ST. MARY’S ACADEMY OF PALO INC.

Palo, Leyte 6501

Tel: (053) 832-0207
Email: smapalorvm@gmail.com / smapalorvm@yahoo.com
School ID: 404696
ESC ID: 0801244

TRENDS, NETWORKS AND CRITICAL THINKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

(12-LOYALTY HUMSS)
School Year 2022-2023

LESSON 14: DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY is derived from two Greek words, namely, demos (people) and kratos (rule) which means "rule by the
people." As a system of government, democracy adheres to the rule of the people. It provides people the right to exercise "some
form of genuine control over government" (Lawson, 1989, 547).

Under a democratic government, the protection of individual liberties, the conduct of free elections, and the assurance of
political equality are safeguarded by the state. In a democracy, people collectively exercise equal rights to participate in the decision-
making processes.

Democracy is defined opposite to other types of government:

MONARCHY – Government by a single ruler (King/Queen, Emperor)

ARISTOCRACY – Government by a noblemen (hereditary)
OLIGARCHY – Government by few persons
THEOCRACY – Government by God (in reality this means government by religious leaders)
DICTATORSHIP – Government by people that have seized power by force (often pertains to military dictatorship)

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY
--- PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY. People rule through the collective discussion of issues that need to be debated. They
discuss and take into consideration as well the possible solutions to the problem until such time that an arrangement on the best
solution or option for the group is achieved. In this model of democracy, decisions and solutions are agreed upon and made by
the people without resorting to a vote. (No election)
Catt (1999, 40) enumerates four major components of participatory democracy. These include the following:
1. All members have the opportunity to raise an issue, provide possible solutions to the problem and take part in the crafting
of the final decision.
2. The issues are discussed during face-to-face meetings.
3. There is much discussion involved in addressing the problem and everyone who wants to join can contribute to the
discussion.
4. Members want consensus (general agreement without having to go through an election).

--- DIRECT DEMOCRACY. Also known as pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the electorate or the people
decides on laws and policies through election. In this type of democracy, people do not elect representatives as proxies or in behalf
of them in the government.

POLITICS OF DIRECT ACTION

 Initiative and Referendum are electoral devices used by citizens when they take part in the government activities.

➢ INITIATIVE - The power of the people to create laws, propose amendments to the constitution or to propose and enact
legislations through an election called for the purpose.

➢ REFERENDUM - The power of the people to approve or reject a legislation that was created by initiative through an
election called for the purpose.
Initiatives and referendums allow citizens to place—by petition—laws or spending measures typically considered by state and local
legislative bodies on statewide or local ballots. Through successful ballot initiatives and referendums, citizens can create, amend, or
repeal laws, as well as amend state constitutions and local charters.

--- REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. The people (citizens) vote for their government officials. These officials represent the
citizens' ideas and concerns in the government. These officials are the ones who will create laws, policies, and other matters of
government in behalf of the entire people. This is the type of democracy that the Philippines has.

COMPONENTS OF A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

1. RULE OF LAW – In a democratic government, there are fundamental principles and procedures that guarantee our freedom
which allows us to participate in all aspects of society. The power of the government is connected to the laws that rule it. Its
citizens are equal in front of the law; hence, the rule of law must then have founded on the respect of law and the Constitution.
A democratic system makes its government accountable for its acts before the people and the latter is also given the opportunity
to take a stand according to its acts. In this rule of law, we are free to actively participate in the political life of the government.

2. BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOM – Human rights are indispensable and Human rights are essential components of
democracy. As an indispensable government of the people, citizens draw up and essential the laws and principles that will rule
and components of publicly control the legislative power (to democracy. propose and vote for laws), judiciary power (to promulgate
laws) and the executive power (to enforce laws). The State ensures that its citizens are treated equally and the separation of its
powers is clearly established in order to maintain autonomy and independence.

3. ELECTIONS – One of the pillars of democracy is election where citizens have the right to vote and be elected. In a democratic
election, citizens have the right to vote or abstain from several candidates or political parties as the State safeguards its integrity,
transparency, and legitimacy of this political exercise. The State is duty-bound to consider circumstances that define the best way
to carry out elections being sensitive to the existing socio-cultural and political conditions of the country.

4. DIVISION OF POWERS – In a democratic government, powers are divided into three: (1) legislative power which adopts
laws, (2) judiciary power which represent the legal framework for executing the power, and (3) executive power which enforces
government laws and policies. The State is governed and controlled by itself and judiciously distribute its powers among its
structures as enshrined in its Constitution. The Philippines, which practices a presidential system, has a separate legislative and
executive power. The president represents the executive power while the Congress represents the legislative power. The
Supreme Court, on the other hand, has the judicial power to settle cases and disputes of its citizenry.

Democratic Practices – These practices include free election, citizen participation, majority rule and minority rights
(normal individual rights as applied to members of racial, ethnic, class, religious, linguistic or sexual minorities), and constitutional
government (defined by the existence of a constitution – which may be a legal instrument or merely a set of fixed norms or principles
generally accepted as the fundamental law of the polity – that effectively controls the exercise of political power. Example of this is
the Philippines having the 1987 Constitution.)

Key Democratic Practices

As proposed by Robert Dahl, Schmitter and Karl, and Larry Diamond.
 1. Control over government decisions about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials.
2. Elected officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections in which coercion is comparatively uncommon.
3. Practically all adults have the right to vote in the election of officials.
4. Practically all adults have the right to run for elective offices in the government.
5. Citizens have a right to express themselves without the danger of severe punishment on political matters broadly defined.
6. Citizens have a right to seek out alternative sources of information. Moreover, alternative sources of information exist and
are protected by law.
7. Citizens also have the right to form relatively independent associations or organizations, including independent political
parties and interest groups.
8. Elected officials are able to exercise their powers without fear of being overridden.
9. The polity is self-governing; and able to act independently of constraints imposed by others.
10. People have the freedom to speak and publish dissenting views.

Undemocratic Practices – These are practices that affect society and government in a lot of ways, some good, but mostly
harmful. These practices include corruption, martial law, and any other laws that restricts our freedom. “FREEDOM” is a core part of
democracy, so trying to take away the right to speech (in many communist countries) and right to choose (in most dictatorship cases)
are against democracy. Although these were common trends in the country in the past, they were eventually overshadowed by
corruption and poverty, which are main problems of most third world countries today. Undemocratic practices are still a huge problem
in the country but there are already a few ways we could deal with them to prevent any further damage to our government and society.

References:
Arzadon, Maria Mercedes E. et.al (2018). "Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking". VIBAL Group, Inc., Quezon City.
Dela Cruz, Arleigh Ross D. et.al. (2017). "Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the 21st Century Culture". Phoenix Publishing
House, Inc. Quezon, City.
Dela Cruz, Renato T. & Ronel P. Dela Cruz. (2017). "Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking Skills in the 21 st Century". Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc. Quezon, City.