Principles of American democracy
You must write an essay (1000 words minimum) in which you address the following two questions or topics:
The fundamental values that inform how are democratic government is legitimated and organized are enshrined on the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States.
1. Identify and discuss the basic ideals and principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
Those ideals and principles are discussed in the first and second chapters of your textbook. You can also visit the following websites to read the original document in which these fundamental values were first stated and how they were later incorporated in the American Constitution:
• The Declaration of Independence: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/
• The Constitution of the United States: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
2. Identify the most important Supreme Court cases and executive actions and their impact on law and on our society.
The history of the United States has been marked by the progressive expansion of voting rights and the protection of its citizens through legislation and Supreme Court decisions. At the same time, executive orders, particularly in periods of crisis led to the violation of individual rights. Throughout this module these issues are covered. In chapters 3 and 4 you will find the information you need to answer this question. You are also encouraged to visit the following websites for further details.
• Supreme Court Landmarks – http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/supreme-court-landmarks
• 15 Supreme Court Cases that Changed America – https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/justice/landmark-scotus-cases/index.html
• Executive Orders – The American Presidency Project
• NAACP was instrumental in the landmark case of Brown v Board of Education. Visit the web site to find information on the case that led to desegregation.
http://www.naacp.org
Sample Solution
The United States is a representative democracy. This means that our government is elected by citizens. Here, citizens vote their government officials. These officials represent the citizens` ideas and concerns in government. Political and civic life in the United States rests on a set of fundamental principles and values. The ideals or fundamental values of the United States system of democracy allow Americans to work together toward the betterment of each individual and the nation as a whole. Equality, rule of law, limited government, and representative government are examples of fundamental principles and values in American political and civic life.
