CIVIC EDUCATION

REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION

Representative democracy is a form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make

decisions on their behalf. Representative democracy (also electoral democracy or indirect democracy) is
a type of democracy where representatives are elected by the public. Nearly all modern Western-style
democracies function as some type of representative democracy: for example, the United Kingdom (a
unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), Germany (a federal parliamentary republic), France (a
unitary semi-presidential republic), and the United States (a federal presidential republic). This is
different from direct democracy.

Political parties often become prominent to this form of democracy if electoral systems require or
encourage voters to vote for political parties or for candidates associated with political parties (as
opposed to voting for individual representatives).[4] Some political theorists (including Robert Dahl,
Gregory Houston, and Ian Liebenberg) have described representative democracy as polyarchy.

Representative democracy can be organized in different ways, including both parliamentary and
presidential systems of government. Elected representatives typically form a legislature (such as a
parliament or congress), which may be composed of a single chamber or two chambers. Where two
chambers exist, their members are often elected in different ways. The power of representatives is
usually curtailed by a constitution (as in a constitutional democracy or a constitutional monarchy) or
other measures to balance representative power

CHARACTERISTICS OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

1. Elections:Citizens participate in regular elections to choose representatives who will represent their
interests in the government.

2.Representation: Elected officials act as representatives of the people, making decisions and
formulating policies based on the preferences and needs of their constituents.

3. Limited Government: Representative democracies often have a constitution or legal framework that
limits the powers of the government, protecting individual rights and preventing abuses of authority.

4. Rule of Law: The government operates within a framework of laws, and elected representatives are
subject to the same legal standards as the general population.

5. Accountability: Elected officials are accountable to the electorate. If citizens are dissatisfied with their
representatives, they can vote them out in the next election.

6. Political Pluralism: Multiple political parties and diverse opinions coexist, fostering a variety of
perspectives and policy options.

7. Civil Liberties: Protection of individual freedoms and rights is a fundamental aspect, ensuring citizens
have the freedom of speech, assembly, and other basic liberties.

8. Separation of Powers: Typically, the government is divided into branches (executive, legislative, and
judicial) to prevent concentration of power and provide checks and balances.
Representative democracy aims to strike a balance between the will of the majority and the protection
of minority rights, promoting stability, accountability, and the active participation of citizens in the
political process.

RULE OF LAW

The rule of law is a political ideal that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community
are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders. It is sometimes stated simply as "no
one is above the law". The term rule of law is closely related to constitutionalism as well as Rechtsstaat.
It refers to a political situation, not to any specific legal rule The rule of law is defined in the
Encyclopædia Britannica as "the mechanism, process, institution, practice, or norm that supports the
equality of all citizens before the law, secures a nonarbitrary form of government, and more generally
prevents the arbitrary use of power. The rule of law is a fundamental principle in governance that
establishes a society where laws are supreme and applied uniformly to all individuals and institutions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RULE OF LAW

1.Supremacy of Law: The rule of law emphasizes that no individual, including government officials, is
above the law. Everyone is subject to and accountable under the law.

2.Equality and Fairness: It ensures that the legal system treats all individuals equally, regardless of their
social status, wealth, or position in society. Fairness and impartiality are essential components.

3. Clear and Transparent Laws: Laws must be clear, transparent, and accessible to the public. Citizens
should be aware of the rules governing their behavior and the consequences of violating those rules.

4. Due Process: The rule of law requires that legal processes be fair, just, and consistent. This includes
the right to a fair trial, legal representation, and protection against arbitrary or discriminatory actions.

5. Legal Certainty: Individuals should be able to predict the legal consequences of their actions. The law
should be stable and not subject to frequent, unpredictable changes.

6.Separation of Powers: The concept often involves the separation of powers among the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches of government. This separation helps prevent the concentration of
power and abuse of authority.

7. Access to Justice: The rule of law ensures that individuals have access to legal remedies and can seek
justice through impartial and efficient legal processes.

8. Respect for Human Rights: The legal system, under the rule of law, respects and protects
fundamental human rights. Laws should align with international human rights standards.

9. Accountability: The rule of law requires accountability for both individuals and institutions. This
includes accountability for government officials, ensuring they act within the confines of the law.

10. Limited Government: The rule of law helps prevent arbitrary government actions by defining the
scope of governmental powers and ensuring that those powers are exercised within legal bounds.

ADVANTAGES OF RULE OF LAW

1.Rule of law is a principle that sustain a democratic society.

2.Rule of law prevents government from using power arbitrarily.

3.Rule of law protects the right of every citizens

4.Stability and Order: The rule of law provides a stable framework for society by establishing clear and
predictable rules. This helps prevent arbitrary actions and fosters a sense of order, contributing to
overall societal stability.

5.Protection of Individual Rights: It ensures the protection of fundamental rights and liberties,
preventing abuses of power and arbitrary actions by individuals, including those in positions of
authority.

6. Legal Certainty: The rule of law provides legal certainty, enabling individuals to understand the laws
governing their behavior. This predictability is essential for making informed decisions and planning for
the future.

7. Impartial Justice: Under the rule of law, legal processes are fair and impartial. Everyone, regardless of
their status or position, is subject to the same legal standards, promoting a sense of justice and equality.

8. Checks and Balances: The principle of the rule of law often involves a separation of powers among
the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. This separation helps prevent the
concentration of power and abuse of authority.

9. Democratic Governance: The rule of law is a cornerstone of democratic societies, ensuring that laws
are enacted through transparent and accountable processes. It provides citizens with a framework for
participation and representation.

10. Economic Development: A legal system based on the rule of law is conducive to economic
development. It provides a secure environment for business transactions, protects property rights, and
encourages investment by establishing a predictable legal framework.

LIMITATIONS OF RULE OF LAW

1) Immunity: Immunity is the special right granted to certain individuals in position of authority which
shield them from prosecution while in office regardless of the offence committed. Such people are
diplomats, presidents and governors. This is a limitation against the rule of law.

2) Administrative Tribunal: They are set up in some countries to try erring public officers. While ordinary
citizens are tried in the ordinary courts.

3) Delegated Legislation: Delegated legislation refers to laws and orders promulgated by bodies other
than parliaments. This is against the rule of law.

4) Special Courts: In Nigeria, tribunals are set up to try certain corruption cases of public officials. Those
tried in this special court seldom felt they do not get fair hearing (Such as the Oputa panel).

5) Over Crowding of the Court: Cases are delayed sometimes as a result of insufficient judges to handle
cases and this result into keeping accused person for too long.

6) Ignorance and Poverty: Many die in silence as a result of ignorance as they fail to pursue their case in
the court of law.
7) Emergency Period: Citizens of a country may be denied some of their human rights during state of
emergency. Rights such as freedom of movement when curfew is declared during emergency.

MAXIMUM LIBERTY

Liberty means freedom to live as one chooses without too many restrictions from government or
authority.

The concept of maximum liberty for citizens refers to the idea of promoting and safeguarding the
highest degree of individual freedom and autonomy within the bounds of a stable and just society. Here
are key principles associated with the pursuit of maximum liberty:

1.Individual Autonomy: Recognizing and respecting the autonomy of individuals, allowing them the
freedom to make choices and decisions about their own lives without unwarranted interference.

2.Civil Liberties: Ensuring the protection of fundamental civil liberties, such as freedom of speech,
assembly, religion, and privacy, as well as other basic human rights.

3. Limited Government: Advocating for a government with limited powers, where its role is primarily to
protect individual rights and maintain social order rather than excessively intervening in the private
affairs of citizens.

4. Rule of Law: Upholding the rule of law to ensure that legal standards are clear, applied consistently,
and that laws are not arbitrarily enforced. This prevents arbitrary government actions and protects
citizens from capricious legal processes.

5. Equal Treatment: Ensuring equal treatment under the law for all citizens, regardless of factors such as
race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, to prevent discrimination and ensure fairness.

6. Property Rights: Recognizing and protecting property rights, allowing individuals the freedom to own,
use, and transfer property as an essential aspect of personal liberty and economic freedom.

7. Free Market Principles: Embracing principles of free markets and economic liberty, enabling
individuals to engage in voluntary economic transactions with minimal government interference.

8. Individual Privacy: Safeguarding individual privacy by limiting unwarranted surveillance and protecting
personal information from unjust intrusion by both private and governmental entities.

9. Democratic Governance: Implementing democratic processes to ensure that laws and policies align
with the will of the people, providing citizens with the opportunity to participate in decision-making.

10. Access to Justice: Guaranteeing access to a fair and impartial judicial system where individuals can
seek redress for grievances and uphold their rights in legal proceedings.

RULES OF MAJORITY AND PROTECTION OF MINORITY

Democracy is the rule of majority because politics is a game of numbers. The concept of majority rule
means that a winner must secure more than 50% of the total vote cast and therefore should form Hithe
government it means the majority votes that counts. Majority rule thus is a system where power is held
by the group or part/ parties that has the greatest number of seat in the house such party often dictates
what and whose decision take precedence or it means that there will be some minorities whose
opinions are not popular, hence we say majority have their way while minority have their say. For the
minority group to be adequately protected, the following condition must be met:

1: There must be adequate provision of social amenities in the state.

2.Free and standard education should be given to citizen with special attention to minority groups.

3.Minority groups must be given adequate employment opportunities.