America is a Republic Not a Democracy (original) (raw)

Expanding Direct Democracy in the US: How Far is Too Far?

2002

The United States stands as one the few well-established democracies to have never held a national vote on a major question of public policy. This reflects the fact that the US continues to operate under Constitutional arrangements that are shaped, largely, by structures that pre-date the contemporary expansion of democratic practices. Although various amendments to the US Constitution have transformed American politics in ways that have expanded popular democracy, little has been added to the Constitution that increases the scope of what citizens may decide upon in federal elections. 2 This constrained use of popular democracy in America at the national level stands in contrast to expanded use of direct democracy in many other advanced democracies.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN AMERICA

We examine the origins of direct democracy in the American states and assess how direct democracy has affected American political parties. We find adoption of the most directly democratic forms of the initiative in states where Populist forces were strongest in the 1890s. Use of the initiative throughout the twentieth century led to more restrictive state legal environments for parties and was associated with weaker traditional party organizations. American parties have subsequently challenged restrictions placed on their organizations and on their ability to engage in campaigns. By the end of the twentieth century, American party organizations were visible actors in direct democracy campaigns, however their role is different from that of parties in Europe.

Instituting a Democratic Sortition in America

The Journal of Libertarian Studies, 2019

James Madison in Federalist 10 warned that “democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” This statement reflects the views of most of the framers of the American Constitution, who considered democracy as much as threat to civil society as tyranny. The proposed paper will show that the principle of sortition (klerostocracy), the original voting method of Athenian democracy, will elect capable public servants, end the negative influence of campaign funding, end the media hysteria associated with the permanent campaign footing of political parties, and indeed abolish standing factions, aka political parties, altogether; and will describe the political process for institutionalizing this principle.

Let the people rule? Direct democracy in the twenty-first century

The biggest contemporary challenge to democratic legitimacy gravitates around the crisis of democratic representation. To tackle this problem, a growing number of established as well as new democracies included direct democratic instruments into their constitutions enabling citizens to directly influence democratic decision-making. However, there are many different empirical manifestations of direct democracy and their diverse consequences for representative democracy are still an understudied topic. The aim of this volume is to fill this gap in a comparative endeavour.

Democracy in the United States: An Analysis of its Evolution and Challenges

International Journal of Science and Society

Democracy in the United States has served as a model for many nations around the world. This article explores the historical evolution of democracy in the United States, its core principles, and the contemporary challenges it faces. The United States has been a beacon of democracy for over two centuries, yet it grapples with issues such as political polarization, voter suppression, and the role of money in politics. Understanding the evolution and challenges of American democracy can shed light on the broader global discourse surrounding democratic governance.

The eclipse of legislatures: Direct democracy in the 21st century

Public Choice, 2005

Demographic, political, and technological trends are fueling an unprecedented growth in direct democracy worldwide. If the trends continue, direct democracy threatens to eclipse legislatures in setting the policy agenda. This article reviews existing scientific knowledge about the initiative and referendum -the main institutions of direct democracy -and highlights key issues for the future.