Forms of democracy

Question 1

What is a liberal democracy?

Answer 1

A form of democracy where the right to vote is widespread and representatives act in the interests of everyone in society

Question 2

What is a majoritarian democracy?

Answer 2

A system where the will of the majority of people are the prime consideration of government

Question 3

What is a parliamentary democracy?

Answer 3

A system where parliament stands as the highest form of authority. The executive branch is drawn form and accountable to the people’s representatives in parliament

Question 4

What is a presidential democracy?

Answer 4

This is a system where the executive and legislature are elected separately. This means the executive is chosen by and directly accountable to the people

Question 5

What is a direct democracy?

Answer 5

This refers to any occasion where the citizens are directly involved in the decision making process

Question 6

What is a representative democracy?

Answer 6

This refers to any system where the people transfer the power to make decisions to an elected representative

Question 7

Outline the features of a parliamentary democracy

Answer 7

• The goverment is drawn from those in parliament
• The government is held to account by parliament
• There is a unified system, whereby the executive and legislature are from the same party
• The head of state and head of government are likely to be separate

Question 8

Outline the features of a presidential democracy

Answer 8

• The government is elected separately from members of the legislature
• The electorate holds the government to account
• There is a possibility of a divided government if different parties have control over the executive and legisalture
• The head of state is usually the head of government

Question 9

List the 6 functions of democracy

Answer 9

• Representation
• Accountability
• Participation
• Power dispersal
• Legitimacy
• Education

Question 10

Describe the function of representation

Answer 10

There must be a means for people to put their views to the government of the day

Question 11

Describe the function of accountability

Answer 11

There must be a means by which the government of the day can be made to explain and take responsibilty for its actions

Question 12

Describe the function of participation

Answer 12

There must be a way by which people can be engaged and involved in the political process

Question 13

Describe the function of power dispersal

Answer 13

There should be a system that ensures power is spread across multiple different bodies to avoid one body becoming overly dominant

Question 14

Describe the function of legitimacy

Answer 14

The process of selection for the different branches of government should have legal authority and fairly represent the will of the people

Question 15

Describe the function of education

Answer 15

The political process should be open to all and there should be an educated and informed citizenry who are able to understand issues and make informed decisions

Question 16

What is a pluralist democracy?

Answer 16

A system of government where there is competition between different groups who represent popular concerns to the government of the day

Question 17

List the features of a pluralist democracy

Answer 17

• There is a wide dispersal of power amongst competing groups
• There are no elite groups
• Groups are internally democratic
• Group leaders are accountable to their members
• There is a range of access points
• The government is politically neutral