Changes

The United States Constitution guarantees a [[republican form of government]]. With elected executives (governor/president) and legislatures.  In parliamentary democracies, the executive and legislative branches are not separate.  In them parties form winning coalitions and the coalition controls both the government and the parliament.

The United States Constitution guarantees a [[republican form of government]]. With elected executives (governor/president) and legislatures.  In parliamentary democracies, the executive and legislative branches are not separate.  In them parties form winning coalitions and the coalition controls both the government and the parliament.

==Greece==

==Greece==

In ancient [[Athens]], male citizens (not women, children or slaves) were allowed to vote in the Assembly which made the laws of the city-state. Citizens did not elect representatives--they acted themselves.  This form survives in "town meetings" in small New England villages.

In ancient [[Athens]], male citizens (not women, children or slaves) were allowed to vote in the Assembly which made the laws of the city-state. Citizens did not elect representatives—they acted themselves.  This form survives in "town meetings" in small New England villages.

== Debate over the merits of democracy ==

== Debate over the merits of democracy ==

The United States, Britain, Canada and many other countries mostly utilize a [[first past the post system]] for elections.  The highest vote-getter wins. This limits the number of [[political parties]] and helps to stabilize the system, in contrast to democracies which use [[proportional representation]] where a party winning 5% of the vote is guaranteed a seat. [[Italy]], [[Germany]], [[France]], and [[Israel]] have at times had over 10 parties represented in their legislatures.   

The United States, Britain, Canada and many other countries mostly utilize a [[first past the post system]] for elections.  The highest vote-getter wins. This limits the number of [[political parties]] and helps to stabilize the system, in contrast to democracies which use [[proportional representation]] where a party winning 5% of the vote is guaranteed a seat. [[Italy]], [[Germany]], [[France]], and [[Israel]] have at times had over 10 parties represented in their legislatures.   

==Further Reading==

==Further reading==

* Dahl, Robert. ''On Democracy'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Yale-Nota-Bene/dp/0300084552/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search], by a leading theorist

* Dahl, Robert. ''On Democracy'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Yale-Nota-Bene/dp/0300084552/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search], by a leading theorist

* Dunn, John. ''Democracy: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-History-John-Dunn/dp/0871139316/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]  

* Dunn, John. ''Democracy: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-History-John-Dunn/dp/0871139316/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]  

'''DEMOCRACY''' - That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy."

'''DEMOCRACY''' - That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy."

<Ref> Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, P. 432</Ref>

<ref>Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, P. 432</ref>

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