Government Power and Individual Rights
The ratification debate began with a shared problem: the Articles of Confederation had not given the union a dependable way to raise revenue, regulate commerce among the states, or make national decisions effective. Federalists and Anti-Federalists did not disagree because one side wanted government and the other wanted none. Both cared about republican government. They […]
Types of Democracy: Participatory, Pluralist, and Elite
Theories of democracy explain who influences public decisions and how preferences become policy. A majoritarian account emphasizes responsiveness to the numerical majority. Pluralism emphasizes competition and bargaining among organized groups. Elite theory emphasizes durable control by a comparatively small, advantaged group. Participatory democracy values broad, continuing citizen involvement, while deliberative democracy emphasizes inclusive reason-giving through […]
