Basic Concepts of Democracy

Definition

• Democracy derives from the ancient Greek, “demokratia”:– demos = the

people– kratien = to

rule

Worth of the individual

Foundations of Democracy

• Worth of the Individual– Each individual is a separate distinct being– The welfare of one or a few individuals may be

subordinated to the interest of the many• Taxes• Draft

– Serves interests of the many INDIVIDUALS

Equality of all individuals

Foundations of Democracy

• Equality of All Persons– “all men created equal”• Equal opportunity• Equality before law• NOT equal conditions

Majority Rule, Minority right

Foundations of Democracy

• Majority Rule, Minority Rights– Popular will rules…but what is it? A majority– Democracy’s argument

• A majority of the people will be right more often than wrong

– Can be seen as trial and error– SATISFACTORY solutions

• NOT “right” or “best”• Always room for improvement

– Minority protected, otherwise they’re destroyed

Compromise

Foundations of Democracy

• Necessity of COMPROMISE– Give and take, blending competing views– Individuals first, all equal, so compromise

necessary– Few questions have only two sides– Compromise is• A process, not an end• Not always good, not always necessary

Individual Freedom

Foundations of Democracy

• Individual Freedom– Can’t have COMPLETE individual freedom– Free to do whatever you want unless it affects

freedom of others– “The rights of every man are diminished when the

rights of one man are threatened.” JFK– BALANCE

• Rights of one individual vs. rights of another• Freedom for individual vs. rights of society• Liberty vs. authority

REVIEW

• NAME THE FOUNDATION BASED ON THE IMAGE….

Worth of the individual

Equality of all individuals

Majority Rule, Minority right

Compromise

Individual Freedom

Foundations of Democracy

1. Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person

2. A respect for the equality of all persons3. A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon

minority rights4. An acceptance of the necessity of compromise5. An insistence upon the widest possible degree

of freedom