Democracy, of course, did not begin in the United States. The idea of democracy--a government by the people--originated with the ancient Greeks and has been embellished, enhanced, perverted, and, in some cases, nearly destroyed by governments and peoples around the world since then.

In twenty-first-century America, democracy remains a hotbed issue for citizens of every age and from every background. It is not the concept of democracy that Americans question but instead our country's interpretation of it. Our democracy is fraught with controversy; from its politicians to its elections to its legislation to its foreign policy, the United States is constantly bombarded by questions, both from within, and from without.

As Americans, it is our responsibility to take those questions seriously. After all, a government by the people loses its meaning if the people are no longer involved. As Christians, however, it is also our responsibility to understand those questions and the challenges they illustrate.

This four-session study is part of the Religion and Politics Study Pack II; however, it may also be studied apart from the pack. The four sessions examine a brief history of American democracy and challenges to it, including voting access, what it takes to get elected, and earmarks and filibusters.