AP Gov | 1.2 Types of Democracy | NEW!

Summary

This educational video delves into the nuances of democracy, distinguishing between direct, representative, participatory, pluralist, and elite forms. It explains the U.S. as a republic with elements of each democracy type, highlighting the Constitution's role in balancing power between the people and their representatives. The video also touches on how amendments have expanded suffrage, and the First Amendment's impact on enabling participatory and pluralist democracy through freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ Democracy means rule by the people, but the U.S. Constitution established the U.S. as a republic, not a democracy.
• 🎯 Direct democracy allows people to vote directly on policies, which is practiced at some state and local levels through initiatives and referenda.
• 🌟 Representative democracy is the U.S. federal system where citizens vote for representatives who make policies on their behalf.
• 🤔 The framers of the Constitution were wary of direct democracy, fearing it could lead to mob rule due to a lack of trust in the people's judgment.
• 👥 Participatory democracy encourages broad citizen involvement in politics and civil society, such as through protests and social movements.
• 🏛️ Pluralist democracy highlights group-based policymaking, with political parties and interest groups playing key roles in policy agendas.
• 🤝 The distinction between participatory and pluralist democracy can be blurry, as both involve active citizen engagement but differ in their focus on individual or collective action.
• 🔱 Elite democracy suggests a limited role for the general public, with a small group of elites wielding significant political power.
• 🏛️ The U.S. Constitution can be seen as promoting elements of all three types of democracy: elite, participatory, and pluralist.
• 📜 Constitutional amendments like the 15th, 19th, and 26th have expanded suffrage, allowing for more inclusive participatory democracy.
• 🔗 The First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech, press, and assembly support both pluralist and participatory democratic practices.

Q & A

What does the term 'democracy' mean?

Democracy means rule by the people, where citizens have a direct say in the decision-making process.

Why did the U.S. Constitution establish the country as a republic rather than a democracy?

The framers of the U.S. Constitution established a republic because they didn't trust the people with direct power, fearing it could lead to mob rule.

What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

Direct democracy allows people to vote directly on policies, while representative democracy involves citizens voting for representatives who make policies on their behalf.

How does the concept of participatory democracy differ from pluralist democracy?

Participatory democracy emphasizes broad citizen participation and active involvement in government, while pluralist democracy focuses on group-based policymaking through political parties and interest groups.

What are examples of direct democracy at the state level?

Examples of direct democracy at the state level include initiatives, where citizens can propose bills or amendments for a vote, and referenda, where state government members propose bills for public approval.

How does the concept of elite democracy contrast with participatory and pluralist democracies?

Elite democracy emphasizes a limited role for the people and a disproportionate amount of political power held by a small group of elites, contrasting with the broader participation in participatory and pluralist democracies.

Which amendments to the U.S. Constitution have expanded suffrage and thus supported participatory democracy?

The 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution have expanded suffrage, allowing more people, including all races, sexes, and those 18 and older, to vote and participate in politics.

How does the First Amendment relate to both pluralist and participatory democracy?

The First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech, press, and assembly support both pluralist democracy by allowing the formation of interest groups and political parties, and participatory democracy by enabling individual expression and protest.

What is the role of the Electoral College in the context of U.S. democracy?

The Electoral College plays a role in the U.S. presidential election, where electors cast votes on behalf of the people, reflecting a republican form of government rather than direct democracy.

How does the video suggest that the U.S. Constitution promotes different types of democracy?

The video suggests that the U.S. Constitution promotes different types of democracy by establishing a republic with representative elements, supporting participatory democracy through amendments that expanded suffrage, and allowing for pluralist democracy through the freedom of assembly.

Outlines

00:00

🗳️ Democracy Types and the U.S. Constitution

This paragraph introduces three types of democracy: participatory, pluralist, and elite democracy. It clarifies that democracy means 'rule by the people,' contrasting it with the U.S. being a republic, not a democracy. Direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on policies, is noted as not present at the federal level but exists in some state and local governments through initiatives and referenda. The U.S. is described as a representative democracy, where citizens vote for representatives who make policies. The paragraph also discusses the framers' distrust of direct democracy due to the fear of mob rule and introduces the concept of finding the right balance of people's power in government. Participatory democracy is highlighted as encouraging broad citizen involvement in politics and civil society, with examples like social movements. The paragraph concludes by mentioning that the U.S. Constitution promotes elements of all three types of democracy, with the Electoral College representing elite democracy, the First Amendment allowing for participatory democracy, and the freedom of assembly setting the stage for pluralist democracy.

05:03

🎬 Conclusion and Call to Action

The second paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, urging viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing to the channel. It also promotes the Ultimate Review Packet as a resource for studying and test preparation, offering practice tests, study guides, and exclusive videos. The paragraph ends with a signature off, identifying the production as a LaMoney Production, and a reminder to viewers to look forward to the next video.

Keywords

💡Democracy

Democracy refers to a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. In the context of the video, democracy is explored through various forms such as direct, representative, and participatory democracy. The video discusses how democracy is not just a single concept but has different types, each with distinct methods of citizen engagement and influence on policy-making.

💡Direct Democracy

Direct democracy, also known as pure democracy, is a form of democracy where citizens participate directly in the decision-making process by voting on policies. The video explains that direct democracy is not practiced at the federal level in the U.S. but is present in some state and local governments through initiatives and referenda, allowing citizens to vote directly on proposed laws or amendments.

💡Representative Democracy

Representative democracy is a type of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and create policies on their behalf. The video clarifies that the U.S. operates under a representative democracy, which is closely related to the concept of a republic as established by the Constitution. This system is designed to balance the power of the people with the expertise of elected officials.

💡Participatory Democracy

Participatory democracy emphasizes active involvement of citizens in the political process, including influencing policy-making and ensuring their voices are heard. The video gives examples of social movements like Black Lives Matter and the Tea Party, which are indicative of participatory democracy in action. It suggests that this form of democracy encourages broad citizen engagement beyond just voting.

💡Pluralist Democracy

Pluralist democracy focuses on group-based policy-making, where individuals form groups or political parties to promote their policy agenda collectively. The video mentions political parties and interest groups as key examples of pluralist democracy, highlighting how they work together to influence policy rather than individuals acting alone. It also references Federalist No. 10 in relation to pluralist democracy.

💡Elite Democracy

Elite democracy is a form of democracy where a small group of elites holds a disproportionate amount of political power, often with a filter between the general populace and the decision-making process. The video suggests that there is a debate about which type of democracy is promoted by the U.S. Constitution, and it implies that elite democracy is one aspect, as seen in the Electoral College's role in presidential elections.

💡Mob Rule

Mob rule refers to a situation where the collective will of the masses, often without proper guidance or consideration, leads to decisions that may not be in the best interest of society. The video mentions the framers' concern about mob rule as one reason for establishing a republic instead of a democracy, indicating a distrust in the masses' ability to wield power responsibly.

💡Initiatives

Initiatives are a form of direct democracy where citizens can draft a proposed bill or amendment and then gather support to have it placed on a ballot for a public vote. The video uses initiatives as an example of how some states in the U.S. practice direct democracy, allowing citizens to have a more immediate impact on policy decisions.

💡Referenda

Referenda are similar to initiatives but are proposed by a member of the state government rather than by citizens directly. Once proposed, they are placed on a ballot for the state's residents to approve or reject. The video explains that referenda are another example of direct democracy at the state level.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the process by which the President of the United States is elected, where electors chosen by each state cast votes on behalf of the citizens. The video discusses the Electoral College as an example of how the U.S. Constitution embodies elements of elite democracy, as it introduces a layer of indirect representation in the presidential election process.

💡Amendments

Amendments in the U.S. Constitution are changes or additions made to the Constitution itself. The video references specific amendments, such as the 15th, 19th, and 26th, which expanded suffrage to different groups, as examples of how the Constitution has evolved to promote participatory democracy by allowing more people to have a voice in politics.

Highlights

Democracy means rule by the people.

The U.S. Constitution established the U.S. as a republic, not a democracy.

Direct democracy allows people to vote directly on policies, but it's not used at the federal level in the U.S.

Some states have initiatives and referenda, which are examples of direct democracy.

The U.S. is a representative democracy where citizens vote for representatives who make policies.

The framers of the Constitution didn't trust the people with direct power, fearing it could lead to mob rule.

Participatory democracy emphasizes broad citizen participation in politics and civil society.

Examples of participatory democracy include social movements like Black Lives Matter and the Tea Party.

Pluralist democracy focuses on group-based policymaking, such as political parties and interest groups.

Federalist No. 10 is associated with pluralist democracy.

The difference between participatory and pluralist democracy can be blurry, as seen in movements like March for Our Lives.

Elite democracy emphasizes a limited role for the people, with a small group of elites holding significant political power.

The Constitution promotes elements of all three types of democracy: participatory, pluralist, and elite.

The Electoral College exemplifies elite democracy within the U.S. political system.

The First Amendment's protections of freedom of speech and press support participatory democracy.

Amendments like the 15th, 19th, and 26th expanded suffrage, promoting participatory democracy.

The Constitution's First Amendment freedom of assembly allows for the creation of interest groups and political parties, supporting pluralist democracy.

The video encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more educational content.

The Ultimate Review Packet is recommended for study and test preparation, offering practice tests and exclusive videos.

Transcripts

What’s up everybody! There are three types  of democracy that this lesson focuses on:  

participatory, pluralist, and elite  democracy. But before we get to those,  

let’s start with the basics. And smash that like  button and subscribe if you haven’t already!

First of all, democracy means rule  by the people. In the last video,  

I told you that the Constitution established  the U.S. as a republic not a democracy. And  

yet our unit and the first two modules have the  word democracy in the title. That’s kinda weird.

Truth be told, we need to be more specific  when we say democracy. Direct democracy,  

sometimes referred to as pure democracy,  means that people vote directly on policies.  

This is the type of democracy we don’t have  at the federal level. But again, just to  

keep you on your toes, some state and local  governments have some direct democracy.

For example, some states allow for initiatives,  

where citizens can write a proposed bill or  amendment and then get it placed on a ballot  

where it can then be voted on by the residents  of that state. And some states have referenda,  

basically the same idea except a member of the  state government writes the bill and then it’s  

placed on the ballot to be approved by the  state’s residents. These are both examples  

of direct democracy, which again exists only  at the state level, not the federal level.

The U.S. is a representative democracy,  where citizens are allowed to vote for  

representatives who make the policies. If  that definition sounds familiar, don’t worry,  

you won’t have to distinguish between  republicanism and representative democracy.

The fact of the matter is that the framers  intentionally a established a republic and  

not a democracy, for one thing because they  didn’t trust the people. Many of them felt that  

the people couldn’t be trusted with that kind  of power and it would end up being mob rule.

This is where those three types of democracy  mentioned at the outset come in. Since the framers  

wanted the people to have some power politically  and obviously the Declaration of Independence  

said that people are the source of governmental  power, the question becomes how much democracy  

is the right amount? How much power should the  people have and how is that power best exercised?

Participatory democracy emphasizes broad  participation by citizens in politics and  

civil society. So, this is the idea that people  should be actively involved in their government,  

influencing policymaking, and  that their voices should be heard.  

We’re thinking of things like protests,  demonstrations and marches. For example,  

social movements like Black Lives Matter, March  for our lives, the Tea Party, or Occupy Wall  

Street are all examples that got large numbers of  citizens involved and participating in politics.

Your required document Brutus  No. 1 can be used to support  

participatory democracy but more on that later.

The second type of democracy is pluralist  democracy and this emphasizes the role of  

group based policymaking. The two best examples  of policymaking groups are political parties and  

interest groups. People form groups or political  parties with likeminded people who share their  

goals and values and then work together as a group  to promote their policy agenda rather than each  

person working in isolation. We associate  Federalist No. 10 with pluralist democracy.

Admittedly, the lines between participatory and  pluralist democracy can sometimes seem a little  

blurry. For example, think of March for our  lives. does that better embody participatory  

or pluralist democracy? It has elements  of both—people are actively involved,  

demonstrating and marching, so that's definitely  participatory but on the other hand it’s a group  

of people with a united purpose trying  to influence policy so it has elements  

of pluralist in there as well. My advice is to  take notice of what the question is emphasizing.  

If it’s focused on individual actions of  people, it’s probably participatory and  

if it’s emphasizing the collective role  of the group, it’s probably pluralist.

The third type of democracy is elite democracy,  

and this emphasizes a limited or filtered  role for the people where a small group  

of elites have a disproportionate amount of  political power. With elite democracy there is  

a distrust of the people so there needs to be  a filter between the people and policymaking.

A point of emphasis and debate is which of  these types of democracy is promoted by the  

Constitution. And the answer is kinda all of  them. In some ways the Constitution embodies  

elite democracy. It sets up a republican  form of government where people vote for  

other people to represent them and make  policies. And how people kind of get to  

vote for the president, but really, it’s the  Electoral College who chooses the president.

But there are other parts that promote  or at least make participatory democracy  

possible. We can think of things like the  First Amendment’s freedom of speech and  

press protections. And of amendments that  increased suffrage, allowing more people  

to vote and have their voices heard politically.  Specifically, the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments,  

expanding the right to vote to people of  all races, sexes, and ages 18 and older.

And the Constitution also sets the stage for  pluralist democracy by the First Amendment’s  

freedom of assembly, allowing for the creation  of interest groups and political parties.

Alright, that’s it for this  one! Thanks again for watching,  

if this video helped please help me  out with our YouTube overlords and  

hit that like button and make sure to  subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

Until next time, this has  been a LaMoney Production.

And hey, be sure to check out the Ultimate Review  Packet for all your studying and test prep needs.  

Practice tests, study guides, exclusive videos.  It’s all there. See you in the next video.