@@ On May 18, 9:27 am, Kampuchun2012 <[email protected]> wrote: > THE AMAZING RACE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY > > From “Democracy for All,” Street Law, > Inc.:http://www.streetlaw.org/democlesson.html > > People from around the world have identified the basic principles, > which must exist in order to have a > democratic government. These principles often become a part of the > constitution or bill of rights in a > democratic society. Though no two democratic countries are exactly > alike, people in democracies > support many of the same basic principles and desire the same benefits > from their government. > > 1. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION > 2. EQUALITY > 3. POLITICAL TOLERANCE > 4. ACCOUNTABILITY > 5. TRANSPARENCY > 6. REGULAR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS > 7. ECONOMIC FREEDOM > 8. CONTROL OF THE ABUSE OF POWER > 9. BILL OF RIGHTS > 10. ACCEPTING THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS > 11. HUMAN RIGHTS > 12. MULTI PARTY SYSTEM > 13. RULE OF LAW > > 1. Citizen Participation > One of the most basic signposts of a democracy is citizen > participation in government. Participation > is the key role of citizens in democracy. It is not only their right, > but it is their duty. Citizen > participation may take many forms including standing for election, > voting in elections, becoming > informed, debating issues, attending community or civic meetings, > being members of private > voluntary organizations, paying taxes, and even protesting. > Participation builds a better democracy. > > 2. Equality > Democratic societies emphasize the principle that all people are > equal. Equality means that all > individuals are valued equally, have equal opportunities, and may not > be discriminated against > because of their race, religion, ethnic group, gender or sexual > orientation. In a democracy, > individuals and groups still maintain their right to have different > cultures, personalities, languages and > beliefs. > > 3. Political Tolerance > Democratic societies are politically tolerant. This means that while > the majority of the people rule in a > democracy, the rights of the minority must be protected. People who > are not in power must be > allowed to organize and speak out. Minorities are sometimes referred > to as the opposition because > they may have ideas which are different from the majority. Individual > citizens must also learn to be > tolerant of each other. A democratic society is often composed of > people from different cultures, > racial, religious and ethnic groups who have viewpoints different from > the majority of the population. > A democratic society is enriched by diversity. If the majority deny > rights to and destroy theiropposition, > then they also destroy democracy. One goal of democracy is to make the > best possible > decision for the society. To achieve this, respect for all people and > their points of view is needed. > Decisions are more likely to be accepted, even by those who oppose > them, if all citizens have been > allowed to discuss, debate and question them. > > 4. Accountability > In a democracy, elected and appointed officials have to be accountable > to the people. They are > responsible for their actions. Officials must make decisions and > perform their duties according to the > will and wishes of the people, not for themselves. > > 5. Transparency > For government to be accountable the people must be aware of what is > happening in the country. > This is referred to as transparency in government. A transparent > government holds public meetings > and allows citizens to attend. In a democracy, the press and the > people are able to get information > about what decisions are being made, by whom and why. > > 6. Regular, Free and Fair Elections > One way citizens of the country express their will is by electing > officials to represent them in > government. Democracy insists that these elected officials are chosen > and peacefully removed from > office in a free and fair manner. Intimidation, corruption and threats > to citizens during or before an > election are against the principles of democracy. In a democracy, > elections are held regularly everyso > many years. Participation in elections should not be based on a > citizen's wealth. For free and fair > elections to occur, most adult citizens should have the right to stand > for government office. > Additionally, obstacles should not exist which make it difficult for > people to vote. > > 7. Economic Freedom > People in a democracy must have some form of economic freedom. This > means that the government > allows some private ownership of property and businesses, and that the > people are allowed to choose > their own work and labor unions. The role the government should play > in the economy is open to > debate, but it is generally accepted that free markets should exist in > a democracy and the state should > not totally control the economy. Some argue that the state should play > a stronger role in countries > where great inequality of wealth exists due to past discrimination or > other unfair practices. > > 8. Control of the Abuse of Power > Democratic societies try to prevent any elected official or group of > people from misusing or abusing > their power. One of the most common abuses of power is corruption. > Corruption occurs when > government officials use public funds for their own benefit or > exercise power in an illegal manner. > Various methods have been used in different countries to protect > against these abuses. Frequently the > government is structured to limit the powers of the branches of > government: to have independent > courts and agencies with power to act against any illegal action by an > elected official or branch of > government; to allow for citizen participation and elections; and to > check for police abuse of power. > > 9. Bill of Rights > Many democratic countries also choose to have a bill of rights to > protect people against abuse of > power. A bill of rights is a list of rights and freedoms guaranteed to > all people in the country. When a > bill of rights becomes part of a country's constitution, the courts > have the power to enforce these > rights. A bill of rights limits the power of government and may also > impose duties on individuals and > organizations. > > 10. Accepting the Results of Elections > In democratic elections, there are winners and losers. Often the > losers in an election believe so > strongly that their party or candidate is the best one, that they > refuse to accept the results of theelection. > This is against democratic principles. The consequences of not > accepting the result of an > election may be a government that is ineffective and cannot make > decisions. It may even result in > violence which is also against democracy. > > 11. Human Rights > All democracies strive to respect and protect the human rights of > citizens. Human rights mean those > values that reflect respect for human life and human dignity. > Democracy emphasizes the value of > every human being. Examples of human rights include freedom of > expression, freedom of > association, freedom of assembly, the right to equality and the right > to education. > > 12. Multi-Party System > In order to have a multi-party system, more than one political party > must participate in elections and > play a role in government. A multi-party system allows for opposition > to the party, which wins the > election. This helps provide the government with different viewpoints > on issues. Additionally, a multiparty > system provides voters with a choice of candidates, parties and > policies to vote for. Historically, > when a country only has one party, the result has been a > dictatorship. > > 13. The Rule of Law > In a democracy no one is above the law, not even a king or an elected > President. This is called the > rule of law. It means that everyone must obey the law and be held > accountable if they violate it. > Democracy also insists that the law be equally, fairly and > consistently enforced. This is sometimes > referred to as "due process of law."
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