Basic Elements of Democracy

Basic Elements of Democracy Democracy · Popular sovereignty o A people ”social contract” agreement among elements of a society to form a single self-governing country o Self-governing country o Citizens/citizenship § Rights and responsibilities § Roles of § Participation of · Elections and voting – free, periodic o Majority/supermajority rule o Minority rights · Representation o Legislatures o Forms of representation o Equality Liberalism Individual rights/human rights Personal Economic Political Civil society Market economy (creates and disperses power outside of government and checks powers) Constitutions and Constitutionalism Constitution – alternative definitions of Constitutional government/constitutionalism · Empower and limit government · Allocate powers · Establish governmental institutions · Establish fundamental rights of citizens · Rule of law o Independent judiciary Politics Government and purposes of government Authority, power, legitimacy Purposes of government Political culture Freedom Equality Free society Participation