ENGLISH ARTICLES

Democracy

Democracy is a form of government, a way of life, a goal or ideal, and a political philosophy. The term also refers to a country that has a democratic form of government. The word democracy means rule by the people. United States President Abraham Lincoln described such self-government as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The citizens of a democracy take part in government either directly or indirectly. In a direct democracy, also called a pure democracy, the people meet in one place to make the laws for their community.

The characteristics of democracy vary from one country to another. But certain basic features are more or less the same in all democratic nations. Free elections give the people a chance to choose their leaders and express their opinions on issues. Elections are held periodically to ensure that elected officials truly represent the people. The possibility of being voted out of office helps assure that these officials pay attention to public opinion.

In most democracies, the only legal requirements for voting or for holding public office have to do with age, residence, and citizenship. The democratic process permits citizens to vote by secret ballot, free from force or bribes. It also requires that election results be protected against dishonesty. Majority rule and minority rights. In a democracy, a decision often must be approved by a majority of voters before it may take effect. This principle, which is called majority rule, may be used to elect officials or decide a policy. Democracies sometimes decide votes by plurality. Most democracies go beyond a simple majority to make fundamental or constitutional changes. In the United States, constitutional amendments must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or by special conventions called in three-fourths of the states.

Majority rule is based on the idea that if all citizens are equal, the judgment of the many will be better than the judgment of the few. Democracy values freely given consent as the basis of legitimate and effective political power. But democracies are also concerned with protecting individual liberty and preventing government from infringing on the freedoms of individuals. Democratic countries guarantee that certain rights can never be taken from the people, even by extremely large majorities. These rights include the basic freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religious worship. The majority also must recognize the right of the minority to try to become the majority by legal means.

Political parties are a necessary part of democratic government. Rival parties make elections meaningful by giving voters a choice among candidates who represent different interests and points of view.

ELECTIONS

Election is the process by which people vote for the candidate or proposal of their choice. The basis of democratic government is that citizens have the right to choose the officials who will govern them. Elections thus rank as one of the most important political activities. Elections also serve as a means of peacefully transferring power from one person or group to another.

Most countries hold elections to select governmental officials. But in countries without democratic government, the people have little real choice. The only candidates allowed on the ballot are those approved by the leaders or by a single political party. In such countries, elections are held for propaganda reasons and to demonstrate popular support for the government. In addition to public elections, nongovernmental elections are also held to select the officials of many organizations. Labor unions, social clubs, and the student bodies of schools hold elections to select their officers.

ELECTIONS IN A DEMOCRACY

Election procedures differ from country to country. However, certain principles characterize elections in democratic nations. In the United States, Canada, and other democratic countries, nearly all adults can vote. Those not permitted to vote include certain criminals and people with severe mental illness or mental retardation. Citizens vote by secret ballot so that they can vote without fear of how others will react. The mass media–which include radio, television, magazines, and newspapers– freely discuss the candidates and issues.

In most democratic countries, political parties select candidates for public office and propose public policies. However, in some countries and in parts of the United States, local elections are nonpartisan–that is, candidates appear on the ballot without being identified by political party. Voters elect officials by either direct or indirect elections. In direct elections, the people themselves vote for public officials. In the United States, for example, citizens vote for members of Congress and for state and local officials in this way. In indirect elections, people elect representatives called electors to choose public officials. The U.S. President and Vice President are chosen in an indirect election. The voters of each state select electors, who make up the Electoral College. The electors in turn choose the President and Vice President based on the popular vote in the states they represent.

Under a parliamentary system of government, also called a cabinet system, citizens elect members of the legislature. The head of state–the king or queen of a monarchy or the president of a republic– then selects a prime minister from the members of the legislature. Australia, Canada, and certain other Commonwealth nations regard the British ruler as head of state. In such nations, the governor general makes the appointment, acting as the representative of the monarch. In most countries, the head of state can appoint only the leader of the majority party in the legislature or the head of a coalition of parties.