Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Government by
the people
- Considered to be
the purest form of
democracy
- Views of every person
allowed to vote are directly
translated into policy/law
- Problems with Direct Democracy
- People may not
understand complex
questions
- Majority may discriminate
towards minority
- Impractible in a large state
- Costly and time
consuming
- People may be swayed
by emotion rather then
thinking rationally
- May result in public
boredom
- Representative Democracy
- A form of democracy which citizens allow others
(usually elected officials) to represent them in any
of the process of legislation or law making.
- Arguments for Representative Democracy
- Practical and less time
consuming
- Politicians act more
rationally than the public
- Representatives are held
to account by the people
- Ensure public participation
through elections, e.g. joining
pressure groups
- Arguments against Representative Democracy
- Irregular participation-
General elections only
- Women and ethnic minorities are
under-represented (Only 18% of
politicians are women and only
3% black
- Voting systems are not always fair
- Representatives can ignore
public opinion
- Politicians can loose
touch with 'ordinary
people'
- Liberal Democracy
- Basic freedoms
enjoyed by all e.g.
freedom of worship
- Democracy - Free and fair
elections in which 2 or
more parties compete
- Features
- Free and fair
elections
- Elected representatives &
govt accountable to the people
- Civil liberties are
protected
- Peaceful
transition of power
- Competitive
elections