The United States is globally recognized as a beacon of freedom and democracy. Its statue of liberty, defiant tale of independence, and gradual domination of this world produce a certain aura of infallibility. This reverence is especially evident in the manner in which people view the Constitution. Robert A. Dahl challenges this outlook of perfection and instead pinpoints the approval of slavery, three-fifths compromise, the inconceivable power of the Supreme Court, and the reasoning behind the composition of the Senate as examples of the undemocratic features of a seemingly democratic nation.
             The United States endorsement of slavery casts a dark shadow over its further demands for freedom. In fact it comes as no surprise that issues regarding this are the first to be assessed by Dahl. Article I section 9 forbade Congress to abolish such an inhuman practice. While Article IV section 2, as the author contends, adds "insult to injury" by complacence with the notion that one should return such a "Person held to service or labor in one state" in other words, a runaway slave to its master. These two examples require no great explanation as to why they fail to be democratic. The institution itself denies freedom and yet the three fifths compromise actually includes these people in the states' portion of seats in the House of Representatives. The author and Dahl observe this as another flagrant illustration of absolute disregard for democracy, and more so, common humanity.
             The Supreme Court and its policies are regarded as the final authority on any major legal issues in this Country. Its decisions actively affect according to Dahl"... the lives and welfare of millions of Americans (88)". The author briefly mentions the School segregation question, and other inequalities that were remedied by this system of justice. Yet he also included several controversial cases such as Dred Scott v. Sanford, an...