How democratic is the United States?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
A country’s Global Freedom score and status is based on its level of political rights (voting, free and fair elections, etc.), and civil liberties (civil rights, freedom of speech, equal protection for all, etc.). Based on the data from the visual above, identify political rights and civil liberties scores for the United States in 2025.
Although these terms are not perfectly synonymous, we will use the terms democracy and freedom interchangeably in today’s class starter. Based on the data from the visual above, on a scale of 0-100 with 100 being the most free, what is the 2025 overall score and status of freedom in the United States?
Based on the current freedom score in the Untied States that you identified in the question above; and based on the trajectory of American freedom as shown in the visual below, plot the current level of American democracy, and describe the trend (change over time since 2008) that you see in the data.
Freedom House has been tracking a gradual decline in respect for political rights and civil liberties in the United States over the past decade. The deterioration was initially marked by harmful new restrictions on voting, legislative gridlock that has made it nearly impossible for the country to address serious public policy challenges, and the growing political influence of well-funded special interest groups. Why do you think American democracy/freedom is moving in the direction you described above?
Based on the present trajectory of American democracy, predict whether the Trump administration will increase or decrease the level of political rights (voting, free and fair elections, etc.), and civil liberties (civil rights, freedom of speech, equal protection for all, etc.).
Our current Global Freedom score makes America the 57th most free country in the world out of 210 countries (see chart below)*, below Mongolia, South Korea, Samoa, and many others . Based on your expectations about American democracy relative to the rest of the world, how surprising is that ranking?
Based on the ideals of the Framer’s who wrote in The Declaration of Independence that. “All men are created equal.” And also the reality that The United States Constitution did not once use the word “democracy,” and also did not grant equal political status to men and women, the enslaved, the poor, and other groups of people. Make a claim about how the Framers would have reacted to the United States being ranked so low in democracy and freedom.
If you had to chose between having political rights (voting, free and fair elections, etc.), or civil liberties (civil rights, freedom of speech, equal protection for all, etc.), which would you choose and why?
In its latest report, Freedom House identified some key flaws in American democracy. These include: 1. Unequal treatment, 2. Improper influence, 3. Partisan polarization. The report offers three solutions to increase American Democracy. 1. Lower barriers to voting as part of a comprehensive effort to address racial injustice, 2. Curb the influence of money in politics by tightening campaign finance laws, 3. Reduce political polarization and extremism by establishing independent redistricting commissions. We will learn more about the specifics of these proposals throughout the year, but as you think about these issues, which do you think is the biggest threat to American Democracy?
Think about the current state of democracy in the United States and list the most powerful steps citizens could take to increase and advance American democracy.
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Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Contact your U.S. Senators (you have two) or U.S. House Representative (you have one), explain the current trajectory of American democracy and suggest one thing they could do to strengthen American democracy.
Get Creative
What sports team would be similarly good at its sport as the United States is at global freedom?
Learning Extension
Explore the 2025 Freedom House Country Scores and the methodology used to calculate the scores.
