Free Essays on Democracy

Democracy How many of you know what democracy means to the American citizens? If you ask most young people what democracy is they will say its America’s government but for the most part that is all they know. Of course we’ve briefly discussed it in past years of schooling but nothing has really stuck with me or made me even think about it. Now, though, what democracy is has become clearer. It’s what America is based upon, for the people, by the people, and is the people, right? After reading a few articles on democracy and discussing it with others some new ideas and theories have came to mind. At this point in time, and in the past, democracy has been the best form of government for the American people. When I think of democracy, freedom is the first thing that comes to mind. Liberty also comes to mind and the actual definition of liberty is freedom from external control. Thinking about external control reminds me of a monarchy or dictatorship which are the exact opposites of democracy. Generally these types of government involve only one ruler while in America we have many representatives, yet it is the people who have the say in making choices by the way of votes. Its how the voting system is set up that really separates America from how other countries run their governments. Americans get to vote on laws and choose what they’d like to keep and what they wouldn’t. This is unique and beneficial but it really only works for the majority, not the minority. The reason why it only works for the majority is the majority of the votes decides what laws pass and what laws don’t. The minorities then are not happy because what they wanted did not happen. This can cause frustrations and make the minority unsatisfied with the final result. With each form of government come certain laws, as evident by history. These laws in democracy’s case are political, but before there were common laws to go with Liberty. Po... Free Essays on Democracy Free Essays on Democracy Interest Groups Interest groups are a group of people who share common traits, attitudes, beliefs, and/or objectives who have formed a formal organization to serve specific common interests of the membership. Examples of interest groups would include such disparate organizations as the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the elementary school P.T.A., the Teamsters Union, the Southern Baptist Convention, the American Numismatics Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Brangus Breeders Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Cosa Nostra, and the Benevolent Order of Elks. Interest groups typically have formal admission to membership, dues, elected officers, by-laws and regular meetings, and they often provide information and regular opportunities for communication through newsletters or magazines, sponsor recreational or educational activities, organize volunteer public service projects, make deals for g roup discounts or group insurance and so on. Larger interest group organizations may have full-time paid officers or professional staff to manage and to supplement the efforts of member-volunteers in furthering the work of the organization. Many interest groups at least occasionally engage in some form of lobbying or other political activities with respect to issues that touch directly on the common interests that are the organization's reason for being for example, the PTA may organize support for a bond issue election to pay for erecting a new school building. Some interest groups have political activity as their principal or only reason for being in the first place. Interest groups that exist primarily for exerting political influence as a means of affecting government policies or legislation are often referred to by the narrower term pressure groups. Since more and more activities have become politicized with the expansion of th... Free Essays on Democracy [TOC] Introduction:- Democracy is a tender topic for a writer: like motherhood and apple pie it is not to be criticized. One will risk being roundly condemned if he, or she, points out the serious bottleneck that is presented when a community attempts, through the democratic process, to set plans for positive social action. A man is not permitted to hesitate about its merits, without the suspicion of being a friend to tyranny, that is, of being a foe to mankind?2 The notions of government and of democracy are independent notions and do not, from what I can see, depend on one another. What is likely required for the masses of people, as we see in "modern" world societies, is an established system of government. Where there is a need for an established system of government, it will likely naturally come about; and do so, whether, or not, it has the consent of the people, real or imagined. Putting aside, for the moment, the arguments of Hobbes and Locke, I believe, on the basis of plain historical fact, that governments come about naturally and maintain themselves naturally without the general will of the people; indeed, I believe, with many others I suspect, that our long established democratic governments in the world (the United States and Canada being among them) did not come about by the general will of the people, at all; nor is it necessary that it should it be maintained by the will of the people.3 One should not conclude, therefore, th at democracy is necessary for good government: It may not be. What is necessary for optimum prosperity is a state of acquiescence, which, as it happens, is the hallmark of western democracies. It may be, that the only thing needed is but the trappings of democracy. An individual or group of individuals may take and maintain power by the use of coercive force. From history we can see that this is the usual way by which power is gained, and maintained. However, it has long been understood t... Free Essays on Democracy Democracy How many of you know what democracy means to the American citizens? If you ask most young people what democracy is they will say its America’s government but for the most part that is all they know. Of course we’ve briefly discussed it in past years of schooling but nothing has really stuck with me or made me even think about it. Now, though, what democracy is has become clearer. It’s what America is based upon, for the people, by the people, and is the people, right? After reading a few articles on democracy and discussing it with others some new ideas and theories have came to mind. At this point in time, and in the past, democracy has been the best form of government for the American people. When I think of democracy, freedom is the first thing that comes to mind. Liberty also comes to mind and the actual definition of liberty is freedom from external control. Thinking about external control reminds me of a monarchy or dictatorship which are the exact opposites of democracy. Generally these types of government involve only one ruler while in America we have many representatives, yet it is the people who have the say in making choices by the way of votes. Its how the voting system is set up that really separates America from how other countries run their governments. Americans get to vote on laws and choose what they’d like to keep and what they wouldn’t. This is unique and beneficial but it really only works for the majority, not the minority. The reason why it only works for the majority is the majority of the votes decides what laws pass and what laws don’t. The minorities then are not happy because what they wanted did not happen. This can cause frustrations and make the minority unsatisfied with the final result. With each form of government come certain laws, as evident by history. These laws in democracy’s case are political, but before there were common laws to go with Liberty. Po...