Ang demokrasya, sa literal na kahulugan, ay ang pamamahala ng mga tao (mula

sa Griyego: demos, "mga tao," at kratos, "paghahari" o "pamamahala"). Nasa gitna ng iba't ibang
kahulugan ng demokrasya ang kaparaanan na ginagampanan ng pamamahala nito, at ang binubuo
ng "mga tao", ngunit may mga kapakipakinabang na mga salungat ang magagawa sa
mga oligarkiya at awtokrasya, kung saan mataas na nakatuon ang kapangyarihang politikal at hindi
nasasakop ng makahulugang pagpipigil ng mga tao. Samantalang ginagamit sa kadalasan ang
katagang demokrasya sa konteksto ng isang pampolitika na estado, ang mga prinsipyo na nailalapat
din sa ibang bahagi ng pamamahala.
Ang pamahalaan ay isang demokrasya kapag ang kapangyarihang mamahala ay nasa kamay ng
mga tao. Ang demokrasya ay tunay o tuwiran kapag ang mga tao ang namamahala sa kanilang
sarili sa pamamagitan ng lantarang pagpapahayag ng kanilang saloobin. Isinasagawa nila ito sa
maraming pagkilos o mga pagpupulong na pambayan. Di-tuwiran, kinatawan o republikano kapag
ang mamamayan ay pinamamahalaan mga taong hinalal o pinili nila. Ang Switzerland ay may
tuwirang demokrasya samantalang ang Pilipinas ay isang demokratikong kinakatawan ng mga halal
ng bayan. Ang demokrasya ay nangangahulugan rin na nasa taong bayan ang kapangyarihan na
ang pinahihiwatig ay nasa taong bayan ang kapangyarihang pumili ng magiging lider para sa isang
lugar o sa bansa man . Ito ay isa rin sa mga uri ng ideolohiya kung saan nangangahulugang agham
ng kaalaman o ideya.
What Are the Six Characteristics of a Democracy?

Democracy, derived from the Greek term "demos" or "people," is a system

of government that gives power to the people. Democracy can be exercised
in by citizens or through elected agents. First established by the Greeks,
democracy didn't reappear on a global scale until after the 17th century.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the democratic style of
government -- adopted by the United States in 1776 -- has six basic
characteristics: established popular sovereignty, majority rule, individual
rights, free and open elections, citizen involvement and open compromise.

Citizen Rule

A democratic government grants adult citizens the right to elect their

representatives. It also establishes clear guidelines for election cycles and
term limits so that key positions are contested at regular intervals. Through
this process of voting, citizens are regularly given the ability to hire or fire
their representatives.

Majority Rule and Minority Rights

The principle of majority rule is an important part of the democratic system.

The majority rules in the election process, but individual rights are protected
by the maintenance of decentralized, local government bodies . In a
democracy, all levels of government should be accessible to, and
representative of, the people.

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Individual Rights

Democracies value the protection of individual rights. The word freedom is

used synonymously with democracy to describe individual liberties afforded
in this type of government. In the U.S., the Bill of Rights serves as a
summary of individual liberties. Freedom of speech and religion, protection
from unlawful search and seizure and the right to bear arms are examples of
individual liberties, afforded in a democracy. Equal treatment, under the law,
is assured for everyone in a democratic society.

Free and Fair Elections

The key to the exercise of democracy is the election process. Free and fair
elections are held at regular intervals for the election of representatives at
all levels of government. In a free, democratic election, all adult citizens are
given the right to cast votes which, in theory, ensures that the will of the
people will be expressed.

Citizen Participation

Citizens of a democracy not only have the right to vote, but also the
responsibility to participate. Informed participation is key in a democracy.
When the people elect their representatives, they are ensuring the
preservation of the democratic process Engaged citizenship is essential in a
healthy democracy.

Cooperation and Compromise

Democracies also value cooperation and compromise to protect individual

rights. To adequately safeguard diversity, and accurately represent all
communities, a democracy must protect the right to be different. Anti-
discrimination is at the heart of a true democracy. The freedom to assemble
and voice opinion drives government accountability to ensure that
underrepresented people have the same rights as the majority.

Mga Kapanalig, noong nakaraang buwan, may kumalat na post sa Facebook na

nagsasabing: “I am ready for martial law.” Ayon sa post na ito, sobra na raw ang
demokrasya sa ating bansa. Ipagkatiwala na lang daw natin sa pangulo ang
pagpapasiya sa kung ano ang nararapat.

Sobra na nga ba ang demokrasya sa ating bansa?

Mahalagang sangkap ng demokrasya ang pakikilahok ng mga tao sa lipunan sa

isang makahulugang paraan—hindi sa pamamagitan ng paghalal ng isang pinuno
na gagawa ng lahat ng desisyon para sa kanila, kundi sa patuloy na pakikibahagi sa
pagpapasya tungkol sa pamamalakad at patutunguhan ng lipunan.

Isang pamamaraan ng pakikilahok ang malayang talakayan. Dito maihahayag ng

mga tao ang sariling kuru-kuro at pananaw tungkol sa dapat gawin ng pamahalaan
at taumbayan sa ikabubuti ng nakararami. Ang malayang talayakan ay nakabatay sa
karapatan ng malayang pananalita. Ang karapatang ito ay kinikilala ng Gaudium et
Spes, isang dokumento ng Second Vatican Council at bahagi ng kataruang
panlipunan ng ating Simbahan, bilang kondisyon sa aktibong pakikikibahagi ng
taumbayan sa buhay at pamamahala ng estado.

Sipatin nga natin, mga Kapanalig, ang kalagayan ng malayang pananalita sa ating
bansa ngayon.

Tunay ngang buhay pa rin ang malayang pananalita sa ating lipunan, lalung-lalo na
sa mass at social media. Ngunit kapansin-pansin ang panggigipit na nangyayari
ngayon sa mga naghahayag ng hindi pagsang-ayon sa ilang panukala o
pamamalakad ng pamahalaan.

Ang panggigipit ay nanggagaling hindi lamang sa ilang opisyal ng pamahalaan,

kundi sa mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan. Magsabi kayo ng opinyong taliwas sa
patakaran ng pamahalaan ay aani kayo mula sa mga taong hindi ninyo kilalá (at
hindi kayo kilalá) ng insulto at paratang na wala namang batayan sa katwiran.
Nariyang sasabihan kayong “bobo”, “bayaran”, “dilawan”, “kriminal”, “kasabwat
ng drug lord”, o kalaban ng pagbabago, “enemies of change.” Minsan nauuwi pa sa
mararahas na mga banta—dahil tila ba nauuso na sa ating lipunan ang mararahas
na banta. Bakit kaya? Dahil dito, marami nang natatakot maghayag ng opinyong
kritikal at kumikuwestyon sa anumang palakad ng pamahalaan.

Marahil ipagtatanggol ng mga nang-iinsulto, nag-aakusa, at nagbabanta ang

ganitong panggigipit bilang karapatan nila sa malayang pananalita. Ngunit hindi
demokratiko ang paggamit ng malayang pananalita kung ang pakay nito ay kitilin
ang malayang pananalita ng mga taong may iba at kasalungat na pagtingin. Lalo
itong hindi demokratiko kapag nauuwi sa mararahas na banta. Sabi nga ng peace
activist na si Johan Galtung: ang mararahas na banta, hindi man tuparin, ay
karahasan pa rin. Hindi paraang demokratiko ang paggamit ng karahasan upang
maresolba ang pagkakaiba ng pananaw.

Kung laganap sa ating lipunan ang ganitong panggigipit, masasabi kayang sobra
ang demokrasya sa ating bansa?

Hindi tunay ang demokrasya kung iisa ang opinyong umiiral rito at walang tumututol.
Kailangang hayaang maihayag ang iba’t ibang pananaw at maipagtanggol ito sa
pamamagitan ng katwiran at ebidensya, hindi sa pamamagitan ng pang-iinsulto,
demonisasyon, at pananakot.

Ang panggigipit sa mga taong may ibang pananaw—magmula man sa pamahalaan

o sa pangkaraniwang tao—ay isang paraan ng pagpatay sa demokrasya. Hindi
kailangan ng batas militar para patayin ang demokrasya. Upang mamatay ang
demokrasya, kailangan lang na pairalin ang iisang pananaw sa pamamagitan ng
pambu-bully at pagbabanta sa may ibang pananaw, at kailangan lang na ang binu-
bully at binabantaan ay tumahimik.

Mga Kapanalig, ipagdasal natin ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan at ang ating mga
sarili, na nawa’y ang maging tugon natin sa naiibang pananaw ay ang pakikinig at
pagiging bukás na umunawa at mangatwiran—hindi ang pang-iinsulto o
pagbabanta. Ipagdasal rin nating patuloy tayong bigyan ng Panginoon ng
katapangang tumutol sa mga patakaran ng pamahalaang hindi naaayon sa Kanyang
mga batas.

Ngayong ika-40 taóng anibersaryo ng batas militar, ipagdasal rin nating patuloy na
mabuhay ang ating demokrasya, at ang malayang talakayang nakabatay sa
malayang pananalita.

Sumainyo ang katotohanan.

List of Advantages of Democracy

1. It protects the interest of citizens.
As previously stated, the citizens in a democratic country are given the
right to vote on political, social and economical issues, particularly the
representatives they want to be in charge of making major decisions,
such as the president. This can greatly protect the people from anything
they would disagree to occur.
2. It prevents monopoly of authority.
Due to the fact that the government is bound by an election term where
parties compete to regain authority, democracy prevents monopoly of
the ruling authority. And, the elected ruling party would make sure their
policies will work for the people, as they will not be able to remain in
power after their term with bad records—they will not be re-elected.
3. It promotes equality.
Generally, democracy is based on the rule of equality, which means that
all people are equal as far as the law is concerned. Every person has the
right to experience and enjoy equal political, social and economic rights,
and the state is not allowed to discriminate him on the standard of sex,
class, religion and property.
4. It makes for a responsible and stable administration.
When there are elected and fixed representatives, a more responsible
government is formed. Thus, democracy can be efficient, firm and
stable. Its administration is ruled and conducted with a sense of
dedication, and people under this system discuss matters and problems
thoroughly to come up with sensible decisions.
5. It brings a feeling of obligation towards the citizens.
The ruling authorities owe their success to elections by the citizens, so
they would feel grateful to and socially responsible for them. This can
serve as their motivating factor to work for the citizens, for they have the
right of choosing their government.
6. It imparts political education to the people.
One argument in favor of democracy is that it can serve as a training
school for citizens—they are driven to take part in state affairs. During
elections, political parties propose their programs and policies in support
of their candidates through public meetings, demonstrations, television,
radio, posters and speeches by their leaders to win public favor. All of
these can impart political consciousness among the people.
7. It helps make good citizens.
Democracy aims to create the ideal environment that is conducive to
personality improvement, character cultivation and good habits. As per
the experts, this political system seems to function as the first school for
good citizenship, where individuals can learn about their rights and
duties from birth to the time of death.
8. It allows a little chance of revolution.
Since this system is based upon public will, there will be little to no
chance of public revolt. Elected representatives conduct state affairs with
public support, and if they do not work efficiently or do not meet the
public’s expectations, they will probably not do well during the next
elections. Democracy or other popular governments often function with
consensus, thus the question of revolution would not arise.
9. It promotes change.
This political system can promote changes in the government without
having to resort to any form of violence. It tries to make citizens feel
great and even provides them with a good sense of participation and
involvement.