CP Readings flash cards
Definition of Democracy (article)
regular elections, fairly conducted, and honestly counted,
Means of protecting the minority from tyranny of the majority
Constitutional provisions (bill of rights)
Requirements for concurrent majorities in several different constituencies (confederalism)
Securing the autonomy of local or regional governments (federalism)
Coalition governments that incorporate all parties (consociationalism)
Negotiation of social pacts between major social groups (neo corporatism)
Cooperation
actors must voluntarily make collective decisions binding the government as a whole
Civil Society
provides an intermediate layer of governance between the individual and the state
Representatives
professional politicians, directly or indirectly elected, do most of the work in democracies
Procedures that make democracy possible
Control over government decisions about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials
Elected officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections in which coercion is comparatively uncommon
Practically all adults have the right to vote in election of officials
Practically all adults have the right to run for elective offices in the government
Citizens have a right to express themselves without the danger of severe punishment on political matters broadly defined
Citizens have a right to seek out alternative sources of information. Moreover, alternative sources of information exist and are protected by law
Citizens have the right to from relatively independent associations or organizations, including independent political parties and interest groups
In addition to Dahl: Popularly elected officials must be able to exercise their constitutional powers without being subjected to overriding opposition from unelected officials
The political regime must be self governing; must be able to act independently of constraints imposed by some overarching political system
Principles that Make Democracy Feasible
Representatives must informally agree that the temporary winners will not bar the losers from taking office in the future
Momentary losers must respect the winners right to make binding decisions
Citizens are expected to obey the ensuing decision
The independent possibility of change through collective action must still exist
constitutional guarantees of property, privacy, expression, and other rights are a part of this, but the most effective boundaries are generated by competition among interest groups and cooperation within civil society
