Posted: May 22nd, 2024

Theories of Democracy and Types of Government

Theories of Democracy and Types of Government
The balance between government power and individual freedom is a fundamental question in American democracy, with roots tracing back to the nation’s founding. The assigned readings, particularly the works of Locke, Hamilton, Jay, and Madison in the Federalist Papers, and the U.S. Constitution itself, provide valuable insight into this issue.

John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government” (1690) argues for the protection of individual rights and the idea of a social contract between the government and the governed. This concept heavily influenced the Founding Fathers, who sought to create a government that would protect individual liberties while also providing for the common good (Kammen, 1986).

The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison (1788), further elaborate on the balance between government power and individual freedom. In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that a well-structured Union helps to control the effects of factions and to protect the rights of all citizens (Hamilton et al., 2001). This suggests that the government should have a role in promoting the common good.

However, the Bill of Rights, added to the U.S. Constitution in 1791, places explicit limits on government power to protect individual freedoms (United States Constitution, n.d.). This demonstrates the Founders’ belief that the government should not infringe upon certain fundamental rights.

In recent years, court cases such as Chiafalo v. Washington (2020) have further explored the balance between government authority and individual liberties. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld a state’s right to enforce laws requiring electors to follow the will of the people, prioritizing the collective good over individual elector discretion (Chiafalo v. Washington, 2020).

Ultimately, the appropriate balance between government power and individual freedom is an ongoing discussion in American democracy. While the government should protect individual rights, it also has a role in promoting the common good. The Founders created a system of checks and balances to ensure that neither government power nor individual freedom would become too dominant. As society evolves, it is crucial to continually evaluate and adjust this balance to ensure the health and stability of the nation’s democracy.

References:

Chiafalo v. Washington, 591 U.S. \_\_\_ (2020).

Hamilton, A., Jay, J., & Madison, J. (2001). The Federalist (G. W. Carey & J. McClellan, Eds.). Liberty Fund. (Original work published 1788)

Kammen, M. (Ed.). (1986). The origins of the American Constitution: A documentary history. Penguin.

Locke, J. (1988). Two treatises of government (P. Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1690)

United States Constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2024, from https://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution (Original work published 1878)
Compose a written response to the given prompt containing a minimum of 150 words and be sure to refer specifically to something in the Readings (readings are attached). Your goal is to share your opinion while demonstrating knowledge of the historical background and application of the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Based on your understanding of the role of government from the assigned readings, what is the appropriate balance between government and freedom in American democracy? Do you think the government should be more active, providing assistance to achieve a common good for all citizens; or, should the government be more limited, involved only to the extent that it protects individual rights and liberties?” Explain your answer.
Theories of Democracy and Types of Government
References
Hamilton, A., Jay, J., & Madison, J. (2001). The Federalist G. W. Carey & J.
McClellan (eds.). Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund. (Original work published
1788).
Kammen, M. (ed.). (1986). The origins of the American Constitution: A
documentary history. New York, NY: Penguin.
Kimberling, W. C. (1992). The electoral college. Retrieved from https://www.fec.
gov/pdf/eleccoll.pdf.
Locke, John. (1988). Two treatises of government Peter Laslett, (ed.). New York,
NY: Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1690).
United States Constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://topics.law.cornell.edu/
constitution. (Original work published 1878).
Court Cases
Chiafalo v. Washington, 591 U.S. ___ (2020).

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