How democratic is the American Poltical system?

Question

Need help for an assignment for Politcal and Legal studies, just a few opinions of others :)

Answer 1

Democracy as was said should be for the people by the people and of the people. It implies that the government is to be the choice of the people and should be for the welfare of the people and it should be treated by people as their part. But to create a democratic set up we need to establish a system. A system for electing, a system of rules and regulations. While framing these systems one has to sacrifice the democracy! For example a person is elected by majority of the people but not by all the people. He is not a choice 'of all the people'. Similarly majority accepted rules and regulations are formed. They are obviously not acceptable to others. Hence any democracy on earth can't be considered as fully democratic by system established there in.
However any King, Ruler or Government can be found fully democratic if it is with in the frame work not literally but mentally. Governing has to be humane and good for all. Only where we see people loving the ruler and the ruler taking care of interests of the people we can call it fully democratic.
If you carefully look at the Presidents of US. All were elected by people but some were fully democratic and some were autocratic. They were all elected under the same rules!
Hence it is the man at helm of affairs who makes it democratic. So how democratic varies from President to President.

Answer 2

Democracy (literally "rule by the people", from the Greek demos, "people", and kratos, "rule"[1]) is a form of government. Today, the term democracy is often used to refer to representative, liberal democracy,[2] but there is no necessity that democracies be liberal (i.e. respectful of individual liberty and property) and in some cases may be illiberal democracies. Large populations seem to necessitate the representative aspect, though. There are many other varieties and the methods used to govern differ. While the term democracy is typically used in the context of a political state, the principles are also applicable to other bodies such as intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, grassroot organizations, labor unions, industry trade groups, professional bodies, and learned societies.

This is the definition per Wikipedia....IF we could get the people to exercise their right to VOTE we could actually get rid of the worst of those in office and perhaps have a better time of things....

...and I believe we as a people believe in Democracy but the political system is in trouble...

Answer 3

It is not at all democratic, in fact it is a Representative Republic.

In a true democratic society we all would have a vote in each issue to come before said government.

In a representative republic we give authority to elected representatives to make those choices for us. Then of course we can hold those elected individual responsible for their actions.

Answer 4

All that is required to be democratic is a free and fair vote by all of age. The amount of social and economic freedoms may vary but the vote will always have to be available to all.