What model democracy did the founders want?

Kyle Hensel

Mr. Balanda

AP Government and Politics

27 September 2018


        There are three different models of democracy participatory, pluralist, and an elite democracy. A participatory democracy is where people rule the democracy. The pluralist democracy is where groups have power and rule. And the elite democracy is where the upper class rule and have power. I feel that the founders wanted a stable government that the people could rule in a pluralist democracy.

         I believe our democracy is a pluralist one because both the government and people have power. In this groups must compete bargain, and compromise to get policies they want. With this there are groups made called factions, they are groups of people that form who agree on the same idea or belief. I feel the founding father wanted factions and many were created so there wasn't always just one side to the argument and so there wasn't an over power to one side. I believe this because in Federalists 10 it states that "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." (Madison) This further shows that the people held power as well instead of the government holding it all. This also shows that the people can express their opinion and feel happy. With this Madison was smart and created the constitution with factions so no one over powers. Also this shows that today we live in a pluralist democracy. Another example of this with factions today could be considered the NRA (National Rifle Association). This was an example in class because they help gun owners get the laws they want passed by congress to make the people happy. This is only done though with the compromise of congress and them. This shows they are working for a group of people that agree with them to get policies that they want and to satisfy the people. But there is also another side this disagrees with the NRA and its supporters which just goes to show you that there are many viewpoints. With this it shows that there are factions and may side differently and create problems with one another and doesn't give the government to much power.

         With this there are still aspects of the other models of government which can be seen today. But in todays world no one is left out or over powered. With this the founders wanted a government where there was split power and everyone can express how they feel. With this I feel pluralists is the best for todays world out of participatory and an elite government. This then lets people be more involves but also limits the government's power