Ideal Democracy
Running Head: IDEAL DEMOCRACY
The Ideal Democracy
Victoria Jones
Political Science 101
Professor O’Meara
March 11, 2012
Outline
A.) Introduction – Democracy Definition by Latin roots and suffixes a. Background- Articles about the common topic of Democracy and its different definitions. I. Dahl- Dahl’s view in political system. b. Thesis – Through observation from Dahl’s point of view, I will explain the meaning of the ideal democracy while considering how it began during the founding years of the United States and discuss the deficiencies from personal reflection. B.) 1st Topic – Dahl’s Ideal Democracy c. What is Dahl’s ideal democracy? II. Consisting of five standards, Dahl’s ideal democracy is “a designed set of rules and principles, a constitution, that will determine how the association’s decision are to be made. And your constitution must be in conformity with one elementary principle: that all the members are to be treated (under the constitution) as if they were equally qualified to participate in the process of making decisions about the policies the association will pursue.” In order to govern this association, all members are to be considered politically equal. III. Five Standards 1. Effective participation 2. Voting in equality 3. Gaining enlightened understanding. 4. Exercising final control over the agenda 5. Inclusion of adults d. Why is Dahl’s democracy significant? IV. There are 10 main benefits from practicing the ideal democracy. 6. Democracy helps to prevent government by cruel and vicious autocrats. 7. Democracy guarantees its citizens a number of fundamental rights that nondemocratic systems to not, and cannot, grant. 8. Democracy insures its citizens a broader range of personal freedom than any feasible alternative to it. 9. Democracy
The Ideal Democracy
Victoria Jones
Political Science 101
Professor O’Meara
March 11, 2012
Outline
A.) Introduction – Democracy Definition by Latin roots and suffixes a. Background- Articles about the common topic of Democracy and its different definitions. I. Dahl- Dahl’s view in political system. b. Thesis – Through observation from Dahl’s point of view, I will explain the meaning of the ideal democracy while considering how it began during the founding years of the United States and discuss the deficiencies from personal reflection. B.) 1st Topic – Dahl’s Ideal Democracy c. What is Dahl’s ideal democracy? II. Consisting of five standards, Dahl’s ideal democracy is “a designed set of rules and principles, a constitution, that will determine how the association’s decision are to be made. And your constitution must be in conformity with one elementary principle: that all the members are to be treated (under the constitution) as if they were equally qualified to participate in the process of making decisions about the policies the association will pursue.” In order to govern this association, all members are to be considered politically equal. III. Five Standards 1. Effective participation 2. Voting in equality 3. Gaining enlightened understanding. 4. Exercising final control over the agenda 5. Inclusion of adults d. Why is Dahl’s democracy significant? IV. There are 10 main benefits from practicing the ideal democracy. 6. Democracy helps to prevent government by cruel and vicious autocrats. 7. Democracy guarantees its citizens a number of fundamental rights that nondemocratic systems to not, and cannot, grant. 8. Democracy insures its citizens a broader range of personal freedom than any feasible alternative to it. 9. Democracy
Cited: Kolar, M. (2005). What is democracy. Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from http://www.whatisdemocracy.net/ Coffrin, T. (2012). Ideal democracy. Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from http://trevorcoffrin.hubpages.com/hub/IdealDemocracy