Unit 4: Democracy and human rights Flashcards
Democracy
A system of government in which power and civic responsibility are exercised by all citizens directly or through their freely elected representatives. Democracy is a set of principles and practices that protect human freedom. Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule
laws
A system of rules that are enforced through a set of institutions to regulate human conduct. Laws shape politics, economics, and society.
Participation
To take part or be involved in an activity or event with others
Petition
A formal request to parliament for intervention in a matter. It can either be a request for assistance with a specific issue or the redress of a grievances
Principles
fundamental norms, rules, or values that represent what is desirable for a person, group, organization, and community. These norms, rules, and values determine the rightfulness or wrongfulness of actions
Procedures
A series of actions undertaken in a certain way or order
Public participation activities
Peoples Assembly, the Taking Parliament to the People programmes, the Women’s Parliament and the Youth Parliament
Direct ways of influencing parliament
- Voting in elections
- Attending meetings and debates
- Submissions, representations, and petitions
- Contacting MPs
Indirect ways of influencing parliament
- lobbying outside parliament
- Joining a political party
- Keeping yourself informed via the news and selective social media
Types of petitions
special petitions and general or public petitions
Characteristics of good governance
Accountability. All forms of government have an obligation to report, explain and be answerable for the consequences of decisions they have made on behalf of the community they rpresent
Characteristics of good governance
Accountability. All forms of government have an obligation to report, explain and be answerable for the consequences of decisions they have made on behalf of the community they represent
Transparency. People should be able to follow and understand how government makes decisions
Responsiveness. Try to serve the needs of the community and keep the people informed
Follow the rule of the law. Decisions are consistent with the relevant common law
Equitability and inclusiveness. All groups especially the neglected should have opportunities to participate in the process
Effectiveness and efficiency. The decision-makers should implement decisions and follow processes that use available people and resources to ensure the best results for their community
National government
Makes and carries out laws and policies for the whole country
Provincial government
Makes and carries out laws and policies that affect only the relevant province
Traditional authorities
Involve the community with local government
Support municipalities in identifying community needs
Recommendations about service delivery
Promote indigenous knowledge systems
Administer traditional community affairs
Assist and guide traditional leaders in performing their duties
Liaise with municipalities regarding security matters
Rule of law
an accepted principle that no individual or group of people are exempt from the law. The power of the government is also limited by judicial parameters or boundaries and applying accepted legal and moral principles, which uphold the integrity of the constitution. The rule of law is intended to prevent conditions for a dictatorship and to thereby protect the rights of the people meaning that a country must be governed according to the constitution and laws of that country and not decisions made by individual leaders
Rule of law
judges and magistrates
members of the judiciary are not elected but are appointed by the judicial services Board, which is independent organ of state
Rule of law
( The constitutional court of SA)
function
it protects and upholds the constitution. It deals exclusively with constitutional matters. Magistrates courts, the high courts, and Supreme Court of Appeal are responsible for trying people suspected of having broken the law. They have the power to sentence a person who has been convicted to crime
Public protector
investigates complaints against government officials
Human Rights commission
investigates issues relating to human rights violations
Commission for Gender Equality
ensures that law, customs, and practices do not discriminate against women
Auditor- General
checks that national, provincial, and local governments are spending their budgets in a responsible manner
Independent Electoral Commissions
ensures that elections are run in a free and fair manner
Independent Broadcasting Authority
ensures that radio and television broadcasts are fair and unbiased
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities
has to ensure that the rights and customs of all South Africans are protected and exercised
Three levels of government
National government
Provincial government
Local government
fundamental principles of the constitution
the separation of power meaning that the three branches of government are separate and should not interfere with the functions of others
Three levels of government
National government
Provincial government
Local government
Local municipalities
Drakenstein
Matlosana
Kouga
Merafong
District municipalities
Amajuba
Frances Baard
Sedibeng
West Rand
Metropolitan municipalities
Buffalo city City of Cape Town City of Johannesburg City of Tshwane Ekurhuleni e Thekwini Mangaung Nelson Mandela Bay
How do civil organizations support and protect democracy
They hold public meetings and organize public awareness campaigns about what is being discussed in parliament
They encourage people to sign petitions to send their representatives to parliament
They attend parliamentary portfolio committee meetings and make formal representations
Treatment Action Campaign
the HIV/ Aids organization credited with forcing the government of Thabo Mbeki to start making anti-retroviral drugs available to South Africans suffering from HIV/Aids
Social Justice Coalition
its local government programme focuses on sanitation, budget and urban land, while its safety and justice programme focuses on policing and the criminal justice system and the implementation of janitorial services and flush toilets for informal settlements
Masifundise Development Trust
forced the government to develop a new fishery policy that accommodates the social and economic rights of more than 30 000 small scale fisherman and their families
South African Council of churches
This forum was for the fight against apartheid, and is involved in civil matters and holding the government accountable. Its leaders are Desmond Tutu, Frank Chikane, Beyers Naude
Centre of Environmental rights
holds the government and industry to their obligations under environmental legislation. It operates nationally on 24-hour environmental crimes and incident hotlines
What is an NGO
An NGO is a non-profit, a voluntary citizen group that is organised on a local- national- or international level. they are usually funded by donations, but some avoid formal funding by donations but some avoid formal funding altogether and are run primarily by volunteers.
Charitable orientations
NGOs that direct their activities towards the needs of poor people
Service orientation
NGOs that direct their activities such as the provision of health services, family planning, and education services to needy people
Participatory orientation
NGOs that establish self-help projects where people are involved in the implementation of the project providing cash, tools, labor
Empowering orientation
Projects that aim to help poor people, providing understanding and training on how social political, and economic factors affecting their lives
most common forms of spectator aggression
Verbal: Yelling taunts
Gesturing: Signalling to others with threatening or obscene motions
Missile throwing: Throwing items such as food, drinks or broken seats
Swarming: Rushing onto the field or trying to crash the gates to gain entry or exit
Property destruction: Knocking down systems, or burning or damaging the venue or property
Physical: Spitting, kicking, fistfights and shootings
what triggers bad behaviour at sport events
Noise level: research found that extreme noise levels increase the likelihood of interpersonal aggression
Seating arrangements: Empty spaces without seats can even provide places to start bonfires
Alcohol availability: There is a large body of research that suggests intoxication is related to aggressive behavior
Crowding: crowding increases the likelihood of violence as it limits mobility and creates unwanted physical contact between spectators
Bad behaviour triggers on a personal level
Strong sense of team identity: they wear the same clothes, paint their faces, and sit in large groups together.it becomes part of their identity. They are also driven by the team spirit when they do war crys
Frustration with their team’s performance: If a team loses, it can create massive frustration for the supporters at the game which could result in loss of control
Mob mentality: Individuals lose their sense of what is rights and wrong when they become part of large crowds. If alcohol is abused in this situation, people may lose all moral sense and can collectively start to misbehave
Code of conduct
A code of conduct or behaviour is a set of statements that establish what your team or club considers to be an acceptable standard of behaviour and conduct. This code of conduct encourages commitment to ethical and professional behaviour and outlines principles on which the team or club is biased
What to consider in sports as part of nation-building
Programs that use sport must take into account the different socio-cultural norms and values of the different groups they are trying to unite. participants and coaches must acknowledge the differences and be sensitive towards each other
benefits of walking
- boost your metabolism
- reduces body fat
- strengthens your legs
- improves your circulation
- helps prevent and control diabetes
safety tips for walking
- keep safe and do not put yourself at risk when walking
- drink plenty of water during and after walking
- make sure you know what time you are going back home
- wear appropriate footwear
- walk facing oncoming traffic
