Etude de cas: activity 1 Democracy

Here is an example of a case political system : "elections , even when they are free and fair and that almost all of the adult population has the right to participate, do not guarantee democracy in a regime where they are mechanisms legitimizing governments , once elected , are not particularly attentive to the demands or needs of their citizens . But how do the authorities meet the requirements of all their constituents when some or many of them , feel excluded from the political process most of the time and believe that the power lies in the hands of a political elite consists of a small number of major political parties , a bureaucracy that continues to swell and exert more influence on the lives of people, economic and political interest groups and powerful media essentially held by a small number of tycoons and wealthy and influential oligarchs ? (...) "

There are several definitions of democracy. Check those who apply to the case described here:
1. a government which is run with the consent of the people
2. a system of government the supreme authority of which belongs to the people
3. a government in which political control is exercised by all citizens, or directly or by intervention of their elected representatives
4. a democracy is a system where the individuals can change leaders in a peaceful way and where the government has the right to govern because the people conferred on it this right.
The democratic political system is characterized by values, principles, institutions, practices and culture, etc.. Which constitute the foundations of liberty, equality, free, fair and transparent elections, separation of powers, etc.. However there are «latent» representations of democracies, unwritten form of "rules" to be respected (acceptance of electoral defeat, exile violence, etc...
In the introduced system, find three foundations of democracy which are not respected.
1. liberty
2. free, fair and transparent elections
3. separation of powers
4. equality,
Democracy rests on one some number of principles.
Check those which are respected in this introduced case:
1. Voting and universal suffrage, which is supposed to give every person equal opportunity to influence the way important decisions, should be taken.
2. People’s sovereignty: citizens have the power and they hold government accountable.
3. Majority rule and minority rights: power is exercised by the majority, but the rights of the minority must be protected.
4. Constitutionality: powers and limitations to government power are enshrined in the Constitution, which protects the rights of all citizens. It is necessary to conduct a Review of the constitutionality of laws to ensure respect of constitutional provisions.
5. Separation of powers (legislature, executive and judiciary): the lawmaker (legislature or parliament) cannot be the same as the law enforcer (executive or government); a third separate power is necessary to judge the proper application of laws (judiciary).
6. Justice and impartiality: government decisions must be fair and impartial.
7. An independent judiciary: the judicial system must be fair and separated from other government institutions.
8. Open and free exchange of ideas: the right to freedom of speech, press freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of association.
9. Subjecting the armed forces to civilian authority: Since military officers are not elected, the military must be under civilian administration.
10. Political pluralism and free and fair elections: multi-party elections are free, open and transparent.
11. General welfare: promoting what is good for the entire society.
12. Participation: citizens participate freely in civil life.
13. Rule of law: public authorities are subject to law, thus limiting their powers. All decisions must, therefore, be in line with the Constitution, international commitments and with laws and regulations.
14. Transfer of power: it is desirable, in democracy, that public affairs be managed by different political groupings.
15. Control by citizens: citizens must have the right to ascertain by themselves (or by their representatives) “the need for public contribution (…) and to follow up on this process”, and for the society as a whole to have the right to “demand accountability from all public officers for their stewardship” to enable them play their watchdog role and exercise their warning function.