DEMOCRATIC-INTERVENTIONS

• Democracy


  A system of government where citizens choose their representatives to form a governing body
• Democracy is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people
• Democracy is distinct from other forms of government as the power rests among the citizenry unlike other forms which is either handled by one or a few individuals
• Elements of democracy


  • Separation and balance of power
  • A pluralistic system of political parties and organizations
  • Respect for the rule of law
  • Accountability and transparency
  • Free and independent media
  • Respect for human rights
• Separation and balance of power


  The democratic government is divided into three branches - legislative, executive and judicial - that act independently of each other to prevent concentration of power and maintain checks and balances
• Legislative branch


  • Enacts the laws of the state according to the desires of the constituents, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate
• Executive branch


  • Implements the policy, with the President and Cabinet Members carrying out the approved laws
• Judicial branch


  • Responsible for giving meaning to the established laws and bringing to justice those who violate the fundamental laws of the land, ensuring the fundamental rights and privileges of the citizenry are met
• Pluralistic system of political parties and organizations


  A democratic system allows the rule of the majority, with representation from various groups, organizations and collective efforts to reach consensus
• Rule of law


  The principle that no one is above the law, safeguarding citizens against governance by a totalitarian leader
• Accountability and transparency


  The government needs to explain and justify its actions, and operate without corruption
• Free and independent media


  The media informs the citizenry, allows transparency, and plays a crucial role in the education of the people
• Respect for human rights


  The government provides the freedom and resources to promote the well-being of the citizenry, without abuse of power
• Characteristics of democracy


  • Equality before the law
  • Political freedom
  • Rule of law
• Equality before the law


  The principle that all citizens must be equally treated by the law and proven innocent until due process
• Political freedom


  Freedom from oppression and compulsion, the positive exercise of rights and possibilities for action, and the exercise of social rights and civil liberties
• Rule of law


  The law is supreme and protects and promotes the citizenry, with everyone participating in elections as the basic feature of democracy
• Democratic practices include naming problems, framing issues, deliberative decision-making, identifying and committing civic resources, organizing civic actions, and learning together
• Importance of participation in democracy

  • Rights of citizens
  • Common law for all
  • Chances for individual growth
  • Combined decision making
  • Fewer chances of misuse of power
  • Equal rights to all
  • Ability to express themselves
  • Enhanced economic growth
  • Minimizes conflicts and violence
  • Provide food and minimizes famines
  • Separation of powers
  • Transparency of systems
  • People are chosen by performance
  • Finance control
  • Peoples' Choice
  • Change of power
  • Equal and fair justice
  • People's participation
  • Nationalism
  • Better and equal opportunities
• Democracy provides freedom of life where people are free to live their life as they wish without causing harm to others, which is a fundamental right
• Despite some disadvantages, democracy seems to be the best form of government given current levels of education and technological development
• Political institutions


  Organizations in a government that create, enforce, and apply laws. They often mediate conflict, make (governmental) policy on the economy and social systems, and otherwise provide representation for the population.
• Political institutions and systems


  • Have a direct impact on the business environment and activities of a country
  • Every society must have a type of political system so that it may allocate resources and ongoing procedures appropriately
• Types of political systems


  • Democracy
  • Republic
  • Communism
  • Dictatorship
• Democracy


  Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people
• Republic


  A form of government where the citizens have the supreme power
• Communism


  A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy
• Dictatorship


  A form of government where one person makes the main rules and decisions with absolute power
• Functions of a political system


  1. Maintain the integration of society by determining norms

  2. Adapt and change elements of social, economic, and religious systems necessary for achieving collective (political) goals

  3. Protect the integrity of the political system from outside threats
• Social institution


  A complex, integrated set of social norms organized around the preservation of a basic societal value
• Five basic social institutions


  • Family
  • Economics
  • Religion
  • State
  • Education
• Five major functions of social institutions


  • Emotional needs
  • Economic needs
  • Familial needs
  • Religious needs
  • Political needs
• Undemocratic practice


  A system, process, or decision that is controlled or made by one person or a small number of people, rather than by all the people involved
• Dahl's seven undemocratic elements in the US Constitution


  • Slavery
  • Voting rights
  • Electoral college
  • Senate representation
  • Election of senators
  • Judicial power
  • Congressional power limits