A Running Commentary

Despite the tone of many a political speech, the United States is not a direct democracy. By design the American system is instead a representative one, placing a level of removal between the will of the people and governmental action. Where a pure democracy grants citizens direct control through vote or proxy, elected representatives exercise their own independent judgment on the people’s behalf.

The representative structure has several benefits, with practicality topping the list. Joe Blow citizen can’t be relied upon to decide the terms of a treaty with Tanzania, the annual state budget, or how many new snowplows a village needs. Representatives can make it their job to be knowledgeable and proficient on such matters.

Representatives also provide a layer of protection and objectivity, operating within a methodical system of checks and balances. Where an uninformed public is susceptible to rash decisions, representative government offers a safeguard against overreaction.

Finally, representatives are intended to be individuals of particular knowledge and ability. Community leaders who, despite the flack politicians often receive and deserve, are ideally suited for public responsibility. Such candidates by the people for a term. If the people don’t like the job they do, they fire them by voting them out the next time.

There are instances of direct democracy in the United States. Frequent examples include approvals of constitutional changes, local school budgets, and community zoning decisions on Wal-Marts. These scenarios are not the rule, nor should they be. Direct issue voting can be employed in political gerrymandering, such as Ohio’s inclusion of the gay marriage issue on the 2004 ballot to help drive out conservative votes for President Bush.

Given the representative nature of American government, the concept of primary delegates should not come as a surprise. The insulation of government from direct democracy and “the popular vote” is inherent in the American system. In fact, it wasn’t until the election of Andrew Jackson, president #7 if you’re counting, that regular citizens voted directly for the President at all. (The original design was for delegates to be sent by state legislatures, thus establishing an additional layer of removal.)

The main point here is that representative democracy in the United States is not a direct link between the will of the people and governmental policy or action. Primary delegate systems create a similar separation between the voting citizenry and the final nomination. But where do political parties drive the power to establish such systems? Glad you asked…

“Part 4: Democracy In The American System” to follow