ABSTRACT
Democracy, democratic institutions, and democratic practices refer to a popular base; they presume purpose and effort by a substantial part of the population. There is good reason for addressing the author's inquiry to the first conception of democratic character presented in the chapter—the view that a political system is democratic if public officials are under some compulsion to satisfy the people. Government in the United States, in its conception and development, is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. People suggest courses of action that their officials might pursue, they induce their officials to move one way rather than another, they press restraints on officials, and they deal out rewards and punishments. Popular government, popular control of government, government by the people are short terms for instrumentalities and practices designed to achieve this goal. A democratic people pursue a democratic style of living and maintain a democratic type of government.
