Learn more about democracy, voting, and the electoral college. Find primary sources, podcasts, books, videos and essays on the past, present and future of democracy.
"Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself."
Politically, the five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy organized themselves into a democratic form of government that predated the U.S. system of government by centuries. The Seneca and Mohawk sent representatives to one legislative house, while representatives of the Oneida and Cayuga met in another, with the Onondaga serving as tiebreakers during debate.
Democracy is a theoretical philosophy of governmental representation that has been applied to political systems worldwide. Literally meaning "rule by the people," a democracy is a system in which a nation's citizens exercise power directly or through elected representatives to serve them in a governing body. On a symbolic level, democracy is often promoted as a system that offers equality and freedom.
Normative democratic theory deals with the moral foundations of democracy and democratic institutions, as well as the moral duties of democratic representatives and citizens... Normative democracy theory aims to provide an account of when and why democracy is morally desirable as well as moral principles for guiding the design of democratic institutions and the actions of citizens and representatives.
