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Democracy
GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE
Democracy Defined:
 One person – one vote
 A vote is held for every decision.
 Majority rules.
Distribution of Power
✗
Choice 1
Choice 2
Distribution of Power
Choice 1
Choice 2
Distribution of Power
Choice 1
Key Figures
 Solon, Cleisthenes, and Ephialtes are each credited in
different degrees by historians for developing the
idea of government by the people.
 demos – the population of an ancient Greek state
 -cracy – rule
 Demoi – a subdivision in Ancient Athens
Historical Examples
 The ancient Greek civilization Athens
developed the one of the world’s first
and only democracies with Pericles
around 450 B.C.
 Every Athenian citizen was allowed
equal voice in the government of the
city-state.
 Only land-owning males were deemed
citizens.
If our class were a democracy:
 The teacher would have no authority to make
decisions for the class.
 Every time a decision is made, every student in the
class would get to vote on the curriculum and actions
of the class.
 Whatever choices were selected by the majority of
students would be implemented and would apply to
everyone.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
 Fairness
 Inefficient
 Promotes engagement
 Can promote
and intelligence
 Allows for flexibility
 Freedom/equality
uneducated decisions
 Tyranny of the majority
Decisions
 Decisions are made through popular vote. Every
person gets a voice.
 Majority rules.
 Everyone is subject to the decisions of the majority.
Is our country a democracy?
 No, even though we often refer to our “democratic
principles.”
 In some rare cases, our citizens are allowed to make
decisions through direct voting. An initiative
allows for citizens to directly pass a law through
popular vote. A referendum allows citizens to
directly repeal a vote. A recall allows citizens to
take a person out of an appointment.