Democracy #2

• Democracy


  ”Power of the people”

  People hold the supreme power

  Power is vested in the people

  People possess the sovereign will

  Hereditary class distinction & Arbitrary class privileges are non-existent
• Demos 


  “people”
• Kratos 


  “Strength” or “Power”
• Abraham Lincoln


  
  

  “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”“Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
• Democracy 


  Contradicts absolute monarchy and oligarchy
• Oligarchy


  Only a small number of individuals wield power
• Absolute Monarchy


  Power is concentrated in the hands of an individual
• Parliamentary Democracy Jeffersonian Democracy Jacksonian Democracy Constitutional Democracy Social Democracy


  5 types of Democracy
• Parliamentary Democracy

  Leading party or coalition of parties whose leader becomes the prime minister or chancellor Began in Great Britain
• Jeffersonian Democracy


  -All male citizens are entitled to equal political opportunities

  -Need for leadership by those with great abilities to be chosen by the people

  -Ideology of the democratic-republican party

  -Formulated by Thomas Jefferson
• Jacksonian Democracy


  -Needs of the ordinary than the educated -Granted more rights to the common people and extended suffrage -Symbolized by Andrew Jackson
• Constitutional Democracy 


  -Free and fair elections -Universal right to vote -Competitive political process -Qualified people can run and be voted for office
• Constitutional Monarchies Constitutional Republic 


  Constitutional Democracy can be found on
• Constitutional Monarchies 


   

  The monarch’s power is limited by the constitution
• Constitutional Republic 


  Which can be Federal or Unitary
• Federal Republic 


  -Self-governing states -Share some administrative power with a higher national or federal government
• Unitary Republic: 


  -Run as one entity -Has a strong central or national governement
• Social Democracy 


  -Seeks to reform capitalism -Promotes universal access to health, education, just compensation for workers & social services
• The Sovereign People The Principle of Democracy The Structure of Democracy The Practice of Democracy


  4 Dimensions of Democracy
• The Sovereign People 


  -Refers to “Body-politic” or People who rule -Unified people who exercise sovereignty -The citizens and registered voters
• The Principle of Democracy 


  -Equality: People are the ultimate source of sovereignty -Political thinkers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Baron de Montesquieu had the common view that people in a democracy are sovereignty equals -Political thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe: Men are born equal and free regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or beliefs
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau 


  Political thinker __ believe:

  Men are born equal and free regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or beliefs
• The Structure of Democracy 


  - Various formulations, mechanisms, institution which are crafted to enable the people to actualize their soverign will
• The Practice of Democracy 


  - Translation of the concept democracy into reality - making the rule of the people completely manifested - How people assert their power and control over their government
• 9 


  There _ Preferred Democratic Practices
• Suffrage for Eligible Citizens and Qualified and Registered Voters 


  - Candidates have to meet certain requirements set by the COMELEC - Suffrage gives people opportunity to excercise sovereignty by choosing candidate who will govern and serve them - Suffrage is inalienable political right of the citizens
• Protest Against Election Fraud 


  - Election: Vital component of democracy - Protest serve as a potent tool for obstructing the continuation and promotion of flawed electoral processes
• Election


  Vital component of democracy
• Communicating with Local Government Officials as a Civic Responsibility 


  - Enjoyment of human and political rights - fulfilment of civic responsibility composed of: • Acts and attitudes related to social involvement and democratic governance - Civic responsibility differs from civic duty
• Civic Duty


  Acts that the citizens are legally required to do. Ex: Paying Taxes
• Public Assembly and Consultation 


  - People's right to excercise their right to a peaceful assembly - Rallies, demonstrations, marches, public meetings, processions or parade in public places to express opinions, protest against, air grievances on certain issues. - Protesters: Apply for a permit prior to holding a public assembly
• Conducting a Plebiscite to ament a Constitutional Provision

  - Fundamental laws of the land which all other laws should br accord with. - Amendment, revision or change should be undertaken according to law - Plebiscite: • Electorial process for approving. or rejecting a change or amendment to be valid • Should be ratified by majority of the votes
• Plebiscite

  -Electorial process for approving or rejecting a change or amendment to be valid - Should be ratified by majority of the votes
• 3 Ways to Reform the Philippine Constitution 


  Constituent Assembly: Members of Congress

  Constitutional Convention: Elected Delegates

  People's Initiative: Citizen Representation
• Constituent Assembly (Members of Congress)

  Existing congress acting as a special body - All members of senate and house of representatives - 3-4 of all members needs to vote in favor with each house voting separately
• Constitutional Convention (Elected Delegates) 


  - Completly new selected body tasked with proposing revisions to the constitution - People elect delegates to this convention - creating temporary group with sole purpose of considering changes
• Peoples' Initiative (Citizen Representation) 


  - Citizen directly propose amendments - Gather signatures from at least 12% of registered voters - Can't be used for the 1st 5years after the constitution ratification - Can only be attempted once every 5 years
• Gender


  - Inequality, exploitation and oppression exist in gender and sexual identity - Gender Bias: Prejudicial act or attitude toward male or females
• Wealth Distribution and Poverty


  - Widening gap between the rich and poor - Diminishing number of the "haves" and the increasing number of "have nots" - Widening areas occupied by the homeless
• Race relations, Suffrage, and Political Marginalization 

  • Societies discriminate against individuals & groups by virtue of ethnicity, race, religion and socioeconomic background