American democracy
Voters choosing representatives
American democracy refers to the system of representative government in the United States, characterized by elected officials, constitutional rights, and separation of powers.
The phrase often carries idealistic connotations—invoked to celebrate civic participation or critique its failures: American democracy depends on an informed electorate, Is American democracy in decline?
It can sound aspirational or ironic depending on the speaker's view of how well practice matches principle.
- CongressU.S. lawmaking body
- ballot boxContainer for cast votes
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- Declaration of IndependenceAmerica's founding proclamation
Liberty · Supreme Court · peaceful transfer · Emancipation Proclamation · Justice · Voting Rights Act · civic duty · town hall · grassroots movement · Federalism · Senate · House of Representatives · checks and balances · Bill of Rights · Reconstruction Era · First Amendment · free speech · Revolutionary War
American democracyautocracy
Rule by one
dictatorship · totalitarianism · absolute monarchy · tyranny · authoritarianism
American democracyNazi Germany
Hitler's fascist dictatorship
Third Reich · Soviet model · Marxism-Leninism · state socialism · fascist Italy
American democracystate worship
Idolizing governmental authority
cult of personality · divine right of kings · feudalism · communist ideology · fascist ideology
American, democracy, America, Americas, Americans, Americanism, Americanize, Americanization, democrat