POLS 0010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Natural And Legal Rights, Representative Democracy, Direct Democracy
26 Jul 2016
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Document Summary
Democracy and american constitutional system: liberty and order. Democracy rule by the people or self-government. Before america majority rule had little favor associated with mob rule or large, passionate, ignorant groups of people. Liberty safety; value that cherishes freedom from an arbitrary exercise of power. Order political value in which the rule of law is followed and doesn"t infringe on wellbeing of others. Government of laws that prevents an unchecked majority having favoritism. Built in constraints on the government and multiple points of access to power. Also has a means to making amendments. Constitution as a gateway: framers of constitution wanted it strong enough to rule but not strong enough to take away rights. Drew from thomas hobbes and john locke on the idea of a social contract individuals come together to to live by a set of rules of a government in return the government protects life.
