The U.S. - a Legitimate Democracy?-

A detailed Summary of The U.S. - a Legitimate Democracy?-

In any system which claims to be democratic, a question of its

legitimacy remains. A truly democratic political system has certain

characteristics which prove its legitimacy with their existence. One

essential characteristic of a legitimate democracy is that it allows

people to freely make choices without government intervention. Another

necessary characteristic which legitimates government is that every

vote must count equally: one vote for every person. For this equality

to occur, all people must be subject to the same laws, have equal

civil rights, and be allowed to freely express their ideas. Minority

rights are also crucial in a legitimate democracy. No matter how

unpopular their views, all people should enjoy the freedoms of speech,

press and assembly. Public policy should be made publicly, not

secretly, and regularly scheduled elections should be held. Since

"legitimacy" may be defined as "the feeling or opinion the people have

that government is based upon morally defensible principles and that

they should therefore obey it," then there must necessarily be a

connection between what the people want and what the government is

neutrally. In actuality, they interpret laws and the Constitution

leads to further inequality and, therefore, greater illegitimacy in

e U.S. government may be considered legitimate in some

America than in other countries, it ultimately decreases citizens'

using their power of judicial review, the power explicitly given to

qualified to be in a position of authority. Congress is also

emotional well-being of a person." When interests become organized

service exam. People working in bureaucracies may also only be fired

never reaches the public. Public opinion polls represent the small

help explain why class bias occurs. For example, because educated

majority party (the party which controls Congress), the person who has

rules are exposed to the public. Bureaucracies violate the requirement

presidents through political action committees (PACs), devices by

Dye, Thomas R. Who's Running America? The Clinton Years. Englewood

Approximate Word count = 1356
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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