How democratic is the American Constitution

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How democratic is the American Constitution?
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Dahls argument

• The Constitution is not a sacred text
• Our system does not live up to modern democratic
  standards
• Our system of government is no better than other
  democratic systems

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How is our Constitution undemocratic?

• Slavery
• No guarantee of right to vote
• Insulated from popular control
• Senators chosen by state legislators
• President chosen by electors
• Judicial review
• No clear allowance for regulation or taxes

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Electoral College Vote Distribution, largest to
smallest, 2004 and 2008
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How has the Constitution become more democratic
over time?

• Expansion of suffrage
• Abolition of slavery
• Changes to election of Senators

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Other democratic systems arent like ours!

• Unitary, not federal

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Other democratic systems arent like ours!

• Unitary, not federal
• Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures

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Other democratic systems arent like ours!

• Unitary, not federal
• Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures
• No judicial review
• Except USA, Canada, Germany

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Other democratic systems arent like ours!

• Unitary, not federal
• Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures
• No judicial review
• Parliamentary not separated system
• USA the only separated system

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Other democratic systems arent like ours!

• Unitary, not federal
• Unicameral (not bicameral) legislatures
• No judicial review
• Parliamentary not separated system
• PR not Plurality

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Plurality vs. Proportional Representation

• PLURALITY
• Just need one more vote than next candidate to
  win a seat in legislature
• Favors two parties

• PR
• Party gets seats in legislature proportional to
  the percent of the vote it received
• Favors multiple parties

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Our democracy is no better (or worse?) than other
democracies

• Stability
• Individual rights
• Responsiveness
• Fairness to losers
• Effectiveness?

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