Is the Unites States Political System a Legitimate Democracy

In any system which claims to be democratic, a question of its
legitimacy remains. A truly democratic political system has certain
characteristics which prove its legitimacy with their existence. One
essential characteristic of a legitimate democracy is that it allows
people to freely make choices without government intervention. Another
necessary characteristic which legitimates government is that every vote
must count equally: one vote for every person. For this equality to
occur, all people must be subject to the same laws, have equal civil
rights, and be allowed to freely express their ideas. Minority rights
are also crucial in a legitimate democracy. No matter how unpopular
their views, all people should enjoy the freedoms of speech, press and
assembly. Public policy should be made publicly, not secretly, and
regularly scheduled elections should be held. Since "legitimacy" may be
defined as "the feeling or opinion the people have that government is
based upo...