What is a democracy?
What is a democracy?
A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.
What is democracy according to Popper?
Although democracy is generally understood to be defined by voting, no consensus exists on a precise definition of democracy. Karl Popper says that the “classical” view of democracy is simply, “in brief, the theory that democracy is the rule of the people, and that the people have a right to rule.”
What is Jacksonian democracy?
An ambiguous, controversial concept, Jacksonian Democracy in the strictest sense refers simply to the ascendancy of Andrew Jackson and the Democratic party after 1828. More loosely, it alludes to the entire range of democratic reforms that proceeded alongside the Jacksonians’ triumph—from expanding the suffrage…
How has the notion of democracy evolved over time?
The notion of democracy has evolved over time considerably. The original form of democracy was a direct democracy. The most common form of democracy today is a representative democracy, where the people elect government officials to govern on their behalf such as in a parliamentary or presidential democracy.
The term “democracy” comes from two Greek words: “demos” (the people) and “”kratia” (power or authority). So of course democracy is a form of government that gives power to the people. But how, when, and to which people?
How does direct democracy work today?
Today direct democracy is practiced in New England town meetings, where all citizens of voting age meet to decide important political decisions. But how could direct democracy work in a large, diverse population spread over a geographical distance?
What is a widespread criticism of representative democracy?
A widespread criticism of representative democracy is that the representatives become the “elites” that seldom consult ordinary citizens, so even though they are elected, a truly representative government doesn’t really exist. Britain has had a representative democracy since the seventeenth century.
How are representatives chosen in a democracy?
In its place, the American Founders put “indirect” or “representative” democracy. In this system, representatives are chosen by the people to make decisions for them. The representative body, then, becomes a manageable size for doing the business of government.