1. What is Democracy and why is it important?

2. How Democracies Work
Democracy is a system of government by which political power is held & used by the people
Democracies ruled by Popular Sovereignty (people have authority)
Citizens exercise power by voting for leaders of their government
Leaders create laws (“rules”) for the country which are written down in a constitution (rule book)
Citizens have inalienable rights (rights the govt/leaders cannot take away from you)
Types of Dem: Republic, Constitutional Monarchy, Parliamentary

3. What is NOT a Democracy?
Countries where people have no say or limited rights
Countries that don’t elect their leaders
Countries that constantly change their “rules”
Non democracies include:
Totalitarian (dictator)
5. Military Government (Army)
2. Monarchy (King or Queen)
6. Theocracy (religious leaders)
3. Aristocracy/Oligarchy (small wealthy group rules)
4. Communist (one party rule)

4. Video: Standing up against a non-democracy
1989 Communist China: students protest lack of freedoms
Govt responds by sending in military to stop protests
“Tank-Man” takes a stand (short ver)
(long ver)
Answer Questions at bottom of HW
Why do you think “tank man” acted in this manner?
Does this make democracy seem more or less important and why?