Basic Concepts of Democracy Chapter 1, Section 3

1. Basic Concepts of Democracy Chapter 1, Section 3

2. American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: • Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person • Respect for the equality of all persons • Faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights • Acceptance of the necessity of compromise • Insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

3. Individuality & Equality • Democracy is based upon a belief in the importance of the individual • However, the welfare of a few individuals is often subordinated to the interests of the many (I.e. individuals must pay taxes or stop at a stop sign to serve the greater good) • “All men are created equal.” Is this actually true? • Every person is entitled to an equal opportunity • Every person is equal before the law • Each person should be able to develop him/herself as fully as he/she wishes

4. Majority Rule & Minority Rights • The will of the people determines public policy in a democracy • Majority rule - a majority will be right more often than it will be wrong, and the majority will be right more often than any one person or group will • The democratic process is a search for satisfactory solutions to public problems, an experiment of sorts, seeking answers to public questions • The majority must always recognize the right of the minority - majority must always listen to the minority’s argument and to welcome its suggestions

5. Compromise • What is it and why is it necessary? • Compromise - the process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests • Essential in democracy: • Each individual is equal but individuals and groups have many different opinions • Many public questions can be answered in numerous ways - there are more than two facets of a situation • Compromise is a way of achieving majority agreement; it is never an end in itself

6. Individual Freedom • Democracy can thrive in an atmosphere of individual freedom, but individuals cannot have complete freedom (absolute freedom can only exist in a state of anarchy - the total absence of government) • Advantages and Disadvantages of anarchy? • Balance between freedom for the individual and the rights of society as a whole can be difficult to obtain • The authority of government must be adequate to meet the needs of society, BUT, that authority must not become so strong that it restricts the individual beyond what is absolutely necessary

7. Responsibilities and Duties of Citizenship • Citizens hold certain rights and responsibilities • Examples of Duties (required of each citizen): obey the law, go to school, pay taxes • Examples of Responsibilities (strongly encouraged of each citizen): vote, volunteer, participate in civic life, understand the workings of our government • Can you think of other duties and responsibilities?

8. Free Enterprise System • Free enterprise - an economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital goods; investments made by private decision; and success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace • Free enterprise system is based on four factors: • private ownership • individual initiative • profit • competition

9. Free Enterprise System - Continued • Often referred to as “Capitalism” or “Private Enterprise System” • Government does NOT decide what items are to be produced or how much of any particular item should be produced, or how much items sell for • Decisions are left to millions of consumers and sellers • When consumers demand a product or service, sellers will set a HIGHER price • When there is little demand, sellers will LOWER their price • Again, the concept of individual freedom plays a huge role here

10. Free Enterprise System - Continued • The government’s involvement in the economy serves two purposes: to protect the public and to preserve private enterprise • How the government is involved: • anti-trust laws (laws that regulate business practices in order to promote competition and avoid monopolies) • food and drug laws • anti-pollution standards • zoning ordinances and building codes (laws that regulate the uses of property in certain areas) • grants money for transportation systems • builds roads • operates public schools • postal system • weather reports

11. How much should our government do? Why? What is considered too much? Too little?