What is the least democratic region of the United States?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, using your big brain and the links below:
Democracy is a system of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through their elected representatives under a free and fair electoral system. Key principles include popular sovereignty (rule of the people), the right to vote, protection of human rights and freedoms, the rule of law, and government accountability to its citizens through regular elections. According to the visual above, how democratic is your state?
There are many ways to divide America, but one handy way to divide the U.S. is into the following Four Census Regions (see image below*):
Northeast: States like New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Known for cold winters, old history, and big cities.
Midwest: States like Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa. Known for flat land, farms, and the Great Lakes.
South: States like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Known for warm weather and a large population.
West: States like California, Washington, Colorado, and Alaska. Known for high mountains, dry deserts, and the Pacific coast.
According to the visual above, what is the least democratic region of the U.S.?
Why do you think some American regions are more democratic than others?
The Democracy Maps currently track more than 50 election laws, policies, and data points. Currently, states are scored on a rubric with a maximum of 34.5 points overall, with positive policies generally receiving one point. Conversely, some laws and policies that are designed to make elections more partisan, or to unnecessarily limit voting and civic engagement, are scored as negative. The democracy ratings in the map above look at the following areas: voter registration, voting in person, election security, representation & participation, voting by mail, and election independence and integrity. If you had to rank the entire country, based on an average of the state scores, how would you say the U.S. ranks overall: high, medium, fair, low, or negative?
Two pillars of democracy are voting rights (as shown in the visual above) and civil liberties and freedoms (freedom of speech, press, assembly, etc.). Explain how often you think people intentionally move from states with relatively low levels of voting rights and freedoms such as Arkansas or West Virginia - to states with high levels of democracy like Massachusetts or Colorado?
When we investigate education spending per state we find that generally the least democratic regions of our nation have the least amount of education spending. Look at the visual above and compare it to the visual below* that tracks party affiliation by state. Draw a conclusion about how party affiliation and levels of democracy are connected?
Federalism is a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government. Generally, an overarching national government is responsible for broader governance of larger territorial areas, while the smaller subdivisions, states, and cities govern the issues of local concern. Both the national government and the smaller political subdivisions have the power to make laws and both have a certain level of autonomy from each other. In the United States, the Constitution established a system of “dual sovereignty,” under which the States have surrendered many of their powers to the Federal Government, but also retained some sovereignty. How does the visual above illustrate the concept of federalism.
When our nation first began is was only 13 states spread over two regions: the North and the South. Even then, because slaves were not considered citizens or given the right to vote, the South - which was roughly one-third enslaved - was much less democratic than the north. In terms of democracy, how do these two regions compare today?
All other factors held equal, would you rather live in a more democratic or less democratic region of the United States?
If, as the Preamble to the Constitution asserts, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” How close to perfect is our Union?
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
Choose your state and learn more about its level of democracy. Contact your state’s governor and let them know what you think about your state’s democracy rating.
Get Creative
The President has decided to make the U.S. more democratic. What would be the first three steps you would advise the president to take to make the U.S. more democratic?
