Representative Democracy In America Essay

It has been established by our Founding Fathers that the nation is to run on a government in which the power of the officials is limited and subject to the say of the people. A guarantee of this principle is the form of government in which America holds today. Although the system is seemingly ideal, it can develop deep cracks that root to problems and controversy over power and constitutionality. The operations of interest groups, political parties, and election campaigns play large factors into whether or not this form of government succeeds or fails. These are the stems that connect the work of the government to the people and how citizens contribute to policy and are fueled by the standards of democracy.

America is operated by a representative democracy. In such an establishment, “all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them,” (Pearcy 1). The …show more content…
Citizens in the United States make their ideas, needs, and views known to elected officials through the operations of interest groups (Hays 1). One can find an interest group on nearly any issue, from gay rights to environmental protection. The voice of interest groups is protected due to the guarding of the people’s rights, a standard of a representative democracy. America’s policy of freedom of speech, petition, assembly, and press allow virtually any point of view to be brought to light, no matter how profound. Another source of fuel for interest groups comes from the decentralization of government. “Citizen associations often get started at the state and local levels, later combining into national organizations,” (Hays 1). This system promotes the diversity of interest groups by providing outlets at a more accessible level that can lead way into the higher platforms of