DEMOCRACY IS…..

POLITICAL CARTOON #1 TITLE: DEMOCRACY

Artist: Petar Pismestrovic, Kleine Zeitung, Austria Date: February 2, 2005

POLITICAL CARTOON #2 TITLE: MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

Artist: Larry Wright, The Detroit News Date: February 1, 2005

POLITICAL CARTOON #3 TITLE: DEMOCRACY SHUTTLE

Artist: Stephane Peray, Thailand Date: August 10, 2005

HOW OLD IS DEMOCRACY?

Ancient Athens

CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY

Majority

ruleGovt.

by and forthe people

Rights of the individual protected

Elected representatives carry out the people’s willFreedom

Everyone equal under the law

DEMOCRACY IS ….

a system of government in which the people rule either directly or through elected representatives

DIRECT (PURE) DEMOCRACY

A form of democracy in

which the people as a

whole make directdecisions, rather

thanhaving those

decisionsmade for them byelectedrepresentatives

EXAMPLES OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY

referendum - the practice of submitting a law to a popular vote at election time. The law may be proposed by a voter's initiative or by the legislature

Should Washington Stateban smoking in public

places? ____________________________

Yes

No

EXAMPLES OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY

recall - A procedure whereby the voters can vote to remove an elected official from office

OUR CORE IDEALS

Political Culture: beliefs of a people about their government and politics

The U.S. was founded in 1776 on a set of principles that became a common bond for its citizens.

The U.S. has always been a nation of immigrants struggling for a greater level of acceptance and unity.

CORE PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY & CITIZENSHIP

Liberty Equality Self-Government Individualism Diversity Unity

HTTP://WWW.HISTORY.COM/SHOWS/MANKIND-THE-STORY-OF-ALL-OF-US/VIDEOS/MANKIND-THE-STORY-OF-ALL-OF-US-BIRTH-OF-DEMOCRACY

Declaration of Independence,July 4, 1776

John Locke, Age of

Enlightenment

Constitutional Convention, State House in Philadelphia (1787)

Aristotle

LIBERTY

The idea that people should be free to act and think as they choose, provided that they do not infringe on other’s liberties.

Great Depression 9/11

EQUALITY

All individuals are equal in their moral worth, and thus should be treated equally under the law

Slavery: Equality? Anti-Immigration: Equality?

SELF-GOVERNMENT

People are the ultimate source of governmental authority. Their voice is the only voice that matters.

American Revolution, 1775-1783

INDIVIDUALISM

Commitment to personal initiative, self-sufficiency, and material accumulation

DIVERSITY

Holds that individual and group differences should be valued and respected.

“E pluribus unum” One out of many.

UNITY

Idea that Americans are one people and form an indivisible nation.

CORE PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP

AMERICANS ARE LINKED BY

Liberty Equality Self-Government Individualism Diversity Unity

Kinship Political ideals!

“Voting is a civic sacrament.” Theodore Hesburgh

“Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for president. One hopes it is the same half.” Gore Vidal

“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” William E. Simon

“It’s very important to vote. People died for this right.” Lenny Kravitz

“If you’re listening to a rock star in order to get information on who to vote for, you’re a bigger moron than they are.” Alice Cooper