How democratic is America today?

Large corporations/wealthys influence in Washington

Campaign finance/contributions
Legislators influenced by donors
Lynda Powell (Political Science professor at University of
Rochester found strong evidence that donations directly influence the
legislative process. Using a national analysis of state legislators [she] documents
the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which money buys influence from setting a
party's agenda, to keeping bills off the floor, to adding earmarks and crafting key
language in legislation. (rochester.edu)
Lynda Powell--"But even the best intentioned legislator receiving
money from an interest group is likely to at least listen to what donors have to
say. And if you are hearing much more from people who donate money to you, it
is hard not to be swayed by the greater body of argument and evidence from
donors."

(Martin Gilens)
affluent have much more influence in policy than
lower/middleclass (Martin Gilens, the monkey cage.org) & are more likely
to donate
But if influence becomes so unequal that the wishes of most
citizens are ignored most of the time, a countrys claim to be a democracy is cast
in doubt. (Martin Gilens)
These findings suggest that political representation functions
reasonably well for the affluent. But the middle-class and the poor are essentially
unrepresented (unless they happen to share the preferences of the well-off).

(Martin Gilens)
Lobbyists

 Work for companies, organizations, or unions: try to

influence government policy in their favor
Corporations spend $2.6 billion/year on lobbying > $2
billion/year spent on funding House + Senate (the atlantic)
For every dollar spent on lobbying by labor unions and
public-interest groups together, large corporations and their associations
now spend $34. (the atlantic)
access legislators give to lobbyists clearly is biased in favor of
campaign donors. (Powell)

Democracy = power in the hands of the public/all citizens. When $$$ influences
elected representatives (legislators) it takes power away from the public, and gives it
to a smaller wealthy group = plutocracy (rule by wealthy)/aristocracy
Electoral College
Designed because founders feared direct democracy (mob rule)--republic
(a) small number of persons, selected by their fellowcitizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the
information and discernment requisite to such complicated
investigations.--Alexander Hamilton Federalist Papers #68 (huffington
post)
System favored slave states (could count slaves in # of electors
as person, but slaves couldnt vote) (Akhil Reed Ahmar, time.com)
presidential candidates can lose popular vote, but win election
538 electors (majority = 270)
# of electors/state = #of house representatives + 2 (# of senators)--disproportionate # of
electors in small states (see Wyoming chart)
Candidates have group of electors in each state, voting for candidate = voting for their electors
Most states: winner-take -all
Maine/Nebraska: proportional representation
Electors vote for president and vice president
Fed law/constitution doesnt require electors to vote the same as popular vote in state (there
are state laws/pledges to political parties)--unlikely! >99% vote as pledged
(www.archives.gov)
Smaller states have more power e.g.
State

Population

# of electoral votes

# of people each
elector represents

Wyoming

584,153

194,717

California

38,800,000

55

705,454

1 vote in Wyoming = 3.6 votes in California (huffington post)

This is undemocratic, not because there are representatives, but because the

representation is unequal, which distorts the value of the votes, so not every citizens
vote counts equally. Equal voting is a democratic value!
How democratic was ancient Athens?
Exclusion in Athenian Democracy
Only citizen males 18+ in assembly (10-20% of Athens population)
dominated by wealthy, influential, and great speakers
swayed by demagogues (play to public desires/prejudice to
win support, not rational)
At times lacked info for informed decisions
Citizens must be native born + both parents = citizens
Magistrates and jurors = 30+
Women--had citizenship but couldnt participate/vote
Lived private life (household duties)
Role in religious celebrations/festivals
Represented in court by leading male of household
Slaves--no rights, treated as property
Limited protection from abuse/injury
Freed slaves = metics, could win citizenship
resident foreigners (metics)--couldnt vote or hold elected positions
Couldnt own land (except special circumstances), but law
protected property rights
Access to courts (special official for their cases)
Truly only a minority (10-20%) of the Athenian population (citizen males 18+) was in
power in the democracy (equality applied only to male citizens). Really, the male
citizens were a privileged minority that ruled the rest of Athens population.
Directness & structure of Athenian democracy kept power in the hands of all the male
citizens
Athens' constitution is called a democracy because it respects the interests
not of a minority but of the whole people. . . . everyone is equal before the law. .
. what counts is not membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which
the man possesses. No one. . . . is kept in political obscurity because of poverty.
(Thuc. 2.37) (Ancient History encyclopedia)

Assembly--made and voted on laws/decisions **direct democracy**

All male citizens 18+
All could speak/vote
***Attendance paid for at certain times so poorer citizens
could participate (not for profit)
Council of 500
50 citizens each from 10 tribes, chosen by lot
Served 1 year -terms, 2 non-consecutive term max
Executive committee--50 from 1 tribe, tribes alternated
throughout the year

 Law Courts--challenged laws of assembly, decided on

ostracism/naturalization
6,000 jurors + group of chief magistrates chosen by lot each
year
Checks and Balances
each region had equal power
choice by lot/short terms so no one could obtain too much
power/become too influential + to decrease corruption (cant bribe
random lottery)
Ostracism--assembly could vote to remove any citizen who
became too powerful/dangerous
The structure of Athens democracy made it very democratic!
It was direct--citizens wrote the laws they voted for and served on the committees that
implemented the laws (no system of representation)
A system of checks and balances + payments to help poorer citizens participate in the
assembly, helped keep power in the hands of the people and away from a single
wealthy/powerful group