Liberty, freedom, democracy, civic duty, and individual responsibility are five important components of the American political system. Liberty means that Americans have the right and should be able to do what they wish, with the exception that these privileges can be stripped away when someone else is harmed. Equality means that everyone should have an equal voice and a chance to succeed. Citizens should be able to hold the government accountable in a democratic system. Americans believe that citizens should take community relations seriously and assist where they can. Finally, individual responsibility refers to the American belief that people are responsible for their own decisions and well-being unless they are disabled.
The American electorate has changed since the first presidential election because the original process was ratified in the 12th Amendment allowing separate ballots for president and vice president. Three major expansions of the franchise since the election of 1788 is the process of the electorate presidential election, those who were eligible to vote, and those who had to pay poll tax or other tax.
