4 Purposes of

1. Social Order 2. Public Services

Government

3. National Security 4. Economic Decisions

 Levels of
Government
National /Federal / Central

State

Local
 Democrac
y
• Word meaning:
• Demos =

People
• Cracy =
Rule
 Democrac
y
• In a Democracy....
• People Vote
• Individual rights
protected
• Laws to protect
• Majority Rule
 Forms of
Democracy
• Direct - ALL people vote on ALL
decisions
• Representative - people vote for
elected officials to vote on issues for
them.
 Direct
Democracy
• We vote on issues directly.
• Advantage: people have all the power.
• Disadvantages:
• uninformed people vote on
issues
• only works in small groups.
Representative
Democracy
• people elect officials to make decisions
for them and propose laws.
• Advantage: people can choose experts
to make and carry out decisions.
• Disadvantage: leaders may not
represent people’s interests

PEOPLE C A N S T I L L M A K E L A W S
SOMETIMES!!!!
 Initiatives and
Propositions
• People go around officials in order to propose
laws.
• If there is enough support, the law is
put up for a vote.
• Basically, they initiate and propose
changes.
Direct or
Representative?

Peopl Representativ Law

e e s

Representative
!
Direct or
Representative?

Peopl Law
e s

Direct!!!!
 Which form gives more
choice?

representative direct
democracy democrac
no choice y
choice

Both forms provide CHOICE for people.

The more choice, the
more DEMOCRATIC!!!!