Principles of American Democracy Flashcards
Democratic Principles
Democratic Principles (Enlightenment Values) are participation, equality, tolerance, accountability, transparency, fair elections, economic freedom, proper use of power, human rights, and the rule of law.
Representative Democracy
In a representative democracy the members of a society vote for leaders to represent them in the decisions and actions of the political process.
Direct Democracy
In a direct democracy every member of the society participates directly in the political process.
America’s Core Values: Liberty (1/5)
Liberty is the value that proclaims that people should be free to think, speak, and act as they choose as long as they do not offend the freedom and rights of others. 1) Liberty 2) Self-government 3) Equality 4) Diversity 5) Unity.
America’s Core Values: Self-government (2/5)
Self-government is the value that declares that citizens have a say in how their government is run. They are the primary source of the government’s authority; they participate actively in the political process; and the government exists to promote their well-being. 1) Liberty 2) Self-government 3) Equality 4) Diversity 5) Unity.
America’s Core Values: Equality (3/5)
Equality is the value that holds that all people must be treated fairly and with dignity and be able to embrace opportunities for education, economic success, political involvement, and a fulfilling life. 1) Liberty 2) Self-government 3) Equality 4) Diversity 5) Unity.
America’s Core Values: Diversity (4/5)
Diversity is the value that teaches us to respect and embrace the fact that all people are unique and important no matter what their race, culture, heritage, belief system, or socio-economic status. 1) Liberty 2) Self-government 3) Equality 4) Diversity 5) Unity.
America’s Core Values: Unity (5/5)
Unity is the value that maintains that the United States is one indivisible nation and that Americans are a people bound by unbreakable ties. 1) Liberty 2) Self-government 3) Equality 4) Diversity 5) Unity.
America’s Core Principles: Popular Sovereignty (1/5)
Popular sovereignty means that the government operates only with the people’s consent and authority. 1) Popular Sovereignty 2) Limited Government 3) Separation of Powers 4) Checks and Balances 5) Federalism.
America’s Core Principles: Limited Government (2/5)
In a limited government, the government’s powers and functions are restricted and carefully described in the Constitution and other legal documents. 1) Popular Sovereignty 2) Limited Government 3) Separation of Powers 4) Checks and Balances 5) Federalism.
America’s Core Principles: Separation of Powers (3/5)
The principle of the separation of powers divides the government into three branches, each with its own purpose and functions. 1) Popular Sovereignty 2) Limited Government 3) Separation of Powers 4) Checks and Balances 5) Federalism.
America’s Core Principles: Checks and Balances (4/5)
With the system of checks and balances, each branch of the government has some authority over the other two and can monitor their actions, check up on them, and thereby balance the power between them. 1) Popular Sovereignty 2) Limited Government 3) Separation of Powers 4) Checks and Balances 5) Federalism.
America’s Core Principles: Federalism (5/5)
Federalism makes sure that the national government shares certain powers with the states. 1) Popular Sovereignty 2) Limited Government 3) Separation of Powers 4) Checks and Balances 5) Federalism.
Citizenship
Citizenship is the status held by a person that entitles the person to rights and protection from a state and imposes upon the person certain duties to the state, including allegiance to it. Citizenship in the United States is based either upon birth or the naturalization process. Sometimes a person can be a citizen of more than one state, which is known as dual citizenship.
Civil Society
Civil Society can be thought of in three different interrelated ways. First, civil society can be viewed as a goal in itself that results in a ‘good society’. Secondly, civil society can be viewed as associational life where individual citizens come together voluntarily to engage in shared interests and activities, which is outside both the purely public or purely private business sector. Finally, civil society provides a framework wherein citizens come to debate, discuss, and deliberate on the great social and political issues and problems of the day.
