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DEMOCRACY. What is democracy?. A means of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy reflects citizens’ preferences. Text, page 14. Traditional Democratic Theory. An ideal democratic process should satisfy these 5 criteria: Equality in voting
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What is democracy? A means of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy reflects citizens’ preferences. Text, page 14
Traditional Democratic Theory An ideal democratic process should satisfy these 5 criteria: • Equality in voting • Effective participation • Enlightened understanding • Citizen control of the agenda • Inclusion (majority rule with minority rights)
3 Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Who really governs in our nation? • Pluralist Theory • Elite and Class Theory • Hyperpluralism Pages 15 - 17 in text.
Challenges to Democracy • Increased Technical Expertise • Limited Participation in Government • Escalating Campaign Costs • Diverse Political Interests* (policy gridlock) *Especially problematic when President is from one party and Congress is controlled by the other.