Democracy, Federalism, & Articles of Confederation

Democracy, Federalism, & Articles of Confederation

A. Most Americans describe their political system as a democracy, without specifying exactly what they mean by “democracy.” Compare and contrast the ideas of procedural democracy, substantive democracy, egalitarian democracy, and pluralist democracy. How does our system of government work according to people who believe in an “elitist” interpretation?
B. What is federalism? Describe how powers were divided in the “federal” system established under the Constitution, using specific examples to illustrate. What are some of the advantages of federalism for the United States? What are some drawbacks to federalism?

C. The first constitution of the United States was the Articles of Confederation – not the U.S. Constitution. Describe the system of government set up under the Articles of Confederation. Describe the powers of and limits on the national government under the Articles of Confederation, and explain why the Articles eventually proved ineffective. How were the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation addressed in the Constitution?