List And Describe The Five Theories Of Traditional Democratic Theory

Lesson 1.2 Guided Notes

1.List and describe the five theories of traditional democratic theory
List
Describe
1. Equality in voting

The principle of “one person, one vote” is basic democracy. Voting need not be universal, but it must be representative
2. Effective participation

Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to express their preferences throughout the decision-making process
3. Enlightened understanding

A democratic society must be a marketplace of ideas. A free press and free speech are essential to civic understanding. If one group monopolizes and distorts information, citizens cannot truly understand issues
4. Citizen control of the agenda

Citizens should have the collective right to control the government’s policy agenda. If particular
groups, such as the wealthy, have influence far exceeding what would be expected based on their numbers, then the agenda will be distorted-the government will not be addressing the issues that the public as a whole feels are most important
5.
Inconclusion

The government must include, and extend rights to, all those subject to its laws. Citizenship must be open to all within a nation if the nation is to call itself democratic

2. Describe each “non-traditional” theories of government and draw a visual picture of each.
Pluralism:

A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails

Hyperpluralism

A theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives into many different groups, is thereby weakened

Elite/Class

A theory of American democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization

3. List and give an example of each challenge to democracy. Come up with one of your own that is not listed in the text/video.
Challenge
Example

Increased complexity of issues

Welfare, agricultural price supports, foreign competition, and hundreds of other
issues

Limited participation in government

Know little of who their leaders are, low voting rates, don’t take the opportunity to shape the government

Escalating campaign costs

At least a million dollars. Political action committees fund their campaign

Diverse political interests

Can create policy gridlock if interest collide

4. Describe political culture and give examples of values that are a part of American political culture
Definition: an overall set of values widely shared within a society

Example 1: liberty- when immigrants are asked why they came to America, by far the most common response is to be free. Freedom of speech and religion.

Example 2: egalitarianism- everyone has a chance to exceed in life. Everyone can vote.

Example 3: individualism- different kinds of people that live different unique ways that are to be cherished

Example 4: laissez-faire- free markets and limited government. Less control than other countries over the people

5. Define the following words
Democracy
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences
Majority rule
A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority’s desire to be respected

Minority rights
A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities
Representation
A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers

Pluralism
A theory of democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralist tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails
Elitism (elite/class)
A theory of American democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization

Hyperpluralism
A theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives into many different groups, is thereby weakened

Policy gridlock
A condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done

Political culture
And overall set of values widely shared within a society
Policy impacts
The effects a policy has on people and problems. Impacts are analyzed to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost