@ @ @ On May 19, 9:27 am, Kampuchun2012 <[email protected]> wrote: > @@ > > 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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