Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
What is democracy?
Democracy is a Greek word, meaning demos (the common
people) and kratia (power or rule). It literally means the rule of
the people or power of the people. The people are the
government this is the principle of popular sovereignty.
In modern times, democracy has three key elements:
Political participation
Political competition
Liberty or freedom
What is republicanism?
From the ancient Greeks, democracy meant that citizens
participated in politics by serving in public office (governing,
debating issues, voting, and making laws). We call this
direct democracy.
From the Romans, modern democracy inherits
representative democracy, in which citizens elect others to
public office, and these public officials govern on their behalf.
Representative democracy is indirect democracy.
Republicanism is a form of indirect democracy in which the
powers of the government are separated from one another,
such that different officials make laws (legislature), execute
laws (executive), and interpret laws (judiciary).
Models of democracy:
the parliamentary system
The legislature is the main center of political power, and in
bicameral systems (two legislative houses) it is the lower house
that wields this power.
The prime minister (PM) is the executive. The PM is a member
of the lower house, elected from a local constituency. S/he is
the leader of her/his party and selected as PM by other party
legislators. PMs may come and go w/o new elections (vote of
no confidence)
The PM forms a cabinet, which runs the day-to-day affairs of
government. Most cabinet members are also parliamentarians,
and the cabinet wields great influence b/c it originates
legislation.
PM is head of government, and some other person is head of
state.
Models of democracy:
the presidential system
Different branches of government have separate and shared
powers, and no one of them is supreme.
The people elect legislators and the executive separately.
The president is the executive, and her/his legitimacy stems in
large part from her/his being elected by the people.
Presidents have cabinets, but the members are typically not also
serving legislators. Presidential administrations draft legislation.
This system creates checks and balances, such that the
president and the legislature may represent different parties and
therefore be at odds over legislation.
The legislature cannot easily remove the president.
President is head of government and head of state.
Models of democracy:
the mixed system (semi-presidential)
A fusion of parliamentary and presidential systems.
A legislature selects the prime minister from its ranks, and the
PM forms a cabinet of like-minded politicians.
The people elect the president, and the president has a say in
who will be prime minister.
The president can dismiss the PM, but the legislature cannot
easily remove the president.
As in the presidential system, there may be divided
government, where the president is from one party and the PM
and the majority in the legislature are from another party.
A system of shared and separate power. Presidents usually
run foreign and defense policy, and PMs handle domestic
matters.