1. THIS MORNING:
1. The various meanings of democracy



2. THE PARTS OF A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM:
1. Last time we (more or less) agreed that any conception of democracy must include political rights or freedoms.
2. I would like to add a couple of other types. You may not agree--many do not--but do these possibilities raise any question in your mind?
3. Democracy as minimal economic freedom or security
1. Sufficient economic security to be able to participate meaningfully in public life.
2. Questions (from the last set of notes):
1. Does someone living in poverty have the same effective rights as a wealthy person?
2. Are valuable are political rights to those who are malnourished, ill?
3. Consider two countries, both having identical constitutions guaranteeing political rights and freedom. In one 20 percent of the population lives in poverty; in the other no one does. Are they equally democratic, in the sense of democracy as freedom?
3. Positive versus negative rights: a right to have something
4. An example will be discussed in class.
4. Democracy and enlightened understanding
1. This term means (fill in the definition here):



2. Proposition: democracy must include enlightened understanding.
5. Proposition: rights are a necessary condition of democracy but by themselves do not constitute it.



3. DEMOCRACY AS GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE:
1. See the notes from the last class
2. What is the source of a government's legitimacy; that is, it's right to command obedience from it's citizen's
1. Popular sovereignty versus divine right of kings: read and listen to "Popular Sovereignty" on the web site.
3. Mass participation in decision making is sometimes termed populist or popular democracy.
1. It is a system in which individuals take part in actual decision making.
1. Example: New England town meeting.
4. Proposition: popular democracy may not be possible (see below) but an essential element of democracy is citizen participation in the making of public (authoritative) policies.
1. After all, the word means government by the people.
2. A system in which citizens have political rights but do not wield much power over decision making is sometimes called a liberal democracy.




4. OBSTACLES TO POPULAR DEMOCRACY:
1. "Logistical" problems
1. Not even electronic town halls will work
2. Is government of and by the masses desirable?
1. Consider the founders' position.
1. Ochlocracy:





5. DEMOCRACY AS ACCOUNTABILITY - A MIDDLE WAY:
1. Republican form of government:
1. A republic is:





2. Necessary conditions:
1. Individual responsibility :citizens take an active interest in politics
1. Enlightened information
2. Institutional responsibility:
1. Parties and candidates take distinct and opposing stands on issues.
2. Information is available at a reasonable cost.
3. Rules, laws, institutions, culture, encourage and facilitate participation.
4. Decision makers can be held accountable.
3. I will suggest (and try to demonstrate) throughout the semester that our system is very deficient in these respects.





6. NEXT TIME:
1. Political capacity
2. Reading:
1. As noted last time, Squire and others, Dynamics of Democracy, Chapter 1 for general understanding.
2. Start Heilbroner and Bernstein, Debt and Deficits
3. Begin a subscription to the New York Times; don't put it off!
4. Is your e-mail account active? Go to the basement of Smith Hall and ask for help.

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