...Democracy Democracy is a word frequently used in British Politics. We are constantly told that we live in a democracy in Britain and that our political system is "democratic" and that nations that do not match these standards are classed as "undemocratic". The concept of "democracy" is contestable. It is understood by many people to mean a form of government in which a significant portion of the governed society has a franchise to elect members of the governing body. Other observers would argue that a "true" democracy is a system of government that embraces a universal adult franchise. While flaws exist in all democratic systems of government, most advocates accept Churchill's dictum that contemporary democracy as we know it is the least bad of all systems of government. What is democracy? The popular understanding of the term "democracy" is that there are three basic forms: direct, representative and constitutional. Direct democracy is a form of government in which the right to participate in making political decisions is exercised directly by all citizens, acting under procedures of majority rule. In large states, direct or participative democracy is not possible. Representative democracy is a form of government in which the citizens exercise the same right of participation in making political decisions, not in person but through elected representatives. However, different representative political structures can produce substantially different outcomes. There is no simple...
Words: 2847 - Pages: 12
...mentally, Jim Brady and his wife Sarah Brady began to work for stricter gun control laws. In the 1993 the Brady law was passed. If you wanted to buy a handgun, you had to wait in a five-day period so there could be made a background check and a ban on the military-style, semi-automatic machine guns and the “assault weapons”. George Bush did not renew the ban of the “assault weapons” in 2004. The Brady Campaign argues that armed revolution and violence against the government is not necessary in a democracy. The Second Amendment Myth and Meaning means that the American nation suffers from an epidemic of gun violence. They mean sensible national gun control laws are urgently needed to reduce this violence and killings. They mean the NRA’s constitutional theory is a calculated distortion of the text, history and judicial interpretation of the Second Amendment. They say it is time for the debate over gun violence to focus on the real issues, free from the NRA’s constitutional mythology and they say that the courts consistently have ruled that there is no constitutional right to own a gun for private purposes unrelated to the organized state militia. The National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment is an organisation which promotes the Second Amendment right to carry and bear arms. The organisation has about 4 million members and defends the right to possess, buy and use firearms. The organisation is one of the most influential political lobbies, because it has the ability to...
Words: 809 - Pages: 4
...APUSH Study Guide 8 A weak Confederacy and the Constitution, 1776-1790 Themes/Constructs: The federal Constitution represented a moderately conservative reaction against the democratilizing effects of the Revolution and the Articles of Confederation. The American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but it produced political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican...
Words: 3481 - Pages: 14
...thirty-two years ago, two distinctive countries started to have disputes about the Monarch power. By having to many laws being restricted on to the colonists’ and having to many freedoms being eliminated, the colonists started to build up anger and aggravations. Which soon lead to two revolutions breaking out: The Glorious Revolution and The American Revolution. The American Revolution happened in 1775 by the colonists’ who wanted freedom from British Rules. The independence they desired sparked a rebellion, but what truly sparked the rebellious flame happened during the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89. It was the first act of insubordination against the Royal Government , which make these two revolutionary wars the most interesting piece of history. These two revolution wars did share a few characteristics; they both wanted to reduce the power of the Monarch and focused on some extend of democracy and they both hated James II. However, these two-revolutionary wars are not the same at all. In fact, they differ from each other and...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...Mexico has had a long history of political turmoil. Since obtaining its independence from Spain, to overthrowing constitutional monarchies and dictatorship, Mexico has gone through several governmental reformations. It was not until 2000 that Mexico officially transition and the world formally recognized Mexico as a democratic state when Vicente Fox from the National Action Party (PAN) became president. Despite Mexico having a smooth transition to democracy, many Mexicans were later disillusioned on the lack of major changes that didn’t take place after the political power shift from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) to PAN. In 2012, Mexico’s political power shifted back to PRI after PAN had taken office for two recurring presidential...
Words: 1814 - Pages: 8
...Running head: Constitution Paper Constitution Nequia Covington Christopher Powers Abstract The American Revolution creating the ideology that all men are created equal failed to connect with the new United States’ form of government. Americans attempted to define the meaning of American equality by holding several constitutional conventions that defined how the government would operate and who could participate in political life. The basic principles of democracy, giving majority the rule, struck fear into those who believed this would bring ruin of the hard-fought struggle for independence. The forming of a republic, which constructed a government where the important affairs would be entrusted only to representative men of learning and refinement, eased several minds. Constitution Paper The American Revolution creating the ideology that all men are created equal failed to connect with the new United States’ form of government (OpenStax, 2014). Americans attempted to define the meaning of American equality by holding several constitutional conventions that defined how the government would operate and who could participate in political life (OpenStax, 2014). The basic principles of democracy, giving majority the rule, struck fear into those who believed this would bring ruin of the hard-fought struggle for independence (OpenStax, 2014). The forming of a republic, which constructed a government where the important affairs would be entrusted only to representative...
Words: 932 - Pages: 4
...Essay Twenty-seven amendments have been ratified since the original signing of the Constitution, the first ten of which are known as the Bill of Rights. The Amendments to the United States Constitution have had a major effect on American life. A major feature of the Constitution is the capability of changing the document in order for it to become accustomed to the changing times and conditions. There are a few methods in order to change the Constitution. An amendment proposed by 2/3rds vote in each house of congress could be approved by either one of two ways. It must be either ratified by 3/4ths of the State Legislature or by the Constitutional Conventions in 3/4ths of the states. To approve an amendment proposed at a National Constitutional Convention it must also be ratified by 3/4ths of the State Legislatures or by a Constitutional Convention in 3/4ths of the States. The First Amendment, freedoms, is one of the most known and the most important of all. A historical event that led to this amendment was that the new American settlers brought with them a desire for democracy and openness after the American Revolution. They left behind a history of tyranny and official control of information. Using this experience as their guide, the constitutional fathers wrote into their new Constitution a Bill of Rights, which contained the First Amendment. This Amendment was created so that the people would have the freedom to express themselves without worrying. Disagreement to the ratification...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...Comparison and Contrast between the Evolution of Democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to the Present. Name: Institution: Date: Please write on top of each of your exams its exact title as its appear below, making sure your answers are itemized (i.e., answer the points ONE BY ONE, and not combine them). ITEMIZE YOUR ANSWERS Mid Term Exam Compare and contrast the evolution of democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to present. In process of writing your exam, you must provide the following A history of democratization process in (1) Iran (two pages) Comparison and Contrast between the Evolution of Democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to the Present A History of Democratization Process in Iran Iran has had some important movements that lead towards democracy from the year 1900 to present. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Iran experienced protests and disagreements against the foreign intervention and Qajar. Patriotic opinions of the religious classes established a Constitutional Movement that took place from 1905 to 1911. An alliance consisting of ulama bazaaris and fellow thinkers forced Qajar Shah to pass a constitution to enact a parliament 1906. The introduction of the constitution limited the absolutist rule powers. After the discovery of oil in 1908 in Britain, Qajar Shah Position and military power weakened. Some artists were in Europe to study and master academic paintings and upon their return; they found fine arts academies (Arjomand, 2008). During the...
Words: 2318 - Pages: 10
...CHAPTER 5 The American Revolution, 1763-1783 Chapter Study Outline I. The crisis begins A. Pre-1763 consolidation of imperial authority B. Emerging split over British-colonial relations 1. British perspective a. Subordinate position of colonies b. Obligation of colonies to share in cost of empire c. "Virtual representation" 2. American perspective a. Equality of colonies and mother country b. No taxation without representation C. Initial skirmishes 1. Writs of assistance against smuggling 2. Proclamation of 1763 3. Sugar Act 4. Revenue Act 5. Currency Act D. Stamp Act crisis 1. Provisions of Stamp Act 2. Indignation in colonies 3. Taxation and representation; increasing opposition a. Virginia resolutions b. Stamp Act Congress c. Boycott of British goods d. Public demonstrations e. Committees of Correspondence f. Sons of Liberty g. Crowd actions 4. Breadth of opposition a. Colonial elites b. Middling ranks c. Laboring classes 5. Repeal of Stamp Act; passage of Declaratory Act E. Internal colonial disputes 1. Tenant uprising in Hudson Valley 2. Tenant uprising in Green Mountains 3. Regulators in South Carolina 4. Regulators in North Carolina II. The road to revolution A. Townshend crisis 1. Provisions of Townshend duties 2. Colonial response, home-spun virtue a. Revival of boycott on British goods b. American-made goods as symbol of resistance c. Reawakening of popular protest B. Boston Massacre 1. Stationing of troops in Boston 2...
Words: 3043 - Pages: 13
...War of Independence or a Revolution? It should be understood that without understanding the causes, course, and consequences of the American Revolution, one cannot grasp the history of the United State. The American Revolution was the political commotion during the end of the eighteenth century. The thirteen North American colonies united to break free of the British Empire and become a new nation; The United State of America. A revolution can be defined as, the change in power or the constitution stirring in a relatively short period of time. Aristotle described revolution as complete change from one constitution to another (Sinclair 190). And this is precisely what happened two centuries ago in the United State. But the question needed to be answered is, was the American War of Independence really a war for independence or a revolution? The American War of Independence (1775–1783) was a climax in the political American Revolution rather than just a war for independence, ideologically influenced by the Enlightenment philosophers and writers of the Great Britain. Benjamin Rush remarked in 1787, "The American war is over, but this is far from being the case with the American Revolution. On the contrary, nothing but the first act of the great drama is closed." 2 This drama staged in the Pennsylvania State House in summer of 1776 remains the only most important chapter in the archives of American Revolution. Although, the political atmosphere in France...
Words: 4544 - Pages: 19
...Introduction 1 2.0 Elements of Breakdown 2 3.0 The Process of Breakdown 4 4.0 The End of Democracy 5 5.0 The Process of Re-equilibration 5 6.0 Conclusion 6 LIST OF MODELS Model 1: Relationship of Legitimacy, Efficacy and Effectiveness towards Stability and Performance 3 THE BREAKDOWN OF DEMOCRATIC REGIMES: CRISIS, BREAKDOWN & REEQUILIBRATION Introduction Many existing literature on the collapse of the democracy concentrated on rises of nondemocratic political powers or the fundamental structural tension that lead to the breakdown of democratic institution. In this publication, author, Juan J. Linz is giving attention to dynamic of the political process of breakdown by referring to tragic consequences of democratic collapse in German, Spain and Chile. This attention has begun during the author childhood where he was concerned with the fate of Spanish democracy, the fate his as citizen. This concern later had shared with Alfred Stepan who writes a dissertation on the breakdown of democracy in Brazil. Both of them get support and attention from many people and agencies. The focus firstly gets attention at the Seventh World Congress of Sociology at Varna, Bulgaria in 1970. In year 1973, with the support from the Concilium of International and Area Studies of Yale University, and the Joint Committee on Latin America of Social Science Research Council and the American Council of Learned Societies, Linz and Stepan chaired the conference. With the contribution...
Words: 1773 - Pages: 8
...Unit 1: Individual Project Margaret Mukula U.S. History-x-1302A-02 American Intercontinental University Abstract This paper addresses the literature that followed soon after the Revolutionary War. One of them being The Articles of Confederation which served as a written document establishing the functions of the national government of the United States after it was declared independent from Great Britain. It established a weak central government that mostly, prevented the individual states from conducting their own foreign diplomacy, (EB 2012). The Articles of Confederation mentions the Albany Plan which was an earlier, pre-independence attempt to join the colonies into a larger union. However according to the book (EB 2011) this had failed somehow because of the individual colonies being concerned about losing power to another central institution. That being the case though, it helped the American Revolution gain momentum and this lead to many political leaders see the advantages of a centralized government that could coordinate the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin went on a drew up a plan for “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.” Some delegates, however, like Thomas Jefferson, supported Franklin’s proposal even though many others strongly opposed Franklin’s plan. Congress however did table this plan. (EB 2012). The Articles of Confederation therefore went on to mention how after the Declaration of Independence Continental Congress...
Words: 997 - Pages: 4
...Jason Greenberg Period 4 Understanding Cultures: Age of Reason The Age of Reason, also referred to as the Age of Enlightenment, spanned the mid-17th century to around the time of the French Revolution in 1789. Throughout this period, several major events occurred. The end of the Thirty Years’ War marked the beginning of the Age of Reason. In 1668, the Glorious Revolution overthrew King James II, implementing the first constitutional monarchy in England. The American Revolution also took place during this era, from 1755 to 1783. The French Revolution signified the end of the Age of Reason in 1789, with the French people gaining a constitutional monarchy in the process. The relationship between God and man during this chapter in global history...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...Journal Entry #7 After self-reading through the lecture notes I was stunned with the importance this era was for the invention of Canada. I think the most important event that happened during this era was The Constitutional Act. As we all know, The American Revolution was also an important time of history for both the history of America and Canada. The Constitutional Act reorganized the government and created what was called Upper Canada and Lower Canada. 1 Upper Canada accommodated the English speaking and Lower Canada accommodated the French. In terms of geographical location what I found interesting was that Upper Canada (English) is what is now Southern Ontario and Lower Canada is now what is Southern Quebec. I found this interesting because 225 years later and those locations both serve similar traits. What was Upper Canada is statistically more English speaking and what was Lower Canada is statistically more French speaking. Secondly, I found Part II of the lecture notes about petitioning to be interesting. I have never participated in a petition before and I don’t know the level of degree they help to resolve issues but as the lecture notes state from the 18th century; petitions were increasingly part and parcel of the development of democracy. 2 Between 1763-1840 petitions served as a major development of Canada. After reading the lectures notes I believe a majority of the petitions involved English and French speaking and the debate of boundaries of land for Lower...
Words: 415 - Pages: 2
...Shays’s Rebellion was an armed uprising in the state of Massachusetts, led by American Revolution Captain Daniel Shays, from 1786 to 1787. Approximately 4,000 farmers protested against tax increases, levied by the state to pay off the Revolutionary War debt. The already struggling farmers, who were in debt, demanded that the government provide tax relief. Throughout the state, protestors began shutting down the courts, where their debts were normally collected. The farmers, who rioted against all those in support of the government, desperately attempted to take over the government’s arsenal in Springfield. However, by the winter of 1787 the state militia defeated most of the rebels, causing many to flee. With the rebellion drawing to a close,...
Words: 515 - Pages: 3
