Chapter 22 -- Democracy from below -- Norton Augus.pdf
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Chapter 22 -- Democracy from below -- Norton Augus.pdf

Chapter22--Democracyfrombelow--NortonAugust.pdf

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Chapter22DemocracyfromBelowFinalDraft,August2009Mostpeopleunderstanddemocracyasasystemoffreeandfairelectionsalongwithvariouskindsofcivilrightsthatmakesuchelectionsmeaningful–freedomofassociation,freedomofspeech,freedomofthepress.Thiskindofdemocracyiscalledrepresentativedemocracybecausetheprocessbywhichcitizensareinvolvedinactuallymakingthecollectivedecisionscarriedoutbythestateisbychoosingrepresentativestomakethosedecisions.Representativedemocracyis,ofcourse,acriticalwayoftranslatingtheidealofdemocracyintopracticalinstitutionsinacomplexsociety.ButitisdoesnotfullycapturetheidealitselfanditdoesnotexhausttheempiricalwaysinwhichdemocracytakesplaceinAmericansociety.ThroughoutAmericanhistorytherehasbeenasecondconceptionofdemocracywhichhasinfluencedboththeidealsandtheirpracticalrealization:directorparticipatorydemocracyinwhichcitizensaredirectlyinvolvedindifferentwaysshapingpublicpolicyanditsimplementation.FORMSOFDIRECTCITIZENPARTICIPATIONINDEMOCRACYDirectcitizenparticipationindemocracytakesmanydifferentforms.Hereisjustapartiallistofexamples:1.Juries.Inajury,thetaskofdecidingcourtcasesishandedovertoordinarycitizens.Suchdecisionsareadirectexerciseofacriticalthepowerofthestate–thepowertodecideontheguiltorinnocenceofpeopleaccusedbythestateofcrimesandsometimesdecideontheirpunishmentsaswell,andthepowertoresolvedisputesamongpartiesincivilcases.Inmanycountriessuchdecisionsaremadebyprofessionalsemployedbythestate,trainedinthelawandjudicialrules,butintheUnitedStatesdefendantsandlitigantshavetheoptionofchoosingtohavethesedecisionsmadebyordinary,fellowcitizens.Thisdoesnotmeanthatjuriesinvariablymakereasonabledecisions.Jurorscanbeheavilybiasedinvariouswaysandcanbemanipulatedbyjudgesandattorneys.Nevertheless,wherethejurysystemisstrongandjurorsfeelastrongsenseofcivicobligationtoactinafairmanner,theyembodytheidealofequalitybeforethelawthatiscentraltodemocracy.2.Referenda.MostlawsinAmericandemocracyarepassedinvariouskindsoflegislatures–citycouncils,coun