America, Democracy, and the Role of Elections

Abstract

"Elections are the central institution of democratic representative governments. Why? Because, in a democracy, the authority of the government derives solely from the consent of the governed. The principal mechanism for translating that consent into governmental authority is the holding of free and fair elections. – This according to the U.S. Department of State publication What is democracy? Elections, combined with strong democratic institutions, rule of law, and a civic culture, make democracies work. These elections will have an opportunity to add a historic chapter in America’s democratic tradition. After giving a brief background on some of the vagaries of American politics, I will highlight two interesting trends, Internet influence and changing voting patterns, and will attempt to put the upcoming election in its historical context."(...)