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• Democracy


  A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives
• Types of democracies


  • Direct democracies
  • Representative democracies
• Politics


  Activities associated with the governance of a country or area
• Sir Bernard Crick's definition of politics


  The creative conciliation of different material or moral interests
• In a society there is a need for consensus because there is diversity
• The greater the consensus, the more stable and just the State
• Parliament and the constitution are devices for resolving / containing conflicts
• Citizens have to agree to the rules of the game
• Rules are equal and do not determine who will win, allow for individual ingenuity
• Gaetano Mosca's view of politics


  Politics is all about the relationship of rulers with the ruled, the few with the many
• A minority of professional politicians rule, while the majority are ruled
• Consent is measured by the extent the ruled believe in the justification of rule by leading class
• Participation in democratic elections does not mean that the people are directing or choosing their government
• Rather a ruling class managed to manipulate its way to power over another class
• Plato's version of the ideal society


  Justice means: Doing and following that which is properly your own, Not getting involved in the ways of other people and trying to do their jobs for them
• The strength of the Republic lies in harmony
• Harmony results from different people accepting their place in the State
• Plato's three classes in the ideal society

  • Philosophers (governing class)
  • Warriors (responsible for defence)
  • Workers (responsible for economic needs)
• There exists a debate between the community and the individual
• Capitalist countries focus on individual liberties, while socialist states prioritize society over the individual
• Capitalism


  A social system based on the principle of individual rights, with a free-market economy
• Communism


  A social, political, and economic ideology aiming to establish a society with common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes and money
• Characteristics of democracy


  • Separation of powers
  • Political parties
  • Free elections
  • Majority rule and minority rights
  • Freedom of expression
  • Constitutional government
  • Private organisations
• Separation of powers


  A model for the governance of a state, where authority is distributed among several branches (legislature, executive, judiciary) to preserve individual liberty
• Legislature


  The law-making body of a political unit, with power to enact, amend, and repeal public policy
• Executive branch


  Has authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state, executing and enforcing laws
• Judiciary


  Interprets and applies the law, providing a mechanism for the resolution of disputes and ensuring equal justice under the law
• Political parties


  Give voters a choice among candidates, representing different interests and points of view
• Free elections


  Give citizens the chance to choose their leaders and express their opinion through a secret vote free from interference or pressure
• Majority rule and minority rights


  Decisions are made by the majority, but minority rights must always be safeguarded
• Freedom of expression


  The public must enjoy freedom to express opinions, whether approving or disapproving of government ideas and decisions
• Constitutional government


  A government governed by a constitution, a set of fundamental principles that establishes the framework within which the government operates
• Malta gained its political independence from Britain on 21 September 1964
• The current Constitution of Malta was adopted as the legal order on 21 September 1964
• Any law or action in violation of the Constitution is null and void
• In 1974, the 1964 constitution was revised, and Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth
• The Constitution of Malta provides for general elections to be held at least every five years, with candidates elected by the Single Transferable Vote system
• Constitutionalism


  The principle that the actions of a government are regulated by a set of agreed rules (laws) that are known to those who are affected by them
• A constitution determines the extent to which society's rights can be limited by the government
• The constitution establishes the rules/principles by which an organisation is governed