Final answer:
The establishment of a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House of Representatives is the provision that most closely approximates popular, majoritarian democracy in the constitution originally ratified in 1788.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the provisions in the constitution originally ratified in 1788, the establishment of a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House of Representatives most closely approximates popular, majoritarian democracy. This is because the members of the House of Representatives were the only federal officials directly elected by the people, reflecting the principle of majoritarian rule.
In contrast, the Electoral College system for electing the President, the appointment of Supreme Court justices by the President with Senate confirmation, and the requirement for a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto were all designed to temper direct democratic influence and provide checks and balances.
The framers of the Constitution aimed to blend democratic principles with a system of representation and checks on power. While popular democracy was important, they sought to avoid what they feared as the potential for mob rule inherent in a pure democracy. As a result, the original Constitution contains elements that dilute the direct influence of the populace, such as having state legislatures elect Senators (changed by the Seventeenth Amendment) and the formation of the Electoral College for selecting the President.