What is a Democracy? PDF

Name: _____________________________ Date: ______________ What is a Democracy? A democracy is a type of government where the people have the power to make decisions. The United States is a democracy, but it is specifically a federal constitutional republic. This means that the U.S. Government...

Name: _____________________________ Date: ______________ What is a Democracy? A democracy is a type of government where the people have the power to make decisions. The United States is a democracy, but it is specifically a federal constitutional republic. This means that the U.S. Government is organized by the Constitution, where power is shared between the national and state governments, and citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them. The Constitution helps make sure the government is fair and protects people's rights. The United States is also federal, which means power is shared between the national government and the governments of each state. Being a republic means that instead of everyone voting on every decision, people vote to choose leaders, like the president, governors, and members of Congress, who make decisions for them. These leaders promise to listen to the people and follow the Constitution when they make decisions. Even though the people do not vote on every law, they still have the power to pick leaders who will represent them and make choices that are best for the country. While the United States is both a republic and a democracy, it is more commonly referred to as a democracy. Elections are an important part of how the country is run. Elections are events where people vote for their leaders. These leaders can be governors, mayors, and local officials. When people vote, they choose the person they think will do the best job. The person with the most votes wins and gets to be the leader. Through this process, the leaders are chosen by the people. Each citizen has a say, or vote, in how the government is run, and who runs the government. This is different than places that have a monarchy or dictatorship where one person has all the power, such as a king or dictator. The United States has rules called laws. These Glossary laws are made by groups of people called lawmakers legislator – people who make laws for a community or country or legislators. The lawmakers are also chosen by the monarchy – a type of people through voting. They work together to make government where a king or queen is in charge J9Schneider@ThinkGrowGiggle fair rules that help keep everyone safe. If people don’t U.S. Constitution – set of rules that like a law, they can talk to their lawmakers to try and tells how the United States government works and protects change it. the rights of the people. What is a Democracy? government works and protects the rights of the people. A constitution is a set of laws and rules that help organize and guide a country, state, or organization. It can contain laws that can be amended, or changed, through a specific process. This means that people have a say in how the country is run. Constitutions allow governments to make decisions, but also allows people to voice their concerns. Constitutions also guarantee basic rights to those who live under the constitution. At the beginning of the United States Constitution, there is a part called the Preamble, which explains the government’s goals. The words of the Preamble were specifically chosen and carefully added. This was to make sure that all Americans, during the time the Constitution was written, and in the future, would benefit from the writings found in the US Constitution and Preamble. Another important part of the Constitution is the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a list of ten amendments that protect our freedoms, like the freedom of speech. By following the Constitution, the United States can be a strong democracy where everyone has a voice and is treated fairly. In the United States, the people choose their leaders through voting. It allows everyone to have a say in how the country is run, making it different from governments where only one person has all the power. Laws are made by elected lawmakers to keep everyone safe and fair. Freedom of speech and other rights are important too, they allow people to share their ideas and opinions. The United States Constitution, with its Preamble and Bill of Rights, is a key part of our democracy, ensuring that everyone’s rights are protected and that J9Schneider@ThinkGrowGiggle the government listens to the people.