Democratic Governance

• Name 3 Methods of governance in the past

  • Monarchism
  • Aristocratic system
  • Democratic governance
• What does 'Demos' and 'Kratos' mean?


  'Demos' means public, and 'Kratos' means power which means power of the public
• Places where direct democracy was visible

  Caryatides Arena

  Parthinan Accropolis
• Parliament of the Greek city Athens

  Citizens council
• Name the principles of the 'Aparihani Dharma' of the 'Vajji Kingdom' in 6th century B.C.

  Regular meetings and discussions

  Meet discuss and leave peacefully

  Respecting elders and obey their advice
• When did the feudal system exist?

  From 5th to 15th century
• Name the revolutions that made way for democracy to take place

  Great Revolution (English revolution) - 1688

  French Revolution - 1789

  Russian Revolution - 1917

  American Revolution - 1776
• Name the two types of democracy

  Direct democracy

  Indirect democracy
• Who defined direct democracy?

  Professor Garner
• What are the problems arising when direct democracy is implemented?

  The large land mass for present states

  Vast population

  Complexity of social needs
• Who defined the term indirect democracy?

  Abraham Lincoln

  Sealer
• The importance of democracy as a system of governance

  Builds up people's will to vote for representatives

  Laws are passed by the majority decision of elected representatives
• Importance of democracy as a way of living

  Respecting equality while enjoying rights

  Different opinions

  Taking decisions through consensus
• Franchise is bestowed to all citizens over a particular age limit.


  Universal franchise is the ability to vote irrespective of sex, race, caste, gender community, or income
• Article 3 of the constitution of the democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka consists of what sovereignty includes.

  Power of the government

  Fundamental rights

  Franchise
• In what year were these reforms introduced?

  Donoughmore reforms - 1931

  Crew McCullum - 1910
• What is a competitive party system?

  The opportunity for parties to compete together in order to gain political power in a country.
• What are the 3 types of party systems?

  Multi Party system

  Bi Party system

  Single Party system
• Multi Party system is where a large number of political parties are in operation


  Eg; Sri Lanka, India
• Bi party system is where there are many parties in operation but the mandate changes from time to time between two parties


  Eg; Great Britain, USA
• Single Party system is where only one political party is in operation 


  Eg; Cuba, North Korea and China
• Good characteristics of a competitive party system

  Prevention of autocracy

  Unity out of diversity
• Polling divisions are divided by?

  The delimitation commission
• What is being taken into the main criteria for polling divisions?

  Land

  Population
• Write the electoral name for the following districts

  Anuradhapura - 17

  Kurunagala - 15

  Jaffna - 10

  Puttalam - 16

  Trincomalee - 14

  Batticaloa - 12

  Gampaha - 2

  Kalutara - 3
• How many electoral districts are there?

  22
• Characteristics of free and fair elections

  Holding elections within due course

  Holding elections in line with the electoral laws

  Holding elections in a peaceful environment
• Who defined Freedom?

  G.D.H. Cole
• When did the Universal Declaration of Human rights commence?

  10th December 1948, Nations state general assembly
• What is the basic law of the country?

  The constitution
• Who defined the term constitution?

  Professor Ivor Jennings