain fairness and are entitled to "certain unalienable rights”unalienable rights”

Equality of all personsEquality of all persons

• ""all men are created equalall men are created equal," ,"

• but what kind of equality? Economic, but what kind of equality? Economic, political, legal, social?  political, legal, social?  

• All men are entitled to:All men are entitled to:– 1. equality of opportunity1. equality of opportunity– 2. equality before the law2. equality before the law

Majority Rule, Minority Majority Rule, Minority RightsRights• The will of the people, and not the The will of the people, and not the

dictate of the ruling few, determines dictate of the ruling few, determines public policy.public policy.

• The majority must always be willing to The majority must always be willing to listen to a minority’s argument, to listen to a minority’s argument, to hear it’s objections, to bear it’s hear it’s objections, to bear it’s criticisms, and to protect their rights.criticisms, and to protect their rights.

Necessity of CompromiseNecessity of Compromise

• In a democracy compromise is used to In a democracy compromise is used to blend and adjust competing views blend and adjust competing views and interests.and interests.

• Compromise is a process of achieving Compromise is a process of achieving majority agreement.majority agreement.

Individual FreedomIndividual Freedom

• ""life, liberty and the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happinesshappiness" and the right of " and the right of individuals to self-determination.  individuals to self-determination.  

• Democracy does not allow Democracy does not allow completecomplete individual freedom.individual freedom.

Review QuestionReview Question

•Describe the relationship Describe the relationship between the rights of the between the rights of the individual and the rights of individual and the rights of the overall society in a the overall society in a DemocracyDemocracy