Democracy

WHAT IS A DEMOCRACY?

The term is usually applied to a form of government where the power is in the hands of the people, either directly or indirectly, because a system is used where representitives are elected by free elections held at regular intervals.

The term 'democracy' can also be applied to a country which has a democratic form of government.

The principles or ideals and processes of democracy can also be applied to groups and organisations from those at the home and school level to those in the international community.

The concepts and principles of democcracy are believed to have originated in Ancient Greece and developed during the Middle Ages, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many well known figures throughout history have been instrumental in developing these concepts and principles. Some of these include Pericles (495-429 BCE) in Ancient Greece, King John in the early thirteenth century, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) who fought for the abolition of slavery in the 1800's in the United States of America, Nelson Mandela (first black president of South Africa), Aung San Kyi (founder of the National League for Democracy in Burma), Emily Pankhurst (1851-1928), one of the founders of the British suffragate movement, Henri Dunant (founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross), and Mahatma Gandhi )political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement).

Although there are many different types of democracies, the main features of a democracy include the following.

-Free and fair elections are held so that people can choose a leader or give their opinions about particular issues. Elections are held periodically to make sure that elected representitives always represent the people. Elected representitives may be voted out if they do not seem to be doing what the majority of pople want. Each person who votes has the same power as any other. Votes are conducted by secret ballot to allow people to freely express their own opinions.

-Decisions must be approved by a majority vote before they are put into place. The majority rules but the minority still have the right to express their opinions.

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