what is democracy?
DESCRIPTION
What is Democracy?. Democracy is a system of government ruled by the people for the people. Okay…but what does that really mean. Democracy :. ~ a governing system for choosing leaders through free and fair elections. ~ the people, as citizens, share power and make decisions. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Democracy is a system of government ruled by the
people for the people.
Okay…but what does that really mean.
Democracy:~ a governing system for choosing leaders through free and fair elections
~ the people, as citizens, share power and make decisions
~ laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens
~ leaders and laws are determined by the majority. The one with the largest number of votes wins.
Govern – to exercise authority over
Teacher governs the classroom.
Principal governs the school.
President governs the country.
Governor governs the state.
Mayor governs the city.
Government – the organization that is the authority or ruling power over a society
Where did democracy start?
~ in Athens, Greece over 2,500 years ago~ Greece is a country in Europe located along the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.
~ Athens was a direct democracy.
Can you find
Greece on the
map?
Two types of democracies:
* Direct democracy
* Representative democracy
Direct Democracy:
~ citizens make policy and law decisions in person
~ no one represents them
~ only reasonable for small countries
Representative Democracy:
~ citizens elect officials to make political decisions, for the public good (people that live there)
~ most common form of democracy
~ elected officials: legislative, executive, and judicial branches make decisions for all the people.
~ form of democracy in United States
Architectural Ideas Also
Came from Greece
~ Many of our government buildings are designed in the same style as those from ancient Greece.
~ Many have columns just like those on the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus.