introduction (ch 1)

In addition to Ch. 1, read the the Declaration of Independence which is given as Appendix I in Coleman et al.

Points to ponder:

1.   The authors introduce the term autocracy (16, but see 12) which is a less common term than authoritarianism to describe political systems which are not democratic. Where democratic systems, like the US, are based on popular control through free, frequent, and competitive elections, authoritarian systems are ones in which a relatively small group-- the Communist Party in China, North Korea, or Cuba or the royal family in Saudi Arabia or military leaders in Myanmar--rules without effective control by the people.

2. Democracy is good, but it is not easy, and it is worth some special some special notes.

• One and half of the three principles Coleman et al.(16-17) identify as essential elements in US democracy--political equality; plurality rule and minority rights--are among the four institutional requirements given in the notes on democracy, but "plurality rule" needs more discussion and gets it below)
• Equality before the law is a terribly important principle in a constitutional system, and one that we may all favor, but--so long as voting rights are equal (political equality)--it is not necessarily required for democracy
• Citizen participation--both in the amount and quality--matters a lot, and we shall see that US politics are deficient in a number of respects when it comes to citizen participation

3. We use the term “majority rule” to cover the argument that the more numerous should prevail over the less numerous.  As will become clear later, the US constitutional system has a number of ways in which it allows the minority to block the majority but for the moment it is important to make clear that the term “majority” in majority rule is a little ambiguous.  There are a number of different “decision rules” (that is, rules for determining who wins in disputes).  Consider these four different rules:

• Plurality = the option that has more votes than any other option wins
• Absolute majority = the option that has the support of one-half of all votes plus one wins
• Extraordinary majority = the option that has some specified number/percentage over absolute majority (2/3, 3/5) wins
• Unanimity = the option wins if all votes are in favor.

In the US, where the general principle of “majority rule” is endorsed, we use different decision rules in different circumstances: plurality is used in congressional elections where the candidate with the most number of votes wins; to be elected president, a candidate must have an absolute majority of the votes in the Electoral College; the House of Representatives and Senate may propose constitutional amendments with a 2/3 vote in each house; and a jury in a capital case (one where the punishment may be the death sentence) must be unanimous in its decision in favor of either acquittal or conviction.  One should be careful to use the right term for the particular decision rule.

4. The discussion by Coleman et al. (17) on the US as a constitutional democracy needs more work, specifically distinguishing between a little-c constitution and a big-C Constitution.

5. A more complete understanding of the argument that the US model is not the only model of a constitutional democracy (Coleman et al.: 18) can be had by reviewing some linked pages on constitutional arrangements.

Questions to consider:

1. Working from the general principle of democracy, distinguish between direct democracy and representative democracy.  Further, what is the principle of constitutional democracy?

2. Coleman et al. (16) write that "Plurality rule means that whoever gets the most number of votes wins, in American politics the will of the plurality of people usually prevails." What have you learned thus far that makes this a questionable assertion.

4. When a person is charged with a crime, the state offers an indictment setting forth the particulars of the crime that is alleged? How might the Declaration of Independence, found in the Appendix I of Coleman et al., be understood as an indictment?

5. What is meant by the term "social contract." What in the Declaration of Independence suggests that the Founders were familiar with such an idea?

6. Coleman et al. (13-14) bring out that principal functions of goverment are to provide security (from foreign enemies and domestic criminals) and to provide public goods (things that are desirable but things that would not be produced without government intervention). Are there other things that government does in the US? How can these be explained?