Lecture Notes: Types of Democracy

Introduction

• Focus on three types of democracy: Participatory, Pluralist, and Elite.
• Democracy: Rule by the people.
• U.S. established as a Republic, not a pure democracy.

Direct Democracy

• Direct democracy: People vote directly on policies.
• Exists at state and local levels, not federally.
• Examples:
  • Initiatives: Citizens propose bills/amendments to be voted on.
  • Referenda: Government writes bill, citizens vote.

Representative Democracy

• U.S. as a representative democracy: Citizens vote for representatives to create policies.
• Framers' mistrust of direct democracy led to this system to avoid mob rule.

Types of Democracy

1. Participatory Democracy

• Emphasis: Broad participation by citizens in politics and civil society.
• Examples: Protests, movements like Black Lives Matter, Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street.
• Associated document: Brutus Number 1.

2. Pluralist Democracy

• Emphasis: Role of group-based policy making (political parties, interest groups).
• Examples: Political parties and groups working together on policy agendas.
• Associated document: Federalist Number 10.
• Note: Can overlap with participatory democracy (e.g., March for Our Lives).

3. Elite Democracy

• Emphasis: Limited role for the people, more power for elites.
• Characteristics: Filters between people and policy (e.g., Electoral College).

Constitution and Democracy

• Elite Democracy: Republican government structure, Electoral College.
• Participatory Democracy:
  • First Amendment (freedom of speech, press).
  • Amendments expanding suffrage (15th, 19th, 26th).
• Pluralist Democracy: First Amendment (freedom of assembly, political parties, interest groups).

Conclusion

• Constitution supports all types to varying degrees.
• Encouragement to engage with content through likes, subscriptions, and additional resources.

Additional Resources

• Ultimate Review Packet for study aids, practice tests, study guides, etc.