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Untitleddocument 1
Untitleddocument 1
Definition
:
Democracyisa(Greekdemos,thepeople,kratein,to
rule),politicalsysteminwhichthepeopleofacountryrulethrough
anyformofgovernmenttheychosetoestablish.
AncientGreekcitystateswereoftenrunasdirectdemocraciesin
whichallvotingcitizens(commoners,women,andslaveswere
excluded)hadavoiceinwhatoccurred.
Decisionmakingwaslimitedtoaprivilegedfew
Ancientdemocracydidnotpresupposeequalityofallindividualsthe
majorityofthepopulace,notableslaves,womenandforeigners,had
nopoliticalrights
Athens,thegreatestofthecitydemocracies,limitedfranchise(right
tovote)tocitizenstheyhadtobenativeborn,freemen,over18yrs.
Theyhadtherighttovote,holdoffice,ownproperty,anddefend
themselvesincourt.
Theyhadfreedomofspeechandfreedomofassembly
Responsibilityofthecitizeninclude:
Serveinthearmy,inthenavyandinthecourtoflaw
Participateinthemonthlyassembly
ThedemocraciesofthecitystatesofclassicalGreeceandRome
duringtheearlyyearsoftheRepublicwereunlikethedemocraciesof
today.
Theyweredirectdemocracies,inwhich,allcitizenscouldspeak
andvoteinassembliesthatresembledNewEnglandtown
meetings.
WhatIsDemocracy?
Democracy(fromtheGreekdemos,thepeoplekratein,torule)apoliticalsysteminwhich
thepeopleofacountryrulethroughanyformofgovernmenttheychoosetoestablish
Democracyisthebestwaytomeetthediverseneedsofthepeople
Peoplemakedecisionsthatreflectthewillofthemajority
Truedemocraticcitizensnotonlyenjoytheirrightsandfreedoms,buttheyalsotakevery
seriouslytheresponsibilitiesoflivingdemocratically
Opencommunicationandmassparticipationarealsoimportantresponsibilitiesofthe
democraticcitizen
Thedemocraticcitizenupholds
Humandignity
Respectstherights
Worksforthecommongood
Hasasenseofresponsibilityforotherpeople
ElementsOfDemocracy
1. RuleofLaw
:Indemocracy,everyonemustadheretosomelaw(includingleaders)
Lawsshouldbeknown,predictable,andimpartial.
2. PoliticalEquality
:Everycitizenhasthesamerighttovoteforofficeandtospeakon
publicissues.
3. CommonGood
:Democraticcitizensshouldworktowardsthecommongood(whatwill
makethemostpeoplesafeandsecureandhappy).Havesomesenseofresponsibility
andcaringforothers.
4. PersonalFreedom
:Peopleenjoymanypersonalfreedomsofreligionandfreedomof
expression.
5. HumanDignity
:Democraticcitizensshouldprotectandupholdthedignityofallpeople
6. PoliticalFreedom
:Peoplecanspeakfreelyfromassociations,runforofficeandvote
withoutintimidated
7. BeingInformedandgettinginvolved:
Citizensshouldcommunicateopenlyand
participateindividuallyandcollectivelyinissuesthatshapetheircommunity,nationand
world.
8. Respect
:Citizenshouldrespecttherightsofothers.