Democracy can be defined as a form of government, where a constitution guarantees basic personal and political rights, fair and free elections, and independent courts of law. Democracy has affected Canada in different ways but, although Democracy is a general concept for a governing process but can have quite different manifestations because of the exercising of decision-making, subject to rule of law and rights and freedoms of individuals.
Representative democracy is known as a type of democracy which is founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people. According to the textbook ‘Introduction to Political science’ completed by Logan Masilamani, the term ‘Democracy’ is also known as “rule by the people”. The way
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The Greek city state of Athens adopted a system of direct democracy, and direct democracy is known as a system in which citizens make governing decisions themselves. The concept of direct democracy has not been eradicated, yet democracy in our modern time is generally associated with the concept of elected representation of citizens. The French Revolution occurred during the year(s) 1789 to 1799 and it challenged the “divine right” of kings and came up with the idea of rule by the people and also the human right to freedom and equality to the forefront of political discussion. The French Revolution also provided inspiration for those who thought that the revolutionary action was necessary for a successful struggle by the people against the rich and powerful and for the creation of an equal society. Meanwhile, an alternative route to a democratic political system has gone through the development of legislative institutions, in which the citizens choose to elect representatives to act on their behalf. For instance, after the American Revolution which occurred 1775–1783, the founders of the United States authorized a republic in which the …show more content…
The advancement of working-class and socialist movements pressured governments to adopt the universal adult suffrage. Indeed, the elites of the society feared that the if they failed to include the growing working class, it could result in revolution. Therefore, there was a determined action by the suffragette movement that led to the extension of the right of women to vote and hold office, although a number of countries were slow to respond. Countries like, Canada, Brazil, Greece, United Arab Emirates and so on. In Canada, provincial governments were generally responsible for deciding who had the right to vote whether in provincial and federal elections until the year 1920. The requirements included rules that some states excluded many people from
Faculty Senate at Truman State University is one small peg in the tradition and history that is representative government and democracy. The term ‘democracy’ is a Greek term that means rule of the people . The earliest democracy and representative government began in Greece, Athens specifically. When representatives were chosen they were selected from wealthy, white males. Usually the men who were chosen were the richest of the possible selection .
Before that can be established, I think a definition of democracy should be stated so that it may be called upon later in this essay. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, democracy is stated as "the principle of social equality and respect for the individual within a community" .
Democracy is a system where society takes control of voting and chooses presidents to their liking; voting was based on the people’s interests. The Missouri Compromise, the Corrupt Bargain, and the Spoils System were all conferring factors in the rise of democracy. Democracy became a way for people to vote for their best interest.
Different states have various ways of ruling and governing their political community. The way states rule reflects upon the political community and the extent of positive and negative liberty available to their citizens. Canada has come a long way to establishing successful rights and freedoms and is able to do so due to the consideration of the people. These rights and freedoms are illustrated through negative and positive liberties; negative liberty is “freedom from” and positive liberty is “freedom to”. A democracy, which is the style of governing utilized by Canada is one that is governed more so by the citizens and a state is a political community that is self-governing which establishes rules that are binding.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary Democracy is a form of government by the people; especially: rule of the majority(Webster). This is what the United States is represented as, and this is based on the United States Constitution from which the United states draws all legal powers. In Robert Dahls book How democratic Is the American Constitution? He challenges this idea by trying to appeal to his readers in a way that they may view the United States Constitution in a different light. Dahl does this by pointing out flaws that the Constitution has and, draws on facts based on the other democracies around the world that the United States is compared too. He points out how many democratic ideas and innovations have a occurred since the conception of the American Constitution yet it has only adopted some of those idea.
Democracy is the structure of government still used today in many countries.The definition of democracy is a system of government where people who rule directly are freely elected representatives.In addition, democracy comes from the Greek word demokratia. Demo meaning people and kratia meaning power of rule. For instance, here is an example, Great Britain has a democratic government since elected officials and laws are voted on by the people and also the representatives they elect. Therefore Athens exemplifies a democratic government. “Athenians would meet and vote on a simple question …. is anyone becoming a threat to democracy? If a simple majority voted yes,then they dispersed and reassembled two months later,
The notion of representative government distinguishes from the notion of representative democracy. McHugh J in Theophanous said that representative democracy describes a society where an equality of rights is existed. In McGinty, it also pointed that the notion of representative democracy requires the people to have an ‘equal electorate’.
One of the contemporary definitions of democracy today is as follows: “Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives; Rule by the majority” (“Democracy” Def.1,4). Democracy, as a form of government, was a radical idea when it manifested; many governments in the early history of the world were totalitarian or tyrannical in nature, due to overarching beliefs that the strong ruled over the weak.
Representative democracy is when citizens of one country select a person to represent them in different decision-making processes connected to the government and nation. After elections, only representatives are involved in some decision-making processes, but not whole citizens of a country. It means that only a few chosen people make a decision for an entire nation and representatives are more likely to have a less experience about the life of ordinary people that is why sometimes they cannot make a best choice for their nation. Except that, by using power which is given them by nation they are able to create a law within partnership with other representatives that ordinary people would be against.
Democracy Government: Formal Definition: The body with the power to make decisions for a society. Informal Definition: The governing body of a country. Example: The Canadian government.
A memorable expression said by President Abraham Lincoln reads, “Democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Democracy, is a derived from the Greek term "demos" which means people. It is a successful, system of government that vests power to the public or majority. Adopted by the United States in 1776, a democratic government has six basic characteristics: (i) established/elected sovereignty (where power and civic responsibility are exercised either directly by the public or their freely agreed elected representative(s)), (ii) majority rule(vs minority), (iii) (protects one’s own and reside with) human rights, (iv) regular free and fair elections to citizens (upon a certain age), (v) responsibility of
What is democracy? Democracy a form of government in which the people freely elect representatives to govern them in a country, democracy guarantees free and fair elections, basic personal and political rights and independent court of law. There are two types of democracy, direct and indirect democracy. Direct democracy or pure democracy is where there is direct participate of the people; people make decisions for them instead of letting them representative make decision for them. Indirect democracy the decisions are made by the representative on behalf of the people that voted for them. All over the world people are having different views with regard to democracy and how it operates. “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried” ~ Winston Churchill, some have said democracy is the worst government form of government which I also think it’s! Due to the how it operates.
Direct democracy means forms of direct participation of citizens in democratic decision making in contrast to indirect or representative democracy, based on the sovereignty of the people. This can happen in the form of an assembly democracy or by initiative and referendum with ballot voting, with direct voting on issues instead of for candidates or parties. Sometimes the term is also used for electing representatives in a direct vote as opposed to indirect elections (by voting for an electing body, electoral college, etc.), as well as for recalling elected officeholders. Direct democracy may be understood as a full-scale system of political institutions, but in modern times, it means most often specific decision-making institutions in the broader
Democracy has come to mean a principle under whose flag has most of the developed countries aced in their race for Imperialism. It has gone beyond all previous governing systems and has made room for progress and development. By offering free and fair elections, democracy has redefined human dignity and patriotism. It has also helped to improve decision-making among the citizens, and brought down the crime level. Democracy is for sure the most fitting among the other types of government, and needs to be implemented fully for effective functioning of a state.
Democracy refers to a system of governance in which the supreme powers are vested in the hands of people and is exercised by them indirectly or directly through a system of representation which involves periodic free and fair elections (http://www.zesn.org.zw/publications/publication_280.pdf). Most importantly, the rule of is needed to ensure that governors are held accountable through elections that are free and fair (Rose, R 2009)