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How democratic is the American Constitution?. Dahl’s argument The Constitution is not a sacred text Our system does not live up to modern democratic standards.

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Presentation on theme: "How democratic is the American Constitution?. Dahl’s argument The Constitution is not a sacred text Our system does not live up to modern democratic standards."— Presentation transcript:

1 How democratic is the American Constitution?

2 Dahl’s argument The Constitution is not a sacred text Our system does not live up to modern democratic standards Our system of government is no better than other democratic systems

3 How is our Constitution undemocratic? Slavery No guarantee of right to vote Insulated from popular control –Senators chosen by state legislators –President chosen by electors Judicial review No clear allowance for regulation or taxes

4 Electoral College Vote Distribution, largest to smallest, 2004 and 2008 California 55Mass. 12South Carolina 8Hawaii 4 Texas 34Indiana 11Connecticut 7Idaho 4 New York 31Missouri 11Iowa 7Maine 4 Florida 27Tennessee 11Oklahoma 7New Hampshire 4 Illinois 21Washington 11Oregon 7Rhode Island 4 Pennsylvania 21Arizona 10Arkansas 6Alaska 3 Ohio 20Maryland 10Kansas 6Delaware 3 Michigan 17Minnesota 10Mississippi 6D.C. 3 Georgia 15Wisconsin 10Nebraska 5Montana 3 New Jersey 15Alabama 9Nevada 5North Dakota 3 North Carolina 15Colorado 9New Mexico 5South Dakota 3 Virginia 13Louisiana 9Utah 5Vermont 3 Kentucky 8West Virginia 5Wyoming 3

5 How has the Constitution become more democratic over time? Expansion of suffrage Abolition of slavery Changes to election of Senators

6 Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Unitary, not federal

7 FederalUnitary AustriaCosta Rica AustraliaDenmark CanadaFinland GermanyFrance SwitzerlandIceland BelgiumIreland United StatesIsrael Italy Japan Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Sweden United Kingdom

8 Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Unitary, not federal Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures

9 BicameralUnicameral AustraliaCosta Rica GermanyDenmark SwitzerlandFinland United StatesFrance Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Sweden United Kingdom Belgium Austria

10 Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Unitary, not federal Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures No judicial review –Except USA, Canada, Germany

11 Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Unitary, not federal Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures No judicial review Parliamentary not separated system –USA the only separated system

12 Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Unitary, not federal Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures No judicial review Parliamentary not separated system PR not Plurality

13 Plurality vs. Proportional Representation PLURALITY Just need one more vote than next candidate to win a seat in legislature Favors two parties PR Party gets seats in legislature proportional to the percent of the vote it received Favors multiple parties

14 Our democracy is no better (or worse?) than other democracies Stability Individual rights Responsiveness Fairness to losers Effectiveness?

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