Democratic Systems PDF

Democratic Systems demos = people kratia = government Political Challenges to Liberalism Chapter 10 - pgs 332-356 THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY Locke: men are fundamentally reasonable; laws are needed to protect one's natural and property rights; Government must rest o...

Democratic Systems demos = people kratia = government Political Challenges to Liberalism Chapter 10 - pgs 332-356 THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY Locke: men are fundamentally reasonable; laws are needed to protect one's natural and property rights; Government must rest on the consent of the people and should interfere as little as possible in one's activities; rebellion is justified when government does not protect the rights of its people. THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY Rousseau: men must conclude a "social contract" to abide by the "general will" which always acts in the best interests of the group or the "common good," although this may not necessarily be the majority opinion. THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY Montesquieu: believed in the "separation of powers" and "checks and balances"; feared that the concentration of powers that could lead to a dictatorship. THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY Bentham: responsible for the theory of "utilitarianism" which states that the aim of all laws must be the greatest happiness of the greatest number. THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DEMOCRACY J.S. Mill: feared utilitarianism because he thought it could lead to tyranny of the majority. Power can be exercised over an individual only to prevent that individual from harming others. ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS OF A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM Wishes of the majority will be carried out Rule of Law ○ a) individual liberties will be protected by constitution from government tyranny or tyranny of the majority ○ b) equality before a law will be promoted among citizens ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS OF A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM Persuasion and not force will be used; right to dissent is to be guaranteed, making strikes and demonstrations legal, but limits to dissent will be enforced making the use of force such as civil disobedience, terrorism, rioting and revolution illegal. ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS OF A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM System will allow for and tolerate individual differences Free press is essential to democracy and will not be controlled by the government and will be free to criticize the government Political choices will be available; parties are to reflect a wide range of opinion ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS OF A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM Courts must be independent; cannot be influenced by political pressure Citizens to participate in the decision-making process ○ a) holding elections (franchise) ○ b) voting in a referendum or plebiscite ○ c) through pressure groups ○ d) through political parties ○ e) Acting as a jurors ○ f) use of the media Types of Democracy Direct, Representative & Proportional How do governments attempt to follow the will of the people? As we consider the question of whether the liberal principle of following the will of the people is viable in a contemporary world, we will see that this principle is an ideal toward which many governments aim, rather than a goal that they consistently achieve. How do governments attempt to follow the will of the people? A 2005 Gallup Poll commissioned by the BBC indicated that 65% of the world's citizens (55% in Canada and the US) thought that their countries )were not governed by the will of the people (that is, by listening to what the people want and trying to enact laws that address those needs and wants). The Will of the People A democracy is a form of government in which power is ultimately vested in the people. Direct Democracy a form of democracy in which the people as a whole make direct decisions, rather than have those decisions made for them by elected representatives. ○ Examples: referendums Direct Democracy Three important instruments of direct democracy: 1. initiatives petition drawn up by citizens 2. referendums (plebiscites) a vote for or rejection of proposed legislation - people make the decision 3. recalls a majority of voters may choose to remove an elected official or government from power  Historical Overview - Greece Ancient Athens about 500 BC to 200 BC  Historical Overview - Greece Only 15-20% of the adult population participated Citizens were adult males whose mother and father were both born in Athens (therefore, women and foreigners, as well as slaves, were not allowed to vote) Direct democracy  Historical Overview - Greece Critics included: Plato – saw democracy as unstable, and feared the people could be easily swayed by a leader who played on their fears and prejudices Aristotle – worried that democratic leaders would place their own interests first, ignoring the general welfare – feared a tyranny of the majority  Historical Overview – Six Nations (Iroquois) Featured: Decision making based in council decisions There was no “nobility” or governing class Matriarchal system Respected diversity – practiced federalism (union of 6 nations) Minority rights protected Control through “shame” as opposed to “punishment”  Aboriginal Contributions to Liberal Democracy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRP8C2xpy EQ&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1  Historical Overview – England 1215 – King John forced to sign the Magna Carta – established limits on the power of the monarchy 1688 – Glorious Revolution – Bill of Rights (1689) – no future monarch could govern without the consent of parliament (parliament superior to the crown)  1689 Bill of Rights (England) Freedom from royal interference with the law. Though the sovereign remains the fount of justice, he or she cannot unilaterally establish new courts or act as a judge. Freedom from taxation by Royal Prerogative. The agreement of parliament became necessary for the implementation of any new taxes. Freedom to petition the monarch. Freedom to elect members of parliament without interference from the sovereign. Freedom of speech and debates; or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.  Features of a Democratic System 1. Accountability Powers of the government are limited by constitutions Elections must be held regularly – government responsible to the people Features of a Democratic System 1. Accountability Features of a Democratic System 2. Provision for Change Constitutions may be altered, only after serious consideration (living documents) 3. Separation of Powers Montesquieu – Branches of Government Executive, legislative and judicial branch Limits on executive power  Features of a Democratic System 4. Minority Rights Those in opposition to the majority have the right to challenge and criticize the majority – no tyranny of the majority 5. Individual Rights and Freedoms Guarantee of political and civil liberties All are equal before the law Only in time of national emergencies can rights be curtailed  Features of a Democratic System 6. Majority Rule The government responds to the wishes of the majority of the people Minority (losers) must accept results 7. Citizen Participation Citizens have the right to select their leaders Suffrage – Who should get to vote? Secret ballot – pros and cons  Features of a Democratic System 7. Citizen Participation (cont.) Proportional representation system versus first past the post FairVote Canada  Features of a Democratic System 8. Responsibility of Citizens Encouraged or required to vote? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo_iExUsQWE Voter turnout issues Must accept the decisions of elected bodies Citizen Input - Lobby Groups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnAZTp2wbIc 🍁 Voter Turnout by Age Group 🍁 Federal Election by Province  Features of a Democratic System 9. The Existence of a Free Opposition (Criticism) Free to dissent, but to what extent? Civil disobedience Value of a free press “The Indispensable Opposition”  Features of a Democratic System 10. Political Parties Allowed to compete openly for power Role of leaders ‘Grassroots’ movements Patronage! (Corruption)  Miscellaneous Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy Use of plebiscites and referendums Recall Consensus democracy – the future of democracy? (Read article)  Types of Democracies Parliamentary Democracy (Westminster system) Members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch and are directly responsible to it Head of government must maintain the confidence of the legislature (votes of non-confidence) Head of state and head of government are divided  Types of Democracies Parliamentary Democracy Canadian Example Head of State Head of Government Elections Minority vs. Majority Parliament Senate House of Commons  Types of Democracies Presidential Democracy Executive and legislative branches separated A system of checks and balances emphasized Head of state and head of government are combined into one position (President) Fixed terms of office President voted directly by the people  Types of Democracies Presidential Democracies U.S.A. example Presidential power Congress Senate House of Representatives Elections Electoral College http://www.270towin.com/  The Electoral College http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6 I&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1 Checks and Balance vs. Responsible Gov’t  Types of Democracies Which system is best – the Canadian or the American? Write an argumentative paragraph that includes: Logical Arguments – 1 mark per argument to a maximum of 3 Social Studies Vocabulary – use ALL of these terms to get 1 more mark: Accountability, checks and balances (or division of powers), adversarial (or partisan), confidence, cabinet, executive