Jacob Maximin Thaddeus B.

Taguinod 2011026199 MA Political Science

Democracy: Theory and Practice – Dr. Tangco (Saturday 11-2 class)

FINALS EXAMINATIONS

1. Discuss the highlights of the film, “Enemy of the State,” and analyze it
based on democratic traits and practices. (20 POINTS)

- National security is of utmost importance of any democratic state. In the case

of the United States, the technology they used against their opponents during

the Afghan and Iranian War is through using modern technology in order to

identify the whereabouts of their enemies. Upon winning the war there, National

Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds wanted to pass a bill that would

allow the use of these technologies to the American people. However,

Congressman Sam Albert opposed the bill because of breaching into the

private lives of its people, in which shall be respected. Reynolds assassinated

Congressman Albert so that he would be able to continue with his plan to pass

the bill. However, the assassination was caught on tape. Reynolds’ staff was

after Zavitz who was able to capture everything on camera, but at some point,

during the foot race, Zavitz met Robert Dean along the way where he put the

tape in his paper bags. The NSA was able to track Dean’s personal information,

his social security number, the number of his wife, and other private details

about him. The NSA’s technology is to use satellites to check the coordinates

of Dean, body cameras and other technology to feed information to NSA,

wiretapping phone calls, the use of GPS trackers to trace the whereabouts of
 Dean, and others. As Brill said in the movie, if you are in a phone call and you

said “president”, “bomb”, and “allah”, and a hundred more key words, the

computer would recognize it and red flags the phone call for analysis. It also

gives us an example as to how corrupt officials would do anything in their power

to get what they want. In the case of Reynolds, he made sure that the bill to

use national surveillance to the Americans without opposing him, so he got rid

of Congressman Albert. He even already used this technology still without the

passing of the bill to Zavitz and Dean. The passage of the bill would mean

consolidating the power of breaching into the privacy of the people. Truly,

corrupt officials are the root of an undemocratic process in the government.

- The use of this technology of monitoring and surveillance is not at all bad for a

democratic country if it will be used against the “real” enemies of the state, but

every democratic country shall have every right to respect the secrecy of its

people and should not be used against them. The passage of a bill on the use

of surveillance powers of intelligence agencies such as the National Security

Agency would mean destroying the privacy of its citizens. This is an

undemocratic act of the state if it would also mean the importance of enjoying

the freedoms of every person in a country when they would know someone is

monitoring their every move. China, a communist country, likewise developed

the same concept and is currently being done to its people. The Chinese

government knows almost everything about its population.

2. Distinguish between Developmental Democracy Model and the Consensus

Model of Democracy. Which one works more for realization of democratic

goals and objectives? Justify. (20 POINTS)

- The main principle of Developmental Democracy model is that it is focused on

human development. John Stuart Mill, the main proponent of Developmental

Democracy, said that there was an struggle of the working class to purchase

land despite their hardship and efforts, and that the working conditions of the

blue-collared workers are getting worse. The approach that Mill developed is

based on the development of the people through excelling in academics,

enhancement of skills, and sound philosophical belief. With this, Mill believed

that a country with these models are vital to the growth of a democratic country.

- On the other hand, consensus model of democracy is based on low levels of

opposition on the resolution of political conflict and actual exercise of power,

and division of power in terms of sharing the powers to other branches of the

government. It features different elements to achieve a consensus democracy

as told by Arend Lijphart in his “Patterns of Democracy” book. However, the

main feature is the executive power-sharing in multi-party coalitions. This gives

the minorities the opportunity to be part of the decision-making mechanisms of

the legislature through giving them seats in the lower house. On constitutional

amendments, minorities are given the power to veto any planned changes.

- Since the consensus model closely works in Switzerland and Belgium,

democracy works through the structures of their governments. And since

developmental democracy is more of an idea rather than an organization of

 government as compared with the consensus style, it deals more on the social

and educational aspect, electoral system of a country (plural voting), laissez-

faire economic system, and political inclusion of women. Either can work for

the realization of democratic goals and objectives if we consider consensual

style of democracy in the governmental structure, and developmental

democracy which shall work for human development, in which every

democratic country must value.

3. Discuss the electoral voting systems among the USA, UK, and Germany.

Which one works efficiently and effectively with democratic patterns. (20

POINTS)

- USA: The president and vice-president of the United States are not elected by

who has the most numbers of votes in the country (through first-past-the-post

system, which most countries like in the Philippines are practicing). They have

the “Electoral College” in which a president and vice-president from either the

Republican or Democratic parties could be elected based from which party gets

to 270 electoral votes first.

- UK: There are a number of electoral systems in UK. First-past-the-post system

elects local authorities which is divided into numerous voting areas. Voters put

a cross (x) next to their preferred candidate on the ballot. Alternative Vote (AV)

is used to elect the majority of chairs of selected committees in the house of

commons. Candidates are ranked by voters in order of their preference by

marking 1, 2, 3 and so on. Winner is elected when a candidate reaches 50% of

preferential vote after eliminating other candidates who gets the least number
 of preferential votes. Other electoral systems include Single Transferable Vote

(STV) for Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons, Additional Member

System for the Scottish parliament, National Assembly for Wales and London

Assembly where percentage of votes obtained by the parties in the party vote

determines the overall number of representatives, and Closed Party List where

voters mark a cross on the ballot next to the party’s name that they support. It

is the same with proportional representation where the number of seats for a

party depends on the percentage that they won in the election.

- Germany: Its electoral system is quite complex. Voters cast two votes: a

candidate in their constituency, and for one political party (also called

personalized proportional representation system). 598 seats in the Bundestag

are divided among members of the political parties of Germany. However,

seats in the government tend to become overrepresented and

underrepresented by majority and minority parties, and the Bundestag lean

towards providing more seats by taking into consideration of Germany’s

population when there becomes an overvote.

- In my opinion, the electoral system of the United States exemplifies rather a

simple electoral system among the three countries mentioned. It is essentially

a first-past-the-post system but using electoral college system and can still be

able to exercise democracy.

4. In which countries do democratic theory and practice complement? Justify.

(20 POINTS)
- Perhaps Singapore and Hong Kong could be good examples where democratic

theory and practice complement anchoring on the idea of majoritarian,

consensus and developmental democracy.

- A failed union with Malaysia in the 1960s sparked the creation of the Singapore

city-state. Functioning as a city and a standalone country, it was necessary to

create its own legislature, executive and judiciary branches. On the other hand,

Singapore opened its doors to foreign companies for economic development

and investments. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his cabinet needed to

depend on the multi-racial population, and sent them to other countries for

training and skills enhancement. Upon return to Singapore, these people who

acquired schooling abroad were able to contribute to the economic boom of the

country. This is an example of developmental democracy.

- On the other hand, the ruling party in Singapore People’s Action Party

dominates the legislative seat, but still leaves several seats to the minority.

Since Singapore is a city-state, they were able to tackle local laws to improve

the lives of Singaporeans, and it is usually being agreed upon everyone in the

legislature. Corporatists were also able to safeguard their interests by

influencing the government to ease up on business regulations. Singapore is

also a unicameral legislature. The country exemplifies a mixed majoritarian and

consensus democracy, but leans more on the former because of the

parliamentary system, centralized government, and unicameral legislature.

- An off-shoot of China, Hong Kong established itself as a democratic Special

Administrative Region. As a city-state, Hong Kong is able to exercise their

 democracy for 50 years since the handover from the British in 1997. Although

it is consistently being pressured by China as the city-state will be transferred

in 2047, Hong Kong struggles to perform its liberties as a democratic state.

There are several similarities with Singapore, although Hong Kong was already

developed before independence. It has a unicameral legislature but has multi-

party systems. It also has a centralized government but both city-states are

able to have judicial reviews. Both city-states’ corporatist groups were also able

to influence their respective governments. Hong Kong is a mix of consensual

and majoritarian democracy.

5. Discuss the pillars of Democracy. Cite an example for each. (20 points)

- Consent of the Governed

 Democracy is based on the idea that governments are legitimate if

they are based on the consent of the people. People have to agree

to be ruled by a government to be called a democracy.

 Parliamentary governments conducting referendum to have the

people’s stand on certain topics and issues needed to be acted upon

by the government

- Representative government

 Citizens are able to elect people to represent them in the

government. This is turn, makes the people (or sector) to be in overall

control of the government

  Congressmen representing geographical areas and/or sectors of the

society are elected to represent them in the government.

- Rule of Law

 Governments and government officials need to obey and respect the

law

 Government should act in accordance with the law when its people

are disobeying it. Laws are made to be followed by its citizens

accordingly to live a peaceful and orderly community.

 Every government has its constitution as basis for all of the laws that

are being drafted and passed. The government should write laws

within the bounds of its constitution. Any act that is against the

constitution could be grounds for trial. Constitutions also spell out the

kind of government a country has (whether federal, parliamentary, or

republic).

- Individual Rights

 People are guaranteed of basic and fundamental rights to freedom

of speech, religion, and others

- Checks and balances

 A democratic government needs to establish different branches so

as not to have overlapping powers over each other to prevent

dictatorship

 The Philippines has three branches of the government: executive,

legislative and judiciary. The executive branch is headed by the

 President, the legislative branch is gathered by the members of the

Congress, and the judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice.

 These three shall ensure that democracy is in practice and shall

respect the boundaries of each branch.