Majority Rules, Minority Rights By Elizabeth Bisbeth Silber

Jacob Levy’s article works to explore different areas of cultural rights and the ways in which we may change the way we do things depending on the minority culture of the community. He breaks down cultural rights into different categories: exemptions, assistance, self-government, external and internal rules, recognition/enforcement, representation, and symbolic claims. He gives certain examples about each category, with instances such as having multilingual ballots to ease the voting process for minorities (assistance) or having proper representation in the legislature process.

Larger parts consistently undermine the benefits of minorities. There are only two techniques for avoiding perniciousness. The first is to assemble a successful government, a "gathering will." Such a "will' is greater than, and self-ruling of, the direct larger part (Madison.at.al.2008). This "plan" is hazardous in light of the way that such a lawmaking body may hurl its vitality behind a social affair in people in general eye clashing with the overall public incredible. In our country, the pro to regulate begins from the entire society. In addition, under the Constitution society is detached into numerous get-togethers of people who hold various points of view and have unmistakable interests. This makes it to a great degree troublesome for one assembling to summon or undermine the minority

They say majority rules and that couldn’t be more true in our society today. In order for the minority to be protected by the majority the U.S Constitution was written. Amendments in the constitution were put together to protect the U.S citizens. Federalist papers were written by James Madison, go through what responsibilities the government has to take on for its citizens.

Majorities often threaten the rights of minorities. There are only two methods of avoiding evil. The first is to construct a powerful government, a "community will." Such a "will' is larger than, and independent of, the simply majority. This "solution" is dangerous because such a government might throw its power behind a group in society working against the public good. In our country, the authority to govern comes from the entire society the people. In addition, under the Constitution society is divided into many groups of people who hold different views and have different interests. This makes it very difficult for one group to dominate or threaten the minority groups.

Two-tiered pluralism differs from pluralism because of the effect it has upon the minority groups of the nation. While there is an equal legal backing for all racial and ethnic communities, minorities are still undermined by the system thus becoming segregated. Moreover in politics, minority groups tend to be under seclusion even though the current enacted laws grant equality at all stages. The amount of resources given to minorities are very different to elites leading to the practices and outcomes to be unequal (Lecture 6). Pluralism is very different from the two-tiered pluralism framework as it focuses upon group-based competition and that everyone has equal opportunities

Supporters of gay marriage in the United States were a minority group for quite some time. (Green, 2015) The topic of homosexuality and same sex marriage is one that probes the primary question of whether or not same sex marriages are ones fundamental right under both the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (Lempert, 2015) The case of Obergefell v. Hodges was a case that held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to recognize and grant same sex marriage licenses to couples that have been granted that right in other jurisdictions. This case may be considered a significant decision of the United States

Popular involvement in politics, per Goldman, is the “desire of the stronger to take advantage of the weaker; of the few against the many.” To participate in elections and to vote is subjecting the minorities in society to the decision making of the mass. Alice Wexler discusses this in her biography of Goldman, An Intimate Life. Wexler argues that Goldman opposed parliamentary democracy because it subordinated the individual or minority to the will of majority. Goldman actively advocated for people not to vote, participate in electoral campaigns, or hold government positions. To participate in an exploitative state is to reinforce the cycle which oppresses. This claim is based off Goldman’s position in her essay Minorities versus Majorities, wherein she discusses quantity destroying quality. She argues that “the majority cannot reason; it has no judgement.” Martha Solomon further confers this in her review of Goldman’s Minorities. She claims Goldman has no faith in the democratic process because majority rule not only invades on the rights of minorities, but represents limitations of the masses. Rather than freeing the people, the ballot provides an illusion of power and encouragement to limit the freedom of others to fit one’s own

Marriage is a right that everyone should have and it shouldn't matter if races marry each other. The law at first was that inter-racial marriage is banned but then the Supreme Court fixed their wrong decision and unbanned it. Making another step towards equality because for the next generation they won't have to deal with this issue. “This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our states, in our homes and in our hearts, to eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in our beloved country.” - Lyndon B.

According to DOMA, “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife” (sec 3). Until recently 2013, the US Supreme Court finally delivered the verdict that declared section 3 of the DOMA, which is the rejection of right to gay marriage is unconstitutional (Shapiro 208). In “Gay Marriage Is A Fundamental Right” by Nathan Goetting, “The right to many, and to marry the person of one's choice, is a fundamental right and a necessary aspect of human happiness. This has been an explicitly stated abiding principle since the Court used its power of judicial review to strike down as unconstitutional a legislature's definition of marriage in 1967.” Currently, 17 states in the United States have legalized the right to same sex marriage. The realization of DOMA is unconstitutional has further evidenced that gay marriage is one of the civil right that should not be taken away by the government, and it is an inevitable changes that open doors for equality and equity.

America is facing an all-time low in voter participation. Since 2014 the voting population has decreased by “thirty-six and four-tenths percent” (DelReal). Many theories explain the stigma of voting in America. According to the Wolfgang “the leading theory is: many minority voters are discriminated upon and do not believe their vote will count.” Many laws created infringe on the rights of Americans, however, when citizens do not vote the government seizes control on controversial issues , which in turn creates solutions that are less than satisfactory to the civilians.

In any event once every decade, more often than not after a Census, area lines are redrawn, hinder by square. Populaces change. A few regions pick up inhabitants, some lose them. A few regions increment the quantities of minorities, a few areas lose them. Locale limits are redrawn to guarantee each area has about a similar number of individuals and to satisfy the protected certification that every voter has an equivalent say. When everything was controlled by majority than minority voices will be ignored. They indeed redistricted through gerrymandering which manipulates the outcome. But after lawsuit the plan came up with 14-1 it did somehow help the minority to representation in city council. It was not perfect but at least

The definition of marriage has changed over time. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the United States defined marriage as a union between a consenting man and woman, of non-African decent (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). This, however, changed after the civil war. In 1868 two consenting adults of opposite gender could marry someone of the same race, but this was also restructured in 1967 to allow marriage of all consenting adults of opposite genders regardless of race (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). Today, the law looks very different. Recently, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marriage (gay marriage, 2015).

The research will examine voting rights in relation to voting right inequalities and the society’s effort to have an all minority groups included in the civic process. The research will look into several historical factors that contributed to voting rights inequalities and how the society has evolved to solve issues related to the right to vote.

majority of people has been kept under the authority of the minority. It has been taught

During elections in countries with corrupt governments, for example, it has to be decided whether the guarantee of every individual’s right to vote or who wins is more important. (Wong, Lecture, October 24) Moreover, deep divides continue to exist and separate groups in democratic countries by race, religion, language, and class, resulting in tension and, in some cases, oppression. Thus democracy, despite its emphasis on liberty, equality and plurality, can still be problematic.