What is Democracy?

Class 10 Political Science Chapter 1 Democracy

“Democracy is the form of government in which rulers are elected by the people.”

Word is derived from the greek words demos and cratia. Demos suggest people and cratia suggest power. Therefore democracy is power of people. Abraham Lincoln defined it as,“Government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Features of Democracy

  • Rule of representatives elected by people: In democracy, decision making is done by elected representatives, so real power is in hands of elected representatives. But in many countries elected representatives do not have whole power to make decisions. In some of countries decisions are taken by military officers, which are not elected by people, also, decisions are taken under influence of external powers. Thus, real powers are not in hands of representatives. Therefore, representatives must be elected by people and real power must be given to these representatives.
  • Free and Fair elections:In China elections are held in every five years. But only members of Communist Party of China, are allowed for contesting the elections. As a result, every time government is formed by Communist Party. In Mexico, elections occurs regularly in 6 years , but due to pressure of Institutional Revolutionary Party, government officers, teachers and media are forces to vote for same party. As a result, till 2000 Institutional Revolutionary Party has established government every time. This shows that, for democracy there is need for free and fair elections. For true democracy, people should contest elections and vote fearlessly. Therefore, democracy must based on free and fair elections where people have right to remove those in power and choose new representatives.
  • Universal adult franchise with each vote having equal value: In United Arab Emirates women do not have right to vote. However, in Russia, rules were that minority people do not have right to vote. Moreover, in Fiji there are Indigenous Fiji people and Indian Fiji people. For electing representatives, the vote of indigenous Fiji has more value than Indian Fiji. Here, it can be observed that though all people have right to vote, the value of vote is not same.
  • Fundamental rights and Protection of freedom: Fundamental Rights are the legal provisions made by legal system of the country, for the protection and freedom of the citizens. Some of these includes freedom of thinking, freedom of expression, freedom to form association, freedom to criticize, freedom to get justice. However, legal provisions are also made, so that the elected government cannot misuse the power. The elected government has given certain rights by constitution and the law. Thus, it can be concluded that democratic government, facilitate their rule in country and it is controlled by constitution and the citizen of the country.



Direct Democracy

Democracy in which people show direct participation is known as direct democracy. Such type of democracy was present in older times.

  • Favourable conditions: In older times, population of society used to be small. Women, slaves and foreigners did not have right in decision making. Thus, the actual decision maker were small in number. Hence, it became favourable for all to gather in at place and solve the issues collectively. In such type of democracy people have no ruler than themselves also, people have full authority to make decision and laws.
  • Decline of direct democracy: As population increased with time, it became difficult to gather at place. Also, decision making become complicated with increase in population. As a result efficiency of direct democracy went down and lead to decline.

Indirect democracy

indirect democracy

Indirect democracy

Indirect democracy is in which people elect representative in order to make decision on behalf of them. Representative establish government and rule for the benefit of whole country. Countries like India, USA, England, France, etc follow indirect democracy. It can be Presidential Democracy or Parliamentary Democracy.

  • Presidential Democracy: In this type, people directly elect president who became head of nation as well as state. President selects governmental officers. It is mainly observed in USA and France.
  • Parliamentary democracy: The Parliamentary system, people elect the members of Parliament i.e. the Supreme Legislative Body. The political party, that have Majority of Elected Members, establish Government. Often head of the party is elected as Prime Minister. Prime Minister establish government and facilitate Working of Government. The Parliamentary democracy can be observed in India and England.

Keywords: Direct and Indirect Democracy, Presidential Democracy, Parliamentary Democracy

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