Democracy cannot exist without fundamental rights, opportunities and resources for its citizens. Rights allow for maximum freedom, opportunities allow citizens to exercise those rights, and resources make it possible to implement changes. Rights are a fundamental part of democratic institutions to provide protection to citizens and ensure the greatest possible freedom in a democracy. One of the most basic rights of universal suffrage, promised to the people of the United States in the Constitution, has been all but denied, except recently. This unequal protection of the rights of women and African Americans was corrected or attempted to be corrected with the 15th, 19th, and 24th Amendments of the Constitution (p. 128). The issue of voter suppression still exists with voter identification requirements in Wisconsin and voter exclusion (Cooper, 2011). Voter identification requirements in Texas allow for concealed weapons licenses to be accepted, but not student ID cards (Cooper, 2011). The system should not allow for the disenfranchisement of one class of voters or the favoritism of another. There is favoritism towards smaller states at the expense of larger ones. Some representation rights fall short of Congress's ideal goal. The right of equal representation is not in effect under the Senate bill. The power of small states to exert greater influence on the legislative process is damaging the democratic process. This power is also exercised on constitutional amendments to change its power and control. This problem carries over to the electoral college because of the “number of electors equal to the entire number of senators and representatives” of that state (p. 81). The continued use of voters...... middle of paper ......to hear or face the wrath of revolution or rebellion. Civil rights protests that brought about civic changes can be seen as an example of changes brought about by demands for greater political equality. Income and wealth inequality is exerting a greater influence on political life. With this control over the political process, changes are allowed to be in the hands of a few, largely oligarchic institutions. Works Cited Super pacs. (2011, September 30). Retrieved from http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/superpacs.php? Cycle=2012Cooper, M. (2011, October 02). New state rules raise hurdles at the polls. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/us/new-state-laws-are-limiting-access-for-evoters.htmlDahl, R. A. (2003). How democratic is the American Constitution?. (2 ed.). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.