What is democracy?

Democracy is a form of government

where power resides in the peoples will, but
it also is a lifestyle based on respect for ethi-
cal values and human rights. Moreover,
democracy is a model based on social justice,
equal opportunities, and solidarity with the
poor.

Thus, democracy is not only a govern-

ment system or procedure to make decisions,
but also a lifestyle based on respect for
human rights and ethical values that under-
lie them. The fundamental values on which
democracy is based are freedom, equality, and
solidarity.

In addition to the civic values of freedom, respect, and active participation, democracy re-
quires that all people be treated fairly, that is, not only according to our merits, but also accord-
ing to our needs.

Another fundamental value in a democracy is equality, understood not as uniformity that

erases all differences, but as non-discrimination. We are speaking, then, of equal opportunities
for access to basic goods and services, employment, or any political office regardless of gender,
economic status, or any other status.

The democratic state

Democracy is a system of government in which power resides in the people. Although this
form of government nowadays is common, the truth is that is was not very usual in the past.
Throughout history there have been different political regimes: empires, monarchies, feudal or
absolutist states...

Some Greek cities such as Athens were democratic in antiquity. However, in Athens only
Athenian free men were real citizens. Women, slaves and foreigners were excluded from democ-
racy.

Modern democracy began to spread only after the independence of the United States and
the French Revolution. After these events, democracy became a common form of government in
many countries.
 Today it is considered that a state can only be legitimate if it is democratic. Democracy is
preferable to other forms of political organization for several reasons:

Attempts to build alternative political systems have caused millions of deaths and terrible
suffering

Democracy provides procedures for participation and involvement in public life, promoting
the autonomy of citizens

Democracy encourages dialogue and consensus, enabling the search for common good
based on political equality

However, democracy has its weak-

nesses. For example, as they are more
transparent, democratic systems make
their limitations and errors clearly visi-
ble. The development of democratic states
has fostered the acknowledgment of the
peoples rights. First of all, some basic
civil rights were recognized, including the
right to safety and property, the guaran-
tee against arbitrary detention, etc.. In a
second phase some political rights were
also acknowledged, including the right to
universal suffrage, the right of assembly,
association and strike, etc.. Later also eco-
nomic and social rights were recognized
such as the right to education, health and
social services (second generation rights).
Finally, modern societies have also recog-
nized the rights of peoples to self-determi-
nation, development and solidarity (third
generation rights). For this reason, mod-
ern countries are called social and dem-
ocratic States of Law.

Requirements of a democratic state

Currently the majority of the worlds States are considered to be democratic. However,only
a few of them meet all the requirements of a true democracy. These requirements are the fol-
lowing:
 Rule of law. This means that everyone must obey the
law. The law shows how to exercise power and states clear
limits to what the rulers can do

Separation of powers. There are three different powers

in every State. The law is made by the legislative. The exec-
utive rules the administration governing according to the law.
The judiciary applies law in court and exercises justice. In
order to prevent abuse, these three different branches of
power should be clearly separated. They must be exercised
by different people and different institutions. This is a good
way to prevent any of them from controlling everything and
becoming dictatorial.

Citizens can exercise their rights. In a democratic coun-

try people are free to express their opinions, to take part in
political parties, to vote, to access education...

Universal suffrage. All the adult citizens can vote and

there are different political parties. In a democratic country
there are free elections and political rulers are democratically elected.

Also democracies needs:

The citizens must be free

All people should be equal before the law

The branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) should be separated

There should be free and

frequent elections, with universal
suffrage, in which everyone can
participate and be elected

There must be freedom of

expression and association

There should be access to

accurate and plural information

The authorities should gov-

ern independently and au-
tonomously, serving the general
interests

Some current problems of democracy

Our modern democracy is not a direct democracy. It is a representative democracy. Direct

democracy is unworkable in modern societies, because fo the complexity and slowness of deci-
sion-making procedures .There are different formulas that can be used to translate votes into
parliamentarian seats. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. In majoritarian elec-
toral systems, the seat is awarded to the candidate with the highest number of votes. This sys-
tem allows the formation of large majorities in parliament, but it also makes small parties to be
under-represented. In proportional electoral systems, the seats are allocated proportionally to
the number of votes received. This system reflects the will of the people expressed at the polls,
but it also has some problems because of the great number of different parties that are generally
represented. As these parties do not always agree,
the formation of a stable majority in the parlia-
ment can be very difficult. Another important
issue related to electoral systems is the list set-
tings. In some places closed lists are used. This
means that each party presents a list of candi-
dates, but citizens can not choose between them.
Thus, in practice the voter can only choose the
party. The alternative system, with open lists, lets
the voter select the specific people he wants to
choose, marking them on the ballot. The open list
system implies a complex organization, but it also
ensures a more genuine participation by citizens.

The fact that our democracy is indirect makes people feel that they are far from public af-
fairs. Many people abstain in the elections and refuse to participate in political life. Many citi-
zens feel that the parliamentary discussions do not address the really important issues that
ordinary people care about.

The decisions of the rulers are often conditioned by the influence of media or lobbies. More-
over, globalization has reduced the political options of the government. Political parties have a
rigid structure that sometimes seems to be more interested in preserving their power than in
developing policy initiatives to improve the lives of citizens. So often their messages are directed
to the public only when elections are close.
Do you know the meaning of these words?

1. SOCIETY

2. CULTURE

3. INSTITUTION

4. STATE

5. LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT

6. DEMOCRACY

7. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE

8. RULE OF LAW

9. LEGISLATIVE

10. EXECUTIVE

11. JUDICIARY

12. ASSEMBLY

Match each word with its corresponding definition:

a) Is a valid form of government because citizens accept it and consider that it is just

b) Is the power that makes laws

c) Is the right that all adults have to vote

d) Are the habits, ideas and ways of life shared by people who live together

e) Is an official organization, like a hospital or a school

f) Is the power that rules the administration governing according to the law

g) Is the most important institution that includes all the rest of them

h) Is the group of people that live together in a certain territory

i) Is the power that applies law in courts

j) Means that rules are determined by law, and that law is equally applied to everybody

k) Is a meeting where all people can talk, participate and decide

l) Is a way of government in which the people have the power

 What is democracy?

What are the basic features of a truly democratic government? Could you explain the dif-
ference between democracy and dictatorship? Choose the correct type of government for each of
the characteristics given in the table.

Democracy or Dictatorship?

The power in the hands of the people

Power is in the hands of one person or a small group
There are frequent free elections
There are no free elections
There are many different political parties
There is only one party because the rest are prohibited
There is freedom of the press: newspapers are free
There is censorship, so books and news cannot be freely published
All people are equal before the law
The law generally favors the rulers friends
Some people make the law and other people apply it
The same people make the law and apply it
Citizens can take part in political decisions
People cannot freely take part in politics
There is freedom of speech
If you say what you think you might be punished
Judges are independent
Judges do what the ruler wants them to do
Peoples rights are respected
The respect of human rights is not granted
Law indicates what must be done
The ruler decides what will be done
 : DEMOCRACY

Democracy started for the first time in.........................................

It is based in the fact that citizens elect their.............................

Sometimes we can use a ...................... democracy, when we vote in a referendum, for in-
stance.

Three important values in democracy are: freedom, justice and........................

In a democracy there always is a separation of ..........................

There are three ...............................................: executive, judicial and legislative.

The ......................................... is a characteristic of modern democracies.

In democracies it must be .a .................................................

In an election, all the votes are ......................................................

The ...................................... is respected but it shouldnt attack the rights of ....................

........................................... and .......................................... are two forms of government op-

posed to democracy.

.............................................. is other essential value in democratic states, related to in-

ternational cooperation and the guarantee of minimal public services, as health, education, jus-
tice, transport, unemployment, senior pensions, etc.

branches of power solidarity dictatorship equal

totalitarianism multiparty system free minorities rule of law

secret equality Greece representatives

powers direct rule of majority

Whos Got The Power?

complete the chart below by identifying which branch of government ( legislative, execu-
tive or judicial) possesses each of the powers.

Introduces laws
Declares laws unconstitutional
Signs bills into law
Coins money
Nominates Supreme Court justices
Declares war
Vetoes bills
Interprets/Makes meaning of laws
Serves as commander in chief of the army and navy
Issues a pardon