Chapter Outline

Government

The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government:

• monarchy—a system of government in which a single person (a king or queen) rules by inherited power
• dictatorship—a system of government in which one person has absolute authority, including complete domination of the citizens’ lives.
• oligarchy—a system of government in which a small group of people exercises total control.
• theocracy—a system of government in which a religion establishes the principles of laws and religious leaders interpret and enforce those laws.
• democracy—a system of government in which the will of the majority rules and citizens choose representatives in free elections.

The Creation of a Democracy

• The democratic principle of a "free" government "by and for the people" dates back to pre-Christian classical Greece and Rome, where citizens were encouraged speak and vote in public assemblies.
• The thirteen American colonies began their experiment with democracy in 1776 when they announced their independence from the king of England (1776) and organized as a nation (1781).
• Within the United States Constitution is the blueprint for a government that consists of three branches, with power balanced among them:
• The Constitution describes a system for balancing the power among the three branches of the government called check and balances. Its purpose is to make sure that no one center of power dominates the other two. A situation in which one branch holds more power is no longer a functioning democracy.

The Challenges of a Democracy

• The United States Constitution is constantly read, interpreted, and sometimes changed to adapt to shifting needs in American society.
• As a democracy, the United States is constantly struggling to achieve and maintain the balance between individual freedom and general order.
• Political views vary in extremes and moderations.
• Corruption in politics is one of the reasons that accounts for voter cynicism and nonparticipation.

The Role and Influence of Citizens in a Democracy

The following are the main responsibilities of American citizens:

• Citizens must vote. In order to vote, a citizen must register, which can be done by filling out a short form at a local city or town hall, through the mail, or over the Internet.
• Every working person must give a percentage of his/her income to the federal and state governments, through the payment of taxes, to help fund the various programs that help the country as a whole and the citizens within it.
• If called, citizens must serve on a jury to help determine issues of justice.
• Male citizens are responsible for registering for the draft in case of war.

There are many additional ways in which people can engage in and enhance American democracy:

• attending meetings to gain information, discuss issues, or lend support
• signing a petition
• writing letters to elected representatives
• campaigning for a candidate; lobbying for laws that are of special interest
• demonstrating through marches, boycotts, sit-ins, or other forms of protest