What Democracy

CHAPTER-2(CIVICS)
 Democracy is a form of government in which

the rulers are elected by the people.
 There are different forms of government
either democratic or non- democratic.
 Meaning of Democracy
 Democracy is a form of government in which
the rulers are elected by the people.
 Who are the rulers?
 What kind of election?
 Who are the people?
 What kind of form of government?
 In a democracy the final decision making power must rest
with those who elected by the people.
 A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where
those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
 In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and
each vote must have one value.
 A democratic government rules within limits sets by
constitutional law and citizen’s right.
 The opposition parties are allowed to function freely before
and after the elections.
 The democratic governments are based on fundamental
principles of political equality.
 Some countries like Pakistan do not follow this rule. In
Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in
October 1999.
 He overthrew the democratically elected government and
went on to become the President of the country.
 In 2002, he also held a referendum in the country that granted
him a five-year extension. Meanwhile, after passing of this
‘Legal Framework Order’ elections were held to the national
and provincial assemblies and elected representatives were
granted some powers.
 But the final power rested with military officers and General
Musharraf himself. Hence, we can conclude it was not a
democratic country. The same thing happens in many
dictatorships and monarchies.
 Thus, we can conclude that in a democracy the final decision
making power must rest with those elected by the people.
 In China, elections are held after every five years for electing
the country’s parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao
Dahui (National People’s Congress). Before contesting
elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese
Communist Party. The government is always formed by the
Communist Party.
 Alternatively, since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds
elections after every six years to elect its President. But until
2000 every election was won by a party called PRI
(Institutional Revolutionary Party). Should we consider the
elections described above as examples of people electing their
rulers? Reading these examples we get a sense that we cannot.
Democracy must be based on a free and fair election where
those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
 Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political
equality. However, there are many instances of denial of the
equal right to vote.
 Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to
vote.
 Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that
people belonging to the Russian minority found it difficult to
get the right to vote.
 In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an
indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.
Definitely not a democratic government. The feature of
democracy this highlights is that in a democracy, each adult
citizen must have one vote and in turn, each vote must have
one value.
 Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in
1980 and from then the country has been ruled by the party
that led the freedom struggle, ZANU-PF. Its leader,
 Robert Mugabe ruled the country since independence. Even if
elections were held regularly, it was always won by ZANU-
PF. President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair
practices
 in elections. There was a law that limited the right to criticise
the President. Television and radio were controlled by the
government and gave only the ruling party’s version. There
were independent newspapers but the government harassed
those journalists who went against it and so on. Not a
democratic government. Democratic government rules within
limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights.
 A democratic government is a better government because it is
a more accountable form of government.
 Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
 Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and
conflicts. It is suitable the countries like India. India having
diversity of language, religion and cultures. Democracy in
India made it possible to keep unity in diversity.
 Democracy is better than other forms of government because
it allows us to correct its own mistakes.
 Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens, because it is
based on the principle of political equality, on recognizing that
the poorest and least educated have the same status as the rich
and the educated.
 Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to
instability.
 Democracy is all about political competition and
power play. There is no scope for morality.
 Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the
people. It leads to bad decisions.
 Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on
electoral competition.
 Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them;
they should not decide anything.

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CHAPTER-2(CIVICS)

 Democracy is a form of government in which

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