The Executive Branch (President and Cabinet) executes spending and Congressional instructions, makes appointments to certain governmental posts, and is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) exercises judicial review over the constitutionality and interpretation of laws; determines how Congress meant the law to apply, and has a panel that serves for life (Constitutional Topic: Separation of Powers).
There are a number of criticisms focused on the actual level of democracy or even democratic representation in the United States of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. First, many governmental officials (Supreme Court justices, etc.) are appointed, not elected, and therefore may operate outside the will of the populace. Second, in order to be elected to a state or national office now requires a huge amount of funding; putting elected office outside the purview of most people. Thus, it is not necessarily the "best" people who are electable, but those who can garner support and/or funding to go through the process. Third, because of the way political influence is organized, it is often the larger, more affluent interests (big business) that have the most influence in Washington due to Political Action Committees, the ability to hire Lobbyists, and larger campaign donations that provide greater access to politicians.
There are a number of things that could happen to move the United States to a more democratic philosophy, while still keeping the idea of representation viable. First, technologically, we are in an easier place to now allow more of the electorate to express their opinion on issues; perhaps not as a complete voting bloc, but at...
This could easily be done at all levels, from local to national. Second, while Congress has attempted to curtail overt influence from PACs and Lobby Groups, these are still a fact of life in Washington and the State Capitals. This type of influence is so often the product of wealthy organizations or companies that the true nature of democracy is often clouded by more of a theocracy. Third, and this might be inefficient, but the long-term and/or life-long appointment system in the Judiciary branch could be revamped. Finally, there are a number of bureaucratic inefficiencies that cause the U.S. system to bog down as opposed to being sensitive and strategic in approach to new and unfolding situations. This is particularly true in fiscal policy -- the American tax code is far from democratic, and far from egalitarian.
REFERENCES
Cassier, E. The Philosophy of the Enlightenment. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1968.
"Constitutional Topic: Separation of Powers." March 2009. U.S. Constitution.net. December 2010 .
Dahl, Shapiro and Cheibub. The Democracy Sourcebook. Boston: MIT Press, 2003.
"Democracy vs. Republic." June 2004. Albatrus.org. December 2010 .
Locke, J. Selected Political Writings. Ed. P. Sigmund. New York: Norton, 2005.
Rawls, J.A Theory of Justice. Boston: Harvard University Press, 1971.
-- . "Justice as Fairness." Philosophical Review 54.22 (1957): 653-62.
Stephens, G. Locke, Jefferson and the Justices: Foundations and Failures of the U.S. Government. New York: Algora Press, 2002.
