defining democratic society in the Nov/Dec LD resolution

"In a democratic society" establishes the context for the November/December LD resolution. Defining "democratic," then, is important to determining the choice of a value and a criterion. In fact, I'd argue that this could be the most important definition. Any value chosen by either side must be defended as the core value of a democratic society.

So, let's see some definitional choices. You have several options: you could define each word separately (which we'll do first), or define the phrase (which we'll attempt at the end).

Dictionary.com (Random House):

1. pertaining to or of the nature of democracy or a democracy

And, of course, democracy means:

government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Merriam-Webster: 1: of, relating to, or favoring democracy. Democracy, of course, meaning:

1 a: government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

Black's Law Dictionary (8th edition) defines democracy thusly: Government by the people, either directly or through representatives.

Notice a pattern? All of these are focused on democracy as a form of government, which is fine--and defensible. When combined with "society," the phrase would mean a people or culture sharing a representative or directly-elected government. This is the definition that probably squares best with a "social contract" case based on Rousseau's conception (in particular) or Locke's version (with slight modification or allowances).

However, "democratic" also has a different connotation. Dictionary.com:

2. pertaining to or characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all

Merriam-Webster's:

3: relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of the people <democratic art>4: favoring social equality : not snobbish

These definitions work best with a value of equality or equal treatment under the law.

Next, "society." This shouldn't be too problematic. I like Merriam Webster's here:

3 a: an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another b: a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests

Either one would probably work for the purposes of your case.

Can we define the phrase as a phrase? Perhaps. A definition that comes quite close is found in an analytical passage from Cuban Communism, by Horowitz and Suchlicki, p. 430:

A truly democratic society is defined not only by its party structure, constitution, delegation of authority, or electoral representation, but by its capacity to tolerate and incorporate dissent.

If felon disenfranchisement becomes a way of squelching dissent, we have a germane definition.

If I can find better examples, I'll update this entry.

Last, for a more substantial analysis of the normative attractions and problems of democracy, see the Stanford Encylopedia's entry on the subject. Particularly useful is the section discussing the values justifying democracy--a few of which could be used as core values in your constructive.