Comparative Government and Politics - Democratic Rule Flashcards
what is a democracy
a political system in which government is baed on a fair and open mandate from all qualified citizens of a state
what is democratisation
the process by which states build the institutions and processes needed to become stable democracies
what is direct democracy
a system of government in which all members of the community take part in making the decisions that affect the community
what is e-democracy
a form of democratic expression through which all those with an interest in a problem or an issue can express themselves via the internet or social media, thereby participating in the shaping of government decisions
what is a liberal democracy
a form of indirect democracy in which the scope of democracy is limited by constitutional protection of individual rights, including freedom of assembly, property, religion and speech. Free, fair and regular election based on a near universal right to vote
what is representative democracy
a system of government in which members of a community elect people to represent their interests and to make decisions affecting the community
what is unanimity
everyone agrees, or at least acquiesces
what is a consensus
no one disagrees
what is concurrent majority
more than one majority required: for example, most voters and most regions of a country
what is an absolute majority
more than half of those entitled to vote
what is a simple majority
more than half of those voting
what is a qualified majority
more than simple majority: typically, two thirds
what is a blocking majority
a minority is bale to prevent a proposal from passing
what is a weighted majority
a majority after adjusted votes for differences in voting power: for example, shareholders may have one vote per share
what is plurality
the largest number of votes but not necessarily a majority
what is limited government
a belief that guarantees must be made for citizens by placing limits on the powers and reach of government
what is liberalism
a belief in the supreme value of the individual, who is seen to have natural rights that exist independently of government, and who must therefore be protected from too much government
what are civil liberties
the rights that citizens have relative to government, and that should not be restricted by government
what is structural violence
a term used to describe the social and economic oppression built into a system of government
what are checks and balances
an arrangement in which government institutions are given powers that counter-balance one another, obliging them to work together in order to govern and make decisions
what does modern mean
a term used to characterise a state with an industrial or post-industrial economy, affluence, specialised occupations, social mobility, and an urban and educated population
what is modernisation
the process of acquiring the attributes of a modern society, or one reflecting contemporary ideas, institutions and norms
what is huntington’s wave of democracy
a group of transitions from non-democratic to democratic political systems that occurs within a specified period of time and that significantly outnumbers transitions in the opposite direction during that period
when was the first wave of democracy
1828 - 1926 in Britain, France and US
