Democracy Flashcards
Meaning of democracy
Rule by the people
Having a say in matters that affect you and how things are run
Background
Democracy - (greek) people, to rule
Ancient Greece - male citizens made decisions by voting
Basic human rights - 21st century
South Africa
Citizens elect people who they want to represent them every 5 years
All citizens have the right to vote (Constitution, Bill of Rights)
Voting
Political parties try to win people’s votes by putting up posters, run adverts and speak at different venues
Ballot paper - all candidates put into the ballot box
IEC
Independent Electoral Committee
Makes sure elections are free and fair
Manage elections, national, provincial, municipal legislative bodies
Declare results
Compile and maintain voter’s roll
First Democratic Elections
Apartheid - System of segregating people by the colour of their skin
Legally enforced - Group Areas Acts which stated the different racial groups had to live in separate areas
FW De Klerk became president in 1989 began to dismantle apartheid
Unbanned the ANC and released Nelson Mandela after 27 years (11 Feb 1990)
De Klerk and Mandela created the new constitution, a multi-racial democracy
1993 - Noble Peace Prize won for their contribution to bring down apartheid
Freedom Day
27th April 1994
ANC won the vote - 62,25%