POLI 2051 : Notes Document Exam 1 1
Document Summary
Overall, we are interested in studying the extent to which government or government policies reflect the wishes of the people and if the policies are programs are carried out effectively and efficiently. The central idea of democracy: ordinary people want to rule themselves and are capable of doing so. People know and act in accordance with their own values and interests. Democracy is a system of rule by the people, rooted in (1) popular sovereignty, (2) political equality, and (3) political liberty. The united states is a liberal representative democracy- people don"t rule directly but through elected representatives. Democratic origins: democracy has not always been popular. The idea that ordinary people might rule themselves departed from historical beliefs. Examples of other forms of government: (1) oligarchy- rule by the few/minority holds power over a majority, (2) aristocracy- hereditary nobility rules (3) monarchy- rule by one king or queen.
