Political Theory

Representative democracy involves citizens electing officials to make decisions on their behalf, while direct democracy, as practiced in Ancient Athens, involved citizens gathering to make decisions collectively. In a representative democracy, elected officials represent the interests of the people and make decisions on their behalf rather than having every citizen directly participate in decision-making.

Thomas Hobbes believed in a social contract theory where individuals gave up some of their rights to a governing authority in exchange for protection and security. He argued that an absolute sovereign, either a monarch or a strong centralized government, should rule to maintain order and prevent chaos in society.

The three forms of democracy are direct democracy, representative democracy, and parliamentary democracy. In direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making. In representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. In parliamentary democracy, the executive branch is accountable to the legislature.

Social capital refers to the bonds of trust and reciprocity between citizens that help build cohesive societies. It is essential for maintaining stability, fostering cooperation, and promoting collective well-being in modern societies. Without social capital, communities may struggle to address common challenges and achieve shared goals.

"How" is easier to answer, but since you asked the "why" I'll try my best to explain why.

At the time of James Madison and in creating the Constitution for our Democracy we live in now, there was no way of knowing just how it would (230+ years old) translate to today's government. To quote Robert Dahl from "A Preface to Democracy" he begs the question whether or not Madison would have foreseen the problems that A Democracy has created for us (there are many, you can look them up). His answer: "I highly doubt it". They established a form of republican Democracy as the framework because (as explained thoroughly in The Federalist #10) a direct democracy creates, among many other things, tyranny of the majority.

So, to answer your question, we can only try and assess and analyze why. But, there are some facts and viewpoints that should be taken into consideration.

There are a number of bad things about a direct democracy. Some of them include a simple majority taking away the rights of the others, too much public opinion can be volatile for a country and so much more.

1. Majority rule expressed in free, periodic election

2. Full protection of minority rights against an irrational or tyrannical minority

3. Protection of individual rights to freedom of speech, press, religion, prtition, and assembly

4. Equality before the law for all citizens, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, or other immutable characteristics

1. The judgment of many people is superior to the judgment of a few people.

2. The votes of the people can be tallied without fraud.

3. The many will always respect the rights of the few, even though they have powerful motivations to ignore those rights.

4. The few will always obey the dictates of the many.

Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, famously warned of the threat of Nazi aggression to all democracies. His speeches and writings played a critical role in rallying Allied support against Nazi Germany.

what is the most distinctive feature of democracy

it always fulfills people need

Capitalism is a form of economics in which goods and services are exchanged for money.

Democracy is a form of government in which individuals vote on each issue.

Monachary is a form of government in which power is invested in a monarch (King or Queen).

An interesting aside is that America is neither a democracy nor a capitalist society.

America is a Representative Republic in which the people vote on representatives who in turn vote on the issues. We also utilize a system of social capitalism in which some goods or services (such as police protection and free public education) are provided without monetary exchange, while other goods and services are purchased.

Since economics and government systems are not the same thing. You are comparing apples to pigs (not even the same catagory).

The main purpose of a democracy is for citizens to have a say in government. For a democracy to work, citizens have to be active - vote, attend town hall meetings, and interact with their representatives.

The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece, particularly in the city-state of Athens. The idea of justice was also developed in ancient Greece, with figures like Aristotle and Plato exploring concepts of fairness and equality within society.

You'll have to clarify where you mean by "spread of democracy." America? Russia? China? But sufragettes often made appeals to universal rights of man, especially the right to vote, that is at the center of democracy now. Sufragettes in Britain occupied a privileged position, too; they were part of one of the great imperialist powers so, despite the fact that they were marginal, their influence reached the rest of the world because of the fact that they lived in a superpower upon which the sun never set.

John Adams, the second President of the United States, is often characterized as an aloof and elitist New England statesman. His Federalist beliefs clashed with the rising tide of Jacksonian democracy, making him an unpopular leader. Despite his contributions to the founding of the nation, Adams struggled to connect with the broader population due to his perceived elitism.

Direct democracy, as they allow citizens to come together to make decisions on local issues through open discussion and voting.

State centrism is a political ideology that places the state as the central authority in society, emphasizing state control over key aspects of public life such as the economy, social welfare, and individual freedoms. It advocates for a strong and interventionist state to promote social equality and economic stability.

The expansion of voting rights to include all adult citizens and the promotion of a free press were two key changes that helped develop a strong social foundation for political democracy. By allowing more people to participate in the democratic process and ensuring access to diverse sources of information and perspectives, these changes empowered citizens to make informed decisions and hold their leaders accountable.

In the American political system, the hierarchy of government is designed so that state governments are thought of as parent governments of the local jurisdictions. As such, they can make laws that apply to local government.

Operationalizing political orientation on a conservative and liberal dimension could involve using a scale with different items that align with conservative and liberal beliefs. For example, questions related to government intervention, social issues, and economic policies can be used to assign individuals a score on the conservative-liberal spectrum. This score can then be used to categorize individuals as either conservative or liberal based on their responses.

The two party system in the US was firmly established by the early 19th century, with the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists as the main political parties. This system has persisted with different party alignments over time, but has remained the dominant political structure in the country.

A presidential democracy is a system of government in which also called an executive branch exist but is separate from the legislature.

We elect a president to make informed decisions for us and to represent our needs in political forums.

The Mayflower Compact established direct democracy in New England. It was signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 and outlined an agreement for self-government based on the consent of the governed.

In a democracy, the people are involved in decision-making through voting and their participation in civic activities. Elected representatives, political parties, civil society organizations, and government officials also play a role in democracy by representing and serving the interests of the people.

A limited government is one whose legalized force and power is restricted through delegated and enumerated authorities.

In many cases, such as the United States, it is a constitutionally limited government, bound to specific principles and actions by a state or federal constitution.

Presidential republic