1. Dahl

2. Dahl’s argument What couldn’t the Framers know? What did they get wrong? What couldn’t the Framers know? What did they get wrong? How is the Constitution undemocratic? How is the Constitution undemocratic? What is his take-home message? What is his take-home message?

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

4. Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Other systems are? Other systems are? Unitary, not federal Unitary, not federal

5. FederalUnitary Austria Costa Rica AustraliaDenmark CanadaFinland GermanyFrance SwitzerlandIceland BelgiumIreland United States Israel Italy Japan Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Sweden United Kingdom

6. Other democratic systems aren’t like ours! Other systems are: Other systems are: Unitary, not federal Unitary, not federal Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures

7. BicameralUnicameral Australia Costa Rica GermanyDenmark SwitzerlandFinland United States France Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Sweden United Kingdom Belgium Austria

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

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

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

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

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