Democracy Flashcards
whats democracy ?
A system of government where power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. In a democracy, citizens have the right to vote, express opinions, and participate in political decisions.
ex: The United States is a democracy, where citizens vote for leaders and laws through regular elections.
Separation of power
A principle of governance where the powers of government are divided into different branches—typically the executive, legislative, and judicial—to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Example: In the United States, the president (executive), Congress (legislative), and the courts (judicial) each have distinct roles and powers to ensure a balance of authority.
Individuals rights and freedoms
The basic freedoms and protections that every person is entitled to, such as freedom of speech, the right to privacy, and the right to a fair trial. These rights are often protected by laws or constitutions.
Ex: The right to vote, the freedom to express opinions, and the right to practice any religion are individual rights and freedoms in many democratic countries.
free, fair and frequent elections
Free Elections: Elections where all citizens can vote without coercion or restrictions.
Fair Elections: Elections where all candidates have equal opportunities, and the voting process is transparent and unbiased.
Frequent Elections: Elections held regularly, allowing citizens to choose their representatives at regular intervals.
EX In a democracy, elections are held at regular intervals (e.g., every four years) to ensure that people have the chance to vote freely and fairly for their leaders.
Types of democracy
totalitarian
authoritarian
Illiberal democracy
Liberal democracy
Three types of democracy
DIrect
Semi-direct
Representative
WHats a representative democracy
An individual representing all people living on a territory
WHats a semi direct democracy
A system of government where citizens have the power to influence laws and policies directly, but they also elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. It combines elements of both direct democracy (where citizens vote on laws directly) and representative democracy (where elected officials make decisions).
Example: In Switzerland, citizens can propose and vote on referendums to change laws, but they also elect representatives to manage government affairs.
electoral system
The method used to determine how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature or offices. It decides how elections are conducted and how winners are chosen.
Example:
- First-Past-The-Post: The candidate with the most votes in a district wins, used in countries like the UK and the US.
- Proportional Representation: Seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives, used in countries like Germany and Israel.
Electoral system
Candidate with the highest number of votes win.
majoritian system
needs to be 50%+1 to be elected
if no candidates has 50%+1, they hold another election with the top 2 candidates
preferential voting
put candidates in order of preference
need simple majority to win
ex : alaska
proportional representation systems
- % of votes for a party = % for seats for a party.
An electoral system where seats in the legislature are allocated based on the proportion of votes each party or candidate receives. The goal is to reflect the diversity of voter preferences more accurately than systems like first-past-the-post.
Example: In Germany, if a political party receives 30% of the vote, they will receive about 30% of the seats in the parliament, allowing for a more accurate representation of voters’ preferences. There are different forms of PR, such as closed-list and open-list, depending on whether voters can choose individual candidates or only vote for parties.
