The Democracy in United States Elections - 1908 Words

Are United States elections democratic? Democracy a universally recognized phenomenon refers to a government deriving its power from the people and being answerable to them (Fox 2008). President Abraham Lincoln (Gettysburg Address, 1863) said about democracy ...is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not vanish from this earth ‘ (Fox 2008). The foundations of democracy in America are found within, â€Å"The Declaration of Independence of 1776† and â€Å"The Constitution of 1789†, both products of the American Revolution where equality and the rights of man were the focus of their creation (Rodgers 2001). The first half of this paper discusses the notion that despite having the best institutional powers that uphold democratic functions within the American government, this doesn’t always translate into the perfect democratic election. The US Constitution separated power between three institutions of the state - the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary where no singular institution has all the power (Rodgers 2001). They act to prevent the president arbitrarily appointing someone to a particular post, protecting democratic process (Rodgers 2001). A large number of American officials are elected and are not simply appointed anyway (Rodgers 2001). A democratic U.S nation with decentralized power and responsibility like the United States is unique in its federal system of government, as these are shared by national, state, and local governmentsShow MoreRelatedDemocracy, the Electoral College and Other Methods of Election681 Words   |  3 PagesIn a United States Government and Politics class, students learn about historical moments and the American political structure. America is seen globally as the land of the free. In fact, many people around the world believe that the United States, with its political an d justice systems, is the strongest democracy in the world. However, the United States of America possesses many defects in its political system. Many Americans also believe that the United States of America is the most solid democracyRead MoreDemocracy, Over The Years, Has Been Both Praised And Criticized1587 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy, over the years, has been both praised and criticized as the central form of government in the United States. After the most recent election, political tensions have been high throughout the country leading to an increase in the discussion of politics in public and especially on college campuses. I have interviewed ten students on the UCSB campus about the role of democracy in the United States and if it is a good representation of a stable form of government. My interviewees’ opinionsRead MoreThe American Oligarchy873 Words   |  4 PagesOligarchy The United States is no longer the democracy it stands for. Democracy stands for a government controlled by the majority of the population. The United States is no longer controlled by the majority. America is controlled by the powerful corporations and rich elite. The combination of an uninformed, disinterested public, a flawed election process, and an economy controlled by 1% of the population have all led to the formation of the American Oligarchy. The government of the United States is boughtRead MoreDifferences Between the Political and Value Based Definitions of Democracy1318 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle is based on states the difference between a democracy as a political definition and one as values. Democracy first begins its definition during the time of the Herodotus democracy. It has grown to become associated as a liberal democracy, although originally it is a form of ruling by the people. According to Samuel P. Huntington, â€Å"Democracy is one public virtue, not the only one, and the relation of democracy to other public virtues and vices can only be understood if democracy is clearly distinguishedRead MoreElection Day, President Of The United States1318 Words   |  6 PagesDuring election day, millions of Americans are going to cast their vote for who they want to be the next president of the United States. Except is a lot more complicated than it seems. The electoral college is the collection of 538 delegat es that have the power to determine who the next president will be; the number of total representatives in the House and Senate. These 538 votes aren’t given to the citizen directly, but they are instead divided among the 50 states in America. Currently, peopleRead MoreDemocracy As A Best Solution, And Underlying Capitalist Forces1490 Words   |  6 PagesDemocracy has morphed in the face of time due to exterior forces which in turn have impacted the understanding of what democracy in action should look like. Technology, education, religious decay and rise, and many other facets of modern life have overwhelmed the understanding of what democracy is. Simply engaging with the concept of democracy is in itself an acceptance of values and assumptions about what governments, and many times economies, should look like. But this paper hardly allows for alternativeRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1309 Words   |  6 PagesPersuasive Speech Outline (Using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence) Topic: Voting in Election Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to vote in democratic elections to voice out their opinions and beliefs regardless of their background, to decide for their future, and to preserve the essence of democracy. Attention: * Provide a vivid description of people struggling to fight for their voting rights in certain countries. * Share relevant facts /statistics of how a small number of votesRead MoreWhy Do We Still Have an Embargo of Cuba?1688 Words   |  7 Pagesactivity, a ban on travel, a policy on how Cuban exiles can enter the U.S., and media broadcasting to the island. These once-executive orders now codified into law by the Helms-Burton Act, have become a politically charged topic which wins and loses elections, spawned influential interest groups, and powerful political action committees. One year and a half after Castro’s forces took power in Cuba, President Eisenhower first imposed an embargo on Cuba, with the exception of food and medicine. In 1962Read MoreThe Electoral College System For Electing The United States Essay1150 Words   |  5 Pages With the Electoral College system for electing the United States president winning the most popular votes is not a guarantee a candidate will become president. They must also get 270 Electoral College votes to win. A candidate can become president if he gets at least 270 Electoral College votes and does not have the most popular votes. Many people do not like the Electoral college system for this reason. They feel the person with the most popular votes should win. Unfortunately for themRead MoreThe s Criteria Of Voting Equality And Effective Participation1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States of America is one of the oldest contemporary democracies, is currently the second largest democracy, and is ranked the 16th best democracy in the world (Campbell et. Al, 2014). Yet there is a legitimate question over whether or not the United States can still truly be considered a democracy, with some studies even suggesting it has begun to resemble an oligarchy (Chumley, 2014). In this essay, I will use Dahl’s criteria of voting equality and effective participation to determine