Overview
This lecture introduces the three main models of representative democracy—participatory, elite, and pluralist—and explains how each appears in U.S. institutions, laws, and debates.
Models of Representative Democracy
- Three models to know: participatory, elite, and pluralist democracy.
- The AP goal: explain how these models appear in U.S. institutions, policies, events, or debates.
Participatory Democracy
- Emphasizes broad participation by citizens in politics and civil society.
- Citizens vote directly on laws instead of through representatives.
- The Framers avoided this model nationally due to concerns about practicality and uneducated masses.
- Present in U.S. primarily at the local level, e.g., town hall meetings.
- Key examples: initiative (voters propose laws), and referendum (voters reject laws passed by legislatures).
Elite Democracy
- Limits participation to a small number of educated and qualified individuals.
- Relies on specialists to navigate government complexity and make decisions.
- Example: President appoints Supreme Court justices independent of public vote.
- Example: Electoral College selects President, not the general population.
Pluralist Democracy
- Centers on group-based activism by non-governmental interests to influence policymaking.
- Interest groups (e.g., NRA, NAACP) organize citizens to amplify influence on legislators.
- States also act as interest groups, representing their populations in Congress.
- Ensures no single interest can dominate due to competition among groups.
Tension and Representation in U.S. Documents
- The Constitution shows elite democracy (representatives), pluralist democracy (competing interests), and participatory democracy (federalism and state power).
- Federalist 10 supports pluralist democracy, arguing that competing factions prevent tyranny.
- Brutus 1 supports participatory democracy, fearing central government power and favoring state power.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Participatory Democracy — model where citizens directly influence policy decisions.
- Elite Democracy — model where a select few, often educated, make policy decisions.
- Pluralist Democracy — model where organized groups compete to influence policy.
- Initiative — process where voters propose new laws.
- Referendum — process where voters approve or reject laws passed by legislatures.
- Federalism — division of power between federal and state governments.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Federalist 10 and Brutus 1 for understanding of democracy models.
- Prepare to study federalism in more depth in the next lesson.