A central problem of liberal democratic governance is how to balance out the principle of majority rule with counter-majoritarian measures to avoid what James Madison referred to as a “tyranny of the majority.” Choose two or three limits on majority rule in the United States and compare these to the constitutional structures in two (2) of these countries outside of the US that we are discussing in the course (France, Germany, Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or even the European Union). Do these constitutions have similar limits? In what ways do they differ? Based on your own normative preferences, which system seems to handle the problem of balancing out majority rule and the rights of the minority best, and why?
Your paper should be approximately four (4) double-spaced pages in length (roughly 1,000 words), and it is worth 200 points. Be sure to give citations for all sources you quote or use in a substantive way (including any on-line sources you may use), with a reference page at the end using either MLA or Chicago formatting. Try to organize your answer well, with both introductory and concluding paragraphs indicating the overall direction of the paper, and the general argument that you are making.
