Principles & Values of Democracy

Majority rule

and respect for minorities

Popular

sovereignty

aka: consent of the governed

Minority Rights

Majority Rule

Majority rule is the idea that governments are formed by popular will.

2 elements:

1) Inalienable right to vote (all citizens)

2)Protection in law of rights of particular minorities...

just as important as majority rule

without respect for minorities, what we get is a ‘tyranny of the majority’

must be able to change the majority through elections

Government

accountability

and constraints

Popular: of the people as a whole, especially of all citizens of a nation or state qualified to participate in an election

Sovereignty: supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community.

Accountability

Governments must answer for

their actions to the people they represent

Tolerance

Government is also constrained by the separation of powers (more next week)

of diverse political views, political dissent and activism

HOW?

If no accountability or constraints...

Elections

Government can do as they please!

Free press

Pay rises for self!

Jobs for mates!

Parliament and opposition

The major principles & values of democracy:

Voltaire

Democracy: demos + kratia

'people power'

Equality

of citizens

BUT democracy = anarchy

legal

political

In democracy, people CHOOSE govt

All citizens are subject to the same laws in the same way.

1 person --> 1 vote --> 1 value

Ensures that all people have the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities by LAW

Let's pretend...

For just over one quarter of the population (26%), their vote = 3 votes

EG a law could not be passed which forbids black people, or Asian people, or aborigines from running for parliament

For the rest, their votes = 1 vote

Assume 100 voters

Democracy:

Pericles (believed to be the first expression of this principle, 431 BCE):

Representative

&

Direct

People elect representatives to make laws on their behalf

People make laws themselves:

Usually by popular vote

Outcome 1, Lesson 1

Unit 3 VCE Australian Politics.

Direct democracy

EG Australia!

Representative Democracy

EG: Switzerland,

Ancient Athens

Cons

• Time required to become informed about issues
• Time required to debate ALL points-of -view!

We vote for representatives to make laws for us!

PROS

• Politicians are specialists in law-making
• Saves us all time

Pros

• People can decide everything!

Protection:

Cons

• We cannot control our representatives (except at elections)- they can act contrary to our interests
• Representatives can break their promises!

of democratic rights and freedoms

Laws ensure that people’s abilities to participate in democracy cannot be taken away, compromised or influenced by others.

Freedom

'Free and fair' elections

religion

speech

right to an opinion

Doesn't seem politically important in contemporary Australia

imagine being beaten or imprisoned merely for speaking your opinion!

BUT traditionally:

Labor Party = Catholics

Liberal Party = Protestants

so it WAS important...

The rule of law

especially important is that we can CRITICISE the government

Imagine if no secret ballot:

Politicians would know who you're voting for; they could influence your vote!

In USSR, China, religions were BANNED!

media

assembly

free media crucial for democracy

people can (1) form political parties, or (2) protest together

If laws supreme --> govt must obey

media must be free of government constraints or controls to hold the government to account

if a govt could stop particular people or groups meeting in public or private...

govt would essentially be removing the right to political opposition and dissent

O/wise, govt do as the want!

Governments (and all citizens) are bound to abide by laws