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What is Democracy? Why Democracy? - Coggle Diagram
What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
Features of Democracy
~Rishi Verma
1: Major decisions taken by elected
leaders
In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country. Later he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension. The referendum was based on malpractices and fraud. In August 2002 he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies. The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers. After passing this law, elections were held to the national and provincial assemblies. So, Pakistan has had elections, elected representatives have some powers. But the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf himself.
2: Free and fair electoral
competition
In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress). The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President
of the country. It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the army. Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held d in
2002-03. The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President. until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections. All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings. Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI. Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them. Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes. The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.
3: One person, One vote, One value
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 Russian minority find 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.
4: Rule of law and respect
for rights
Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in 1980. the freedom struggles. Its leader, Robert Mugabe, ruled the country since independence. Elections were held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF. President Mugabe was popular but also used unfair practices in elections. Over the years his government changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable. Opposition party workers were harassed and their meeting disrupted. Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal. There was a law that limited the right to criticize the President. Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only the ruling party’s version. He was forced out of office in 2017.
Best Defination
Democracy is a form of government from the people, by the people, for the people. ~Nelson Mandela
Arguments against democracy
~Amreen kaur
Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
Democracy is all about power play. There is no scope for morality
So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
Democracy leads to corruption for it is based o electoral competition .
Ordinary people do not know what is good for them, so they should not decide anything.
Indirect Democracy ~Tanvi Sharma
An indirect democracy is a type of democratic government in which voters choose delegates to create the laws of government on their behalf.
Arguments for democracy
~Tanvi Sharma
Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.
Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.
Direct Democracy ~Amreen Kaur
It is the form of government in which the leader discusses with its citizens to pass a law.