Indirect Democracy and Inequality

*People decide policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then decide policy initiatives.

*A form of government in which people elect representatives to rule in their interest

*They lack key information skills: Figuring out whats happening, where and how to vote, how to contact their representative, how to organize with others, etc. *Also, lack of efficacy: A sense that they matter and can affect what happens.

poor and minority communities

-Women -Nonwhites

among the greatest income inequality in the world & increasing overtime -next to Cameroon, Madagascar, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ecuador

1. Gender inequalities 2. Racial Inequalities 3.Economic Inequalities

-Lots of growth from zero but still only 18-20% of representatives in congress are women. -Women and men tend to differ in their policy positions

African Americans, Latinos, and Asians are all vastly underrepresented in congress.

-The top 5% of the US holds 69% of the wealth cassettes minus debt) -The bottom 80% holds 7% of the wealth.

* In a \"democratic republic\", the people are sovereign. They must remain in some kind of control over decisions in order to have it be a democracy.

A. Citizens have interests, values and preferences B. Political parties aggregate their interests into platforms -They mobilize citizens to vote and engage politics -They help channel political conflict into elections instead of violence. C. We hold elections to select representatives -Political parties nominate candidates and inform the public about platforms. -People vote for the party that best reflects their own values and interests. -By voting, the public hands authority to representatives to make decisions on their behalf. D. Representatives vote for policies that reflect the needs and values of those in their district. -The threat of losing office later keeps theses representatives accountable to their constituents.

*Aggragate citizens interests -they bring people together that have similar positions -they mobilize citizens to vote and engage policies. -They help channel political conflict into elections instead of violence.

*People vote & select their representatives that best refects their own values and interests. -By voting, the public hands their authority to representatives to makes decisions on their behalf.

-Money can skew best interests (Constituents interests). -Many people split between 2 parties -Illiterate arent even capable of moving next steps (election, etc.) -FPTP has only 2 parties, so it doesn't represent many people's preferences. -Electoral college produces throw away votes -Interest group lobbyists -Lack of information -Parties, mobilize mostly the wealthy.

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*Advantages, wealthy Americans because those who contribute to campaigns gain access to legislators and they can have their preferences heard directly.

*Target many of their resources on recruiting those who are already most privileged and involved. *Money is a big factor, they want those who will donate money to support their campaign.

*Political parties and candidates focus their attention on the most likely to vote and make contributions. -Those who contribute to campaigns gain access to legislators. -Policies reflect the preferences and interests of the rich.

* Those who are able to make money contributions to campaigns they support are able to have their ideas, values, and preferences heard with their access to legislators b/c they made a big money contribution. *Those who cannot afford to make such a donation are unable to be heard as much and are not the main targets or focus of the campaign, so they become left out.