Exploring Types of Democracy in AP Government

What does participatory democracy emphasize?

• Specialists making governmental decisions

• Broad participation in politics and civil society

• Limited participation by a few

• Group-based activism by non-governmental interests

Why did the framers of the constitution reject participatory democracy as the basis for the constitution?

• They believed it was impractical with a growing population

• They preferred a monarchy

• They thought it would lead to too much competition

• They believed only specialists should make decisions

What is an example of participatory democracy in the U.S.?

• Town hall meetings

• Federalist Papers

• The Electoral College

• The appointment of Supreme Court judges

What does elite democracy emphasize?

• Limited participation by well-educated statespeople

• Direct voting on laws by citizens

• Group-based activism

• Broad participation in politics

Which of the following is an example of elite democracy in action?

• Referendums

• The Electoral College

• Interest groups lobbying

• State laws overriding federal laws

What best describes pluralist democracy?

• Citizens vote on laws directly

• Group-based activism influences political decisions

• Laws are made by a single interest group

• A few elite make all the decisions

How do interest groups in a pluralist democracy influence politics?

• By directly voting on laws

• Through pooling resources to influence representatives

• By appointing judges to the Supreme Court

• By electing the president directly

Which foundational document argues against the fear of a powerful central government?

• Declaration of Independence

• Brutus I

• The Constitution

• Federalist 10

What does the tension among the three models of democracy in the U.S. demonstrate?

• The dominance of elite democracy

• The need for a single model of democracy

• The complexity and diversity of U.S. governance

• The failure of the U.S. government system

Which model of democracy is represented by the law-making process requiring compromise among various interests?

• Pluralist democracy

• Elite democracy

• Direct democracy

• Participatory democracy