Outline

10/30

1. The legislative branch is most closely tied to the citizens because the officials are directly elected, rather than appointed. The constitution created limits on majority rule by putting the House of Representatives in sole control of voting. Additionally, the constitution limited control of different sections in the government by giving different powers to different positions, such as two year senator terms. The primaries have created a more democratic nation because it allows voters to be a part of the election process and allows them to select a president they want to represent them. Similarly, the expansion of suffrage has also created a more democratic America by including people, other than white males, in the voting process so they, too, can be represented by a person of their choice.
2. People can participate in politics by petitioning and by civil disobedience. Petitioning requires advocates to go out into the public and get signatures for a cause. This can be beneficial because it can educate citizens on important issues and hopefully help them to form an opinion besides indifference. Civil disobedience is beneficial participation because it expresses the intense opinions of some Americans, without the violence used often in protesting.