INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION TO DEMOCRACYTO DEMOCRACY

Systems of GovernmentsSystems of Governments

What is government?What is government? Government refers to Government refers to

“the person or persons “the person or persons authorized to authorized to administer the laws; the administer the laws; the ruling power; the ruling power; the administration.”administration.”

The main function of The main function of government, and the government, and the primary reason for their primary reason for their establishment, is establishment, is TO TO HELP PEOPLE MEET HELP PEOPLE MEET THEIR NEEDS!THEIR NEEDS!

3 THINGS GOVERNMENTS 3 THINGS GOVERNMENTS MUST DO…MUST DO…

1. Make laws and decisions about 1. Make laws and decisions about what people need.what people need.

2. Collect and spend money to 2. Collect and spend money to help make these laws and help make these laws and decisions.decisions.

3. Make sure laws are being 3. Make sure laws are being obeyed.obeyed.

ANARCHYANARCHY

Anarchy is the word used to describe Anarchy is the word used to describe the absence of any form of political the absence of any form of political system. In other words, there is no system. In other words, there is no government.government.

In this system, each individual is In this system, each individual is responsible for meeting his/her own responsible for meeting his/her own needs on his/her own.needs on his/her own.

Problems???Problems???

DICTATORSHIPDICTATORSHIP A dictatorship is a A dictatorship is a system of system of

government in which one government in which one person holds all authority person holds all authority or power. In other words, or power. In other words, a dictator has the power to a dictator has the power to tell people what to do, how tell people what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. to do it, and when to do it.

Regular citizens have no say Regular citizens have no say and have very few rights and and have very few rights and freedoms.freedoms.

Dictators often use fear and Dictators often use fear and force to maintain their power.force to maintain their power. E.g. Adolph Hitler of Germany. E.g. Adolph Hitler of Germany. But do dictatorships actually But do dictatorships actually

exist today? exist today?

ARISTOCRACYARISTOCRACY

Aristocracy is a Aristocracy is a system of system of government by a government by a ruling class ruling class considered to be considered to be superior to others; superior to others; often the rich, often the rich, upper class.upper class.

MONARCHYMONARCHY A monarchy is a A monarchy is a system of system of

government where a king or government where a king or queen holds the power and queen holds the power and authority.authority. In other words, In other words, the king or queen rules the the king or queen rules the country.country.

Citizens DO NOT have a Citizens DO NOT have a choice as to who their leader choice as to who their leader will be, as it is the will be, as it is the right of right of birth birth that determines power. that determines power.

When a king or queen dies, When a king or queen dies, power is passed down to the power is passed down to the oldest sonoldest son E.g. King Abdullah of JordanE.g. King Abdullah of Jordan

CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYMONARCHY

A constitutional monarchy A constitutional monarchy is is a system of government a system of government where the head of the where the head of the government is a king or government is a king or queenqueen, BUT the king or , BUT the king or queen has no real power.queen has no real power.

It is the people who elect It is the people who elect the governmentthe government, with the , with the king or queen simply being king or queen simply being a SYMBOLIC head of state.a SYMBOLIC head of state. E.g. Canada, Britain, SwedenE.g. Canada, Britain, Sweden

DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Standard Standard Definition: Definition: a a democracy is democracy is simply a simply a government by government by the people for the people for the people.the people.

DEMOCRACY – DEMOCRACY – A CLOSER LOOKA CLOSER LOOK

Expanded Definition: democracy is Expanded Definition: democracy is a a system of government that is system of government that is periodically elected and controlled periodically elected and controlled by the people who live under it.by the people who live under it.

In other words, the people have the In other words, the people have the authority and power. authority and power.

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a DemocracyDemocracy

Think of the Paradise Island activity we just Think of the Paradise Island activity we just completed. The activity actually provides us completed. The activity actually provides us with a small glimpse as to some of the with a small glimpse as to some of the characteristics that make up a democracy.characteristics that make up a democracy.

How did we practice democracy in this How did we practice democracy in this activity?activity? Everyone had the right to share their opinionsEveryone had the right to share their opinions Everyone had the right/freedom to disagreeEveryone had the right/freedom to disagree Everyone could participate in making decisionsEveryone could participate in making decisions Compromise was used in the group to reach Compromise was used in the group to reach

decisionsdecisions Everyone had the right to vote, and everyone’s Everyone had the right to vote, and everyone’s

vote was equal.vote was equal.

Democracy means….Democracy means….

a system of democracy includes the following a system of democracy includes the following characteristics:characteristics: Protection of individuals’ and groups’ rights and Protection of individuals’ and groups’ rights and

freedomsfreedoms E.g. right to vote; freedom to disagreeE.g. right to vote; freedom to disagree

Citizen participationCitizen participation Equality for allEquality for all Discussion and compromise used as ways to reach Discussion and compromise used as ways to reach

decisions.decisions. Compromise is the process of reaching a settlement Compromise is the process of reaching a settlement

that will satisfy all parties involved. that will satisfy all parties involved. Voting in elections, with the Voting in elections, with the majority rulingmajority ruling Support for diversity Support for diversity

DECISION MAKING IN A DECISION MAKING IN A DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Voting – is the decision Voting – is the decision making process where the making process where the casting of votes is used, casting of votes is used, with the majority ruling. with the majority ruling. Majority rule means that Majority rule means that

decisions are determined decisions are determined or made by 51% or more or made by 51% or more of the votesof the votes

What are some of the What are some of the advantages and advantages and disadvantages to this disadvantages to this decision making process?decision making process?

DECISION MAKING IN A DECISION MAKING IN A DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Consensus – Consensus – is the is the decision making process decision making process where compromise is where compromise is used among participants used among participants in order to ensure the in order to ensure the decision made will satisfy decision made will satisfy ALL ALL parties involved.parties involved.

What are some of the What are some of the advantages and advantages and disadvantages to this disadvantages to this decision making process?decision making process?

PILLARS OF PILLARS OF DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

A vital component to A vital component to democracy is the 4 democracy is the 4 major pillars you will major pillars you will soon be introduced to.soon be introduced to.

Without these pillars, a Without these pillars, a democracy cannot democracy cannot truly exist. In fact, truly exist. In fact, even if one pillar starts even if one pillar starts to fall, a democracy to fall, a democracy will begin to crumble.will begin to crumble.

Let’s take a closer look Let’s take a closer look at each pillar…at each pillar…

JUSTICEJUSTICE

Justice – Justice – use of the law to ensure use of the law to ensure the rights and freedoms of the rights and freedoms of individuals and groups are individuals and groups are protected.protected. What do you think of when you hear What do you think of when you hear

this word?this word?

EQUITYEQUITY

Equity – Equity – providing providing individuals with individuals with what they need what they need in order to give in order to give them a fair them a fair opportunity in opportunity in society.society.

What do you think What do you think of when you hear of when you hear this word?this word?

FREEDOMSFREEDOMS

Freedoms – Freedoms – the ability to think, the ability to think, act, and speak of your own free act, and speak of your own free will within the limits of the law.will within the limits of the law.

What do you think of when you hear What do you think of when you hear this word?this word?

REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION

Representation – Representation – to act in the best to act in the best interest of yourself or others. To interest of yourself or others. To stand for oneself or others.stand for oneself or others.

What do you think of when you hear What do you think of when you hear this word? this word?