Defining Democracy

• Greek: demos—the common people; kratia—power

• Definition: political power, direct or indirect, through participation, competition, and liberty

• Subjective definition—favors individual freedom over collective equality

• Term liberal democracy used to note this

Heads of Government

• In charge of the everyday tasks of running the state, especially in making policy

• In many countries, this takes the form of a prime minister (parliamentary system)– Elected by the legislature– Usually head of the largest party in legislatures– Serves at their pleasure—can be removed by a

vote of no confidence by the legislature– May be weaker or stronger, depending on head of

state

Parliamentary System

• Prime minister dominates as head of government

• Removed by national elections or vote of no confidence in legislature

• Head of state either a monarch or a president

• Head of state largely ceremonial—little real power (though may be indirectly or directly elected)

Presidential System

• Directly elected president• President serves as both head of state and

government—no prime minister• Powerful, and cannot be removed other

than by impeachment or election• Not beholden to legislature• Can weaken party as candidates focus on

winning one single election versus coalition building and working up the ranks

Legislatures: Bicameral or Unicameral?

• Unicameralism:– Single chamber

• Bicameralism:– Goes back to Britain, notion of different

chambers for different classes– Commonly used under federalism: one house to

represent local communities

Participation: Voting and Elections

• Central to liberal democracy• Suffrage: right to vote

– Age, ethnicity/race, income? – Obligatory, voluntary?

• Electoral systems: How do we count votes? How do we waste votes?– Single Member District (SMD)– Proportional Representation (PR)

Single Member District: Effects

• Large number of votes may be wasted• Share of seats may not reflect the share of

votes won• Small parties tend to do badly, unable to

gain first place in single member districts• Result is a two party system—people

unwilling to vote for small parties• One alternative is to have two rounds or

other mechanisms to ensure majority

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• Substance of democracy itself—rule of law• Civil rights: promotion of equality• Civil liberties: promotion of freedom• Variation in range of civil rights and liberties

– Free speech, movement– Privacy, religion– Healthcare? Education? Work?

• Positive freedom versus negative freedom• What rights should democracy guarantee?