Simone Lawson
Democracy is a form of government where the people are sovereign and wield the ultimate authority, which is derived from their consent. A constitution is essential in a democracy as it establishes a set of laws and principles that outline how a country is governed, with the power vested in the hands of its citizens. This ensures that the rights of individuals and minorities are protected and that all citizens are treated equally before the law, fostering a self-governing community where every citizen has the right to participate in the political system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popular sovereignty | The people are the ultimate source of the government's authority, which is derived from their consent |
| Majority rule and minority rights | While "the majority rules", the fundamental rights of individuals in the minority are protected |
| Limited government | The powers of the government are limited by law and a written or unwritten constitution which those in power obey |
| Civic skills | Competent and responsible citizenship requires knowledge, understanding, and the development of intellectual and participatory skills essential to civic life |
| Civility | Treating others with respect as individuals inherently worthy of consideration regardless of their positions on political issues |
| Privacy and civil society | Recognition and protection of the integrity of a private and social realm, including family, personal, religious, and other associations and activities |
| Justice | Promotion of distributive, corrective, and procedural justice |
| Equality | All citizens are equally entitled to participate in the political system |
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What You'll Learn
- Democracy is the antithesis of arbitrary rule
- Democracy ensures majority rule and minority rights
- Democracy promotes distributive, corrective and procedural justice
- Democracy is a form of rule by consent of the governed
- Democracy is limited by a constitution which guarantees individual freedoms (such as the US Constitution)
Democracy is the antithesis of arbitrary rule
Democracy, derived from the words dêmos '(common) people' and kratos 'force/might', is a form of government that has been around in some form or another since the 6th century BC. The term was first used to describe the political system of Cleisthenes in Athens, where decisions were made by the assembled people, with a large proportion of citizens constantly involved in the public business.
Constitutional democracy is the antithesis of arbitrary rule. It is characterised by popular sovereignty, where the people are the ultimate source of the government's authority, which is derived from their consent. This is achieved through elections, where citizens elect government officials to govern on their behalf.
Majority rule is the dominant form of decision-making in democracies. However, it is important to note that the fundamental rights of individuals in the minority are protected. This is achieved through a written or unwritten constitution that limits the powers of the government and guarantees individual freedoms such as freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial. These rights are not subject to a democratic vote and serve as a check on the power of the majority, ensuring that political minorities are not oppressed.
Constitutional democracies also recognise and protect the integrity of a private and social realm, which includes family, personal, religious, and other associations and activities. This space is free from unfair and unreasonable intrusions by the government, fostering a civil society. Additionally, constitutional democracy promotes various forms of justice, including distributive justice (fair distribution of benefits and burdens), corrective justice (fair responses to wrongs), and procedural justice (fair procedures in information gathering and decision-making).
The United States Constitution, for example, establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming dominant. It divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, each with its own powers and responsibilities. Similarly, state institutions within the US provide a more direct connection between the people and their elected officials, fostering majority rule and providing a platform for democratic churn.
In conclusion, constitutional democracy is a form of government that empowers citizens to bring about change and promotes the protection of individual rights and freedoms. By limiting the powers of the government and fostering majority rule with minority rights protections, constitutional democracy serves as a check on arbitrary rule, ensuring a just and free society.
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Democracy ensures majority rule and minority rights
Democracy is a form of government where the people are involved in the decision-making process, either directly or through elected representatives. The term "democracy" comes from the Greek words "demos," meaning "(common) people," and "kratos," meaning "force/might."
Majority rule is a fundamental principle of democracy, where decisions are made by a vote of more than half of the participating individuals. This principle is essential for expressing the popular will and forming the basis for the legitimacy of the government. However, it is important to note that full consensus is not possible in a democracy, as there will always be dissenting opinions.
While majority rule is crucial, democracy also ensures the protection of minority rights. This includes safeguarding the rights of individuals and minority groups, regardless of their ethnic background, religious beliefs, geographic location, or income level. The protection of minority rights is essential to prevent the "'tyranny of the majority,' where the majority oppresses or silences the minority.
The balance between majority rule and minority rights is a delicate one, and it is a constant challenge for democratic governments. Public officials in representative democracies must make difficult decisions about when to curtail the rule of the majority to protect the rights of the minority and vice versa. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, aiming to protect both majority rule and minority rights to sustain justice in a democracy.
In conclusion, democracy ensures majority rule by providing a mechanism for proportionate representation and allowing citizens to bring about change. At the same time, it protects minority rights by guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and ensuring that no single interest group dominates or exploits others unreasonably. This balance between majority rule and minority rights is crucial for maintaining a just and free society in a democracy.
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Democracy promotes distributive, corrective and procedural justice
Democracy is a form of government that empowers citizens to participate in decision-making and hold leaders accountable. It is based on the principle of popular sovereignty, where the will of the people is the source of legitimacy. While democracy can take various forms, liberal democracy is often considered the ideal, as it guarantees individual freedoms and rights while also providing a mechanism for proportional representation.
Democracy promotes distributive justice by ensuring that citizens have a say in how resources are distributed and policies are implemented. In a democratic society, the government is expected to act for the greater good and promote equality of opportunity. For instance, democratic values have contributed to the flourishing of feminist theory and the practical gains made by women in liberal democracies. Philosophers such as Michael Otsuka and Peter Vallentyne defend an equal opportunity left-libertarianism, arguing that those with less favourable initial endowments should be entitled to larger shares of natural resources to achieve equality of opportunity.
Additionally, democracy promotes corrective justice by providing a platform for citizens to seek redress and hold decision-makers accountable. The UN, for example, collaborates with national governments to rebuild public confidence, restore peace, and ensure the rule of law in transitional democracies. Democracy allows for the establishment of truth-seeking processes, judicial accountability mechanisms, and reparations programmes to address past injustices.
Moreover, democracy promotes procedural justice by ensuring that decisions are made through a fair and transparent process. This includes holding periodic, free, and fair elections by universal suffrage and secret ballot, as recommended by the UN Commission on Human Rights. Democracy also guarantees individual rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial, which are essential for a just society.
In conclusion, democracy is crucial for promoting distributive, corrective, and procedural justice. It empowers citizens to participate in decision-making, hold leaders accountable, and seek redress for injustices. By guaranteeing individual rights and freedoms, democracy provides a framework for a just and free society, where the will of the people is respected and protected.
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Democracy is a form of rule by consent of the governed
Democracy, derived from the words dêmos, meaning '(common) people', and krátos, meaning 'force/might', is a form of rule by consent of the governed. The term first appeared in the 5th century BC in Greek city-states, notably Classical Athens, to mean "rule of the people", in contrast to aristocracy, or the "rule of an elite".
In a democracy, the people are the ultimate source of the government's authority, which derives its right to govern from their consent. This is typically achieved through majority rule, where citizens elect government officials to govern on their behalf, such as in a parliamentary or presidential democracy. However, it is important to note that the rights of individuals in the minority are also protected. For example, in a liberal democracy, the powers of the majority are exercised within a representative democracy framework, but a constitution and supreme court limit the majority and protect the minority by securing individual rights, such as freedom of speech or freedom of association.
The United States Constitution, for instance, establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming dominant. Similarly, in India, parliamentary sovereignty is subject to the Constitution, which includes judicial review. In Europe and the English-speaking world, it is often assumed that democracy naturally takes the form of liberal democracy, where popular sovereignty is limited by a constitution guaranteeing individual freedoms and rights.
While democracies may use various decision-making methods, the need for fair and deliberative processes is essential to ensure that political minorities are not oppressed by the "tyranny of the majority". Constitutional democracies recognise and protect the integrity of a private and social realm, fostering a civil society free from unreasonable government intrusion. They also promote distributive justice, ensuring the fair distribution of society's benefits and burdens, and procedural justice, where fair procedures are used in decision-making by government agencies and courts.
Overall, democracy is a form of governance that upholds the consent of the governed, protects minority rights, and promotes justice and freedom for all citizens.
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Democracy is limited by a constitution which guarantees individual freedoms (such as the US Constitution)
Democracy is a form of government where power rests in the hands of the people, derived from the Greek words dêmos, meaning '(common) people', and krátos, meaning 'force/might'. The term first appeared in the 5th century BC in the Greek city-state of Athens, where it was used to describe a system of ''rule by the people' as opposed to 'rule by an elite'.
In the modern world, democracy is often associated with the idea of liberal democracy, where popular sovereignty is limited by a constitution that guarantees individual freedoms and rights. These rights are not subject to democratic votes and include freedoms such as speech and assembly, as well as rights such as a fair trial. The US Constitution, for example, was designed to constrain popularly elected leaders and protect individual rights, including those of property owners. The Founding Fathers, aware of the potential for tyranny by the majority, sought to protect their economic interests and limit the power of the central government. This is reflected in the structure of the US Constitution, which includes a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances to prevent rapid or drastic changes driven by popular will.
While the US Constitution limits democracy by protecting certain individual freedoms and rights, it also constrains the power of the majority to protect minority interests. This is a key feature of liberal democracy, which seeks to ensure that no single interest group dominates or exploits others. The US Constitution, through mechanisms like the electoral college and an independent judiciary, aims to balance majority rule with the protection of individual liberties and the rights of the minority.
However, critics argue that the US Constitution was written by a small group of individuals with specific economic interests, resulting in a system that favours elites. The founders, many of whom were merchants, bondholders, and creditors, were wary of direct democracy and sought to protect property rights and limit the influence of those without property. This has led to ongoing debates about the accessibility and inclusivity of the democratic process in the US, with some arguing for a strengthening of democratic institutions to better represent the diverse interests of the population.
In conclusion, democracy is limited by constitutions such as the US Constitution, which guarantees individual freedoms and rights while also seeking to protect against the potential excesses of majority rule. The balance between majority will and minority rights is a defining feature of liberal democracies, shaping the political landscape and the relationship between citizens and their governments.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitution is a set of laws and principles that outline how a country is governed. It places power in the hands of its citizens and protects their rights.
It is a form of democracy where the authority of the majority is limited by legal and institutional means, ensuring the rights of individuals and minorities are respected.
The key characteristics include political equality, equality before the law, economic equality, and openness.
In a constitutional democracy, citizens are full and equal members of a self-governing community, endowed with fundamental rights and responsibilities. Their participation is informed and effective, based on an understanding of the democracy's principles and values.
The people are the ultimate source of authority in a constitutional democracy, with the government deriving its right to govern from their consent.
