Representative Democracy

Definition

Representative democracy is a form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions and govern on their behalf. It is a system where the power of the government is derived from the people, who choose leaders to act on their interests and needs.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Representative democracy emerged as a key principle in the American Revolution, as the colonists sought to establish a government that was responsive to the will of the people.
2. The concept of representative democracy is closely tied to the idea of natural rights and the social contract, as outlined in Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet, 'Common Sense'.
3. The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal representative democracy, with a system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch of government.
4. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, played a crucial role in explaining and defending the principles of representative democracy in the newly formed United States.
5. The expansion of voting rights, from the initial exclusion of women, minorities, and the poor, has been a key struggle in the evolution of representative democracy in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of representative democracy emerged as a key principle during the American Revolution.
  • The concept of representative democracy was central to the American Revolution, as the colonists sought to establish a government that was responsive to the will of the people, rather than a distant monarch. This was influenced by Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and the social contract, as outlined in Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense.' The colonists rejected the idea of a government that was not accountable to the citizens, and instead sought to create a system where the power of the government derived from the people, who would elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
• Describe the role of the Federalist Papers in defending the principles of representative democracy in the newly formed United States.
  • The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, played a crucial role in explaining and defending the principles of representative democracy in the newly formed United States. The authors of the Federalist Papers argued that a federal system of government, with a system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power, was necessary to protect the rights and liberties of the people. They emphasized the importance of a government that was responsive to the will of the citizens, and that derived its power from the consent of the governed.
• Analyze the evolution of representative democracy in the United States, particularly in terms of the expansion of voting rights.
  • The evolution of representative democracy in the United States has been marked by the gradual expansion of voting rights. The initial system of representative democracy excluded women, minorities, and the poor, limiting the ability of these groups to participate in the political process. Over time, through struggles for civil rights and the expansion of suffrage, the United States has moved towards a more inclusive and representative form of democracy. However, the ongoing debates and challenges around issues such as voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the influence of money in politics demonstrate that the quest for a truly representative democracy remains an ongoing and complex process.

Related terms

Direct Democracy: A system of government where citizens directly participate in the decision-making process, rather than electing representatives.

Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces.

Checks and Balances: A system of mutual oversight and control among the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.