Definitions of the Preferred Democratic practices

Elections
Election is the formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or
rejecting a political proposition by voting (Gibbins, 2023).

An election is a process in which people vote to choose a person or group of people to hold an
official position. (HarperCollins Publishers, 2023).

Election is a time when people vote in order to choose someone for a political or official job.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus, 2023).

Rule of Law
Definition of rule of law is built around four universal principles, developed in accordance
with internationally accepted standards and norms, in consultation with a wide variety of experts
worldwide (Neukom, 2019).
The rule of law is a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities,
public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly
promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with
international human rights norms and standards (UN, 2014).
Rule of law, 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 (Choi, 2023).
Individual Rights
Individual rights are the rights needed by each individual to pursue their lives and goals
without interference from other individuals or the government. The rights to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness as stated in the United States Declaration of Independence are typical
examples of individual rights. (Longley, 2021)
Individual rights are the fundamental rights guaranteed by a government so that every
individual citizen can live a free and equitable life (Leary, 2023).
An individual right is a person’s freedom to act in a social environment. It can also be defined
as any action or behavior that individuals can freely undertake (MyAccountingCourse, 2023).
Separation of Powers
Division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate
and independent bodies. Such a separation, it has been argued, limits the possibility of arbitrary
excesses by government, since the sanction of all three branches is required for the making,
executing, and administering of laws (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023).
This refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any
one branch from exercising the core functions of another (NCSL, 2021)
 Separation of powers is a doctrine of constitutional law under which the three branches of
government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are kept separate
(LII, n.d).
Civil Society participation
The term "civil society participation" describes the active participation of people and
organizations in a society's governance and decision-making processes. This involvement helps
create and carry out policies that represent the various needs and viewpoints of the populace and
is necessary for a democratic system to function.
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their
Government is doing. Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset
(Obama, n.d).
Transparency serves two important purposes. First, it serves to open the government to those it
serves. A transparent government allows people to participate in the democratic process and to
keep informed of government budgets, spending, and projects. Second, transparency is a
powerful weapon against corruption. When government processes are transparent, it is difficult
for corruption to thrive. Accountability goes hand in hand with transparency. An accountable
government is one that is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. It listens to the voices of
its citizens and uses this citizen feedback to shape and improve its policies and programs.
Together, transparency and accountability stimulate public engagement, improve government
responsiveness, and thereby strengthen and enrich the democratic process ( Coalition for
Integrity, 2017).
Pluralism
Pluralism, usually in reference to political pluralism, is the theory that power shared between
many groups produces the best outcomes in society and government. Generally, pluralism refers
to a society or state that has a balanced representation of groups in politics and culture (Ek, 2022).
a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups
maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common
civilization(Merriam-Webster, n.d)
How do we see these in the Philippines?

The Filipino people, men and women, are given the freedom and liberty to vote who they see fit to be
leaders. Every official along with the people inside any institutes are empowered by the law. The rights of
The Filipino people are NOT limited to just freedom of speech, assembly and religion.
The executive is where the most powerful position, yet it still holds equal to the other branches of the
government to make decisions, to make and argue all possible issues.
The people are not prohibited to defend their rights.
References
Coalition for Integrity. (2017). Retrieved from Coalition for integrity:
https://www.coalitionforintegrity.org/what-we-do/transparency-and-accountability/

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus. (2023, November 20). Retrieved from
cambridge: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/election

Choi, N. (2023, 17 November). Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/rule-of-law

Ek, S. (2022, April 7). Retrieved from Study: https://study.com/learn/lesson/pluralist-theory-

government-politics.html#:~:text=Pluralism%2C%20usually%20in%20reference%20to,groups
%20in%20politics%20and%20culture.

Gibbins, R. (2023, November 9). Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/election-

political-science

HarperCollins Publishers. (2023). Retrieved from collinsdictionary:

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/election

Leary, T. (2023). Retrieved from study: https://study.com/learn/lesson/individual-rights.html

LII. (n.d.). Retrieved from Legal Information Institute :

https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/terms/documentation

Longley, R. (2021, May 27). Retrieved from thoughtco: https://www.thoughtco.com/individual-rights-

definition-and-examples-5115456

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pluralism#dictionary-entry-1

MyAccountingCourse. (2023). Retrieved from myaccountingcourse:

https://www.myaccountingcourse.com/accounting-dictionary/individual-rights

NCSL. (2021, May 1). Retrieved from National Conference of State Legis: https://www.ncsl.org/about-
state-legislatures/separation-of-powers-an-overview

Neukom, W. H. (2019). The rule of law is the foundation for healthy communities of justice, opportunity,
and peace. Retrieved from worldjusticeproject:
https://worldjusticeproject.org/about-us/overview/what-rule-law

Obama, B. (n.d.). Retrieved from obamawhitehouse:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/realitycheck/the_press_office/
Transparency_and_Open_Government#:~:text=Government%20should%20be
%20transparent.,Government%20is%20a%20national%20asset.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2023, November 17). Retrieved from Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/separation-of-powers

UN. (2014, Febuary 14). Retrieved from Unitednations: https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/what-is-the-rule-

of-law/