“Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities — not the salt in our bread but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad — greater even than the bounty of our material blessings.”
— President Jimmy Carter, from farewell address, Jan. 14, 1981
National identity centers around a set of shared values that are woven into the fabric of society, shaping our daily lives in a variety of ways. In the United States, the ideals of democracy are at the core of our shared values and identity. But what are democratic values? How are human rights foundational to democracy? And how do these values help us understand our politics, government and country today?
The Declaration of Independence resonates with the foundational ideals of democracy. The preamble to the Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The Declaration, therefore, established two crucial values of democracy:
- Natural rights — the concept that all people have “unalienable” or fundamental rights. The idea of natural rights is the foundation for modern ideals of human rights.
- Popular sovereignty and limited government — the idea that people give government authority and, therefore, have a right to participate in political power. Through a social contract, people give up some freedom to government for the protection of their natural rights. However, the power of government is limited in order to protect the rights of the people.
The United States’ endeavor to realize these values began with the Declaration and continued into the Constitution that established our system of government. However, the central tenets of American democracy are far from simple. The complexities of freedom and the entwined set of democratic values yield a variety of perspectives on the application of these values.
The writers of the Constitution compromised on slavery, among other issues, and by doing so, built a nation that in its founding excluded groups from freedom and equal participation. The realization of the Declaration’s democratic values for all people was, therefore, far from the reality, especially for Black and Indigenous people. But even in the compromises of our nation’s founding, a push toward expanding democracy always existed.
- The tension between exclusion and inclusion — between the compromises that denied freedom to some and the struggles to ensure our nation truly lives up to the ideals of democracy and equality for all — is also built into the nation’s foundation.
There were always people who believed in freedom, who were abolitionists, who understood that this nation could be more than its circumstances. The struggles to end slavery, for racial equality, for women’s rights are equally foundational to our national identity. The core values that shaped our national identity, therefore, include the challenge to expand the institution of democracy to more people than those first represented in our nation’s founding compromises. The values mentioned in the Declaration extend to values related to liberty and equality, including justice, diversity and belonging.
“The values at the heart of a multiracial, inclusive democracy are freedom of expression and assembly and authentic representation of the communities our democracy serves. The leaders we elect should not just hold office to put forward their own interests but to meaningfully advance the interests of everyone in their jurisdiction. All of those values necessitate active participation of the people. Democracy can only thrive when we fuel it with our voices, votes and healthy discussion and debate about how we move the country forward.”
— Margaret Huang
Read More:
“A Time of Transformation and Possibility” from Learning for Justice magazine, Fall 2023.
Freedom, Fundamental Rights and the Common Good
Community and belonging to the collective are crucial for the function of democracy. Given the role of individual responsibility in a democratic society, feeling that you are part of the collective whole acting toward the common good of all people is essential. Government in democracy should serve the needs of everyone. This is both a commitment and a challenge, because within the collective whole there are diverse experiences and perspectives to be heard and respected if they do not cause harm to others — a concept known as pluralism.
- Freedom (or liberty) is the bedrock of American national identity and is woven into society through policies and practices that define social and political life.
The notion of freedom does not mean the ability to do anything that you wish at any given time. Instead, it’s crucial that we consider how our actions and the rights that we have affect others, and we must work together to improve our communities, understand one another, and realize the values that freedom affords us.
The meaning of freedom as defined by the Constitution, specifically in the first 10 amendments, has endured since the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1789. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, the press, and peaceful assembly, as well as the right to petition the government over grievances. These protections provide people with the right to speak their minds and have dialogue about national issues without fear of punishment. Further, these rights rely on government regulation to avoid the chaos that would ensue if everyone could completely do as they please.
The Bill of Rights protects not only those rights specifically mentioned, but also others that are considered fundamental rights, and our democratic system places limits on the political majority when that majority would act in ways that limit rights and protections to a minority or historically marginalized group.
“The theory behind fundamental rights is that there are aspects of life that are too important to an individual—too central to human dignity—to make the individual’s ability to enjoy them contingent on the outcome of an election.”
Read More:
“Exclusion is Unconstitutional” by Khiara Bridges from Learning for Justice magazine, Spring 2023.
Living in a pluralistic society necessitates respect for diversity so the spectrum of experiences and worldviews can peacefully coexist for the common good. A 2018 Pew Research study found that 84% of respondents believe that the rights and freedoms of all people should be respected. Liberty in the U.S. largely grants the freedom to live life as you see fit with regard to respect for laws, provided you do not impinge on the rights or well-being of others.
A pluralistic approach to living allows for people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and identities to exist both individually and as part of the collective. Approaching life through this lens demonstrates acceptance of everyone regardless of their identities. Freedom of religion, for example, recognizes that the U.S. has no national religion, thereby allowing people to choose what religion they would like to practice, or to practice no religion at all. Connecting with others who have different beliefs, lifestyles and cultures provides a valuable opportunity to learn more about the world we share.
Equality and Justice
Respecting the rights and freedoms of all people is a cornerstone of equality, another central value of democracy.
- Equality is treating everyone with the same respect and providing equal opportunities for all.
The Civil Rights Movement, along with other equal rights movements in history, are synonymous with the continued struggle for equality. Equal treatment and protections by law often comes to mind when thinking of equality in society, yet it is more generally applicable across society.
Equal access to opportunities and resources is required for people from all backgrounds and is important in education, resources and throughout society, down to the ground we walk on being accessible for those with reduced mobility. For example, research indicates learners have varying needs; therefore, policies and practices such as individual education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans provide learning accommodations for students with special needs. These practices demonstrate the importance of receiving a quality education.
Equality extends to access to such resources as housing and food. The cost of high-quality food continues to soar, forcing families with lower incomes to consider less healthy options that may lead to more illness. And access to quality health care is also a major hurdle for many families in the U.S., especially when an employer does not offer low-cost health benefits. Access to quality education, work, food and health care are all related to a system that, at present, does not fully realize the values that we espouse as a nation. But we can address issues related to equal access to reduce the barriers that many face in achieving a thriving life. Removing these barriers is an important step in transforming the U.S. into a just society.
To protect the freedoms and rights afforded to individuals, laws and societal expectations that hold everyone accountable are essential. Justice is a value that welcomes equity for all people. Equity goes beyond equality by recognizing that the needs of individuals are not all the same. This principle is closely linked with diversity and the recognition that we each have different needs.
- Justice provides for the adherence to the rules and laws that protect the rights of all people regardless of race, class, gender, ethnicity, religion or other characteristics, and holds people — including those in positions of power — accountable to those rules and laws.
Elements of a Thriving Democracy
For a representative democracy to thrive, crucial elements must be in place. The United Nations identifies the following characteristics:
- Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- Freedom of association, expression and opinion.
- Access to power and its exercise in accordance with the rule of law.
- Free and fair elections by universal suffrage and by secret ballot as the expression of the will of the people.
- A pluralistic system of political parties and organizations.
- The separation of powers.
- The independence of the judiciary.
- Transparency and accountability in public administration.
- Free, independent and pluralistic media.
“Democracy is not a state. It is not some high plateau that we struggle to reach so we can finally settle down to rest. Democracy is an act. It is an act that requires participation, organization and dedication to the highest principles. It is an act, and a series of actions that require us to continuously verify our commitment to civil rights and social justice at every challenge.”
— Rep. John Lewis
Read More
“Reflections on a Dream Deferred,” Learning for Justice magazine, Spring 2008.
Reflecting on Our Democratic Values
Values connect us as a society, even when the particulars of how society operates differ. These differences, and the imperative to have dialogue about civic life, are fundamental to democratic society. Consider the following reflections on our shared democratic values:
- All people have fundamental human rights and freedoms. These rights should be protected equally under the law without regard for bias, the will of the majority or popular demands.
- Individual freedoms are balanced against respect for the fundamental human rights of all people and the common good. For example, individual freedoms are not an excuse to discriminate against others, promote exclusionary policies that limit some people’s rights and freedom, or participate in practices that harm others who do not share your beliefs.
- Government is given authority by the people to protect the rights of all the governed (not just the majority and not only of any one political party). Government must, therefore, respect everyone’s rights and provide equal protection to all.
- Democracy ensures equality and justice, especially protections for the rights of the minority. The demands of the majority (the idea of “majority rules” in decisions) must be balanced by respect for the rule of law and equal protections. If the will of the majority alone were the foundation of government, the biases of the majority would endanger the rights to equal protections for any minority.
The U.S. still has work to do to fully realize these values that are so inherent in our founding documents. Everyone must take action to address the shortcomings associated with each of these values. Understanding democratic values is an essential step in connecting how government works so we can resist disinformation and participate responsibly in civic life. Each of us has an important role in helping our communities and nation. By learning more about the systems and structures that govern society, we can plan and execute action that will bring the U.S. closer to the nation that lives up to its democratic values.
The late President Carter reminded us: “We know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges.”
Reflection and Action
1. Democratic Values: You and Your Community
- Reflect on your personal values and those of your family or community. What is important to you, and how are you living those values?
- What issues do you see in your community? Are these issues related to the values that are important for democracy to thrive? How can these issues be addressed to further realize democratic values in practice?
- How can you take action to help others live democratic values? Use our Action Planning Guide to organize action in your community for the common good.
2. Expanding Democracy
- In our democracy, who has power? Who doesn’t? Historically, who had power and who was excluded from equal participation? How is power related to the tension between exclusion and inclusion?
- Why is the concept of expanding democracy to those previously excluded an essential goal to truly living up to the values of democracy and the foundations of our nation?
3. Elements of a Thriving Democracy
- Review the list of elements for a thriving democracy. For each crucial elements, evaluate to what extent the U.S. — and/or more specifically, your state and community — honors these characteristics. What are some challenges to democracy in your community?
- What actions can you take to strengthen the elements necessary for a thriving democracy? (Consider, for example, how you engage with media and information: Are you careful about engaging with accurate information? Are you conscientious about not spreading disinformation?)