Types of Democracy

Introduction

• Democracy: Rule by the people.
• US Constitution: Establishes the US as a republic, not a direct democracy.
• Direct Democracy: People vote directly on policies. Exists at state level, not federal.
  • Initiatives: Citizens propose bills/amendments for voting.
  • Referenda: Government writes bills for public approval.

Representative Democracy

• Citizens vote for representatives who make policies.
• Framers didn't trust public to wield power directly.
• Republic vs Democracy: Framers established a republic; feared mob rule.

Three Types of Democracy

1. Participatory Democracy

• Emphasizes broad participation by citizens in politics and civil society.
• Citizens actively involved, influencing policy-making.
• Examples:
  • Social Movements: Black Lives Matter, March for Our Lives, Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street.
• Brutus No. 1: Supports participatory democracy.

2. Pluralist Democracy

• Emphasizes group-based policy-making.
• Groups/political parties of like-minded people promote policy agendas.
• Federalist No. 10: Associated with pluralist democracy.
• Participatory vs Pluralist: Sometimes blurry; focus on whether individual actions or group efforts are emphasized.

3. Elite Democracy

• Emphasizes limited role for the people; elites hold disproportionate power.
• Distrusts public; filters between people and policy-making needed.

Constitution and Democracy Types

• Elite Democracy: Embodied by republican government and Electoral College.
• Participatory Democracy: Supported by First Amendment freedoms and suffrage-expanding amendments (15th, 19th, 26th).
• Pluralist Democracy: Supported by freedom of assembly allowing interest groups and political parties.

Conclusion

• Constitution promotes all three types: participatory, pluralist, and elite democracy.

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• Note: For more resources, check out the ultimate review packet for study guides and practice tests.