NAME BEST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS IN PAKISTANS HISTORY THAT REALLY MADE THE COUNTRY PROGRESS
Here is my definition of democracy in Pakistan
Here is my definition of democracy in Pakistan
What is Democracy in Islam, how democracy works, like what ingrediants needed? Please elaborate Pros
- Thread starter abdlsy
- Start date
Must Read.
Excelent Column By Aftab Ahmed.
میں مارشل لاء کی حمایت کرتا ہوں اگر وہ جمہوریت اور سیاست سے آلودہ نا ہو : ہمارے ایک دوست جن کا تعلق سکھر شہر سے ہے 1958 کے مارشل لاء کا ایک قصہ سنا رہے تھے کہ جب مارشل لاء لگا تو پورے پاکستان میں ہر جگہ و ہر محکمے میں فوجی افسران اور سڑکوں پر فوجی سپاہی نظر آنے لگے ۔ حکومتی اہلکار و عوام سیدھے ہونا شروع ہو گیۓ عام لوگ سڑک پار کرتے تو زیبرا کراسنگ سے کرتے ، ہر دوکاندار اپنے سامان پر اشیاء کی لسٹ بمع نرخ لگا کر رکھتا ، قصایٔی، خوانچہ والے اور ہوٹل والے اپنے سامان پر جالی لگا کر رکھتے کہ ساما ن مکھیوں سے محفوظ رہے اور لوگ لایٔین لگا کر بس میں سوار ہوتے ۔ناپ تول میں کویٔی گھپلا نہیں ہوتا تھا ، شہر کی دیواریں خراب کرنے کی بجاۓ لوگ بیت الخلاء کا استعمال کرتے تھے ۔عام آدمی کو امید ہو چلی تھی کہ اب ہر چیز سیدھی ہو جاۓ گی اور اسے انصاف ملے گا ۔ ایک کپتان صاحب کمشنر کے دفتر میں بیٹھتے تھے کہ مزارع آ گیا اور حضور کے دربار میں دہا یٔی دینے لگا ۔ کپتان صاحب نے اپنے ساتھ بیٹھے کلرک سے جو تھر تھر کانپ رہا تھا پوچھا یہ کیا کہہ رہا ہے ؟ انہیں بتا یا گیا کہ یہ شکایت کر رہا ہے کہ مقامی وڈیرہ اس کی بیوی کو اٹھا کر لے گیا ہے ۔ تو پھر میں کیا کروں ؟ صاحب نے پوچھا ۔ کلرک نے جواب دیا جناب اسے انصاف چاہیۓ ۔ اچھا تو یہ بھی ہمیں ہی کرنا ہے کپتان صاحب نے پوچھا ۔ خیر انہوں نے کہا کہ اس سے کہو کل آ جاۓ ۔ دوسرے روز وہ مزارع کُکڑ پکا کے لے آ یا پوچھا گیا یہ کیا لاۓ ہو ؟ جواب دیا گیا کہ یہ کپتان سایٔیں کے لیۓ ہے ۔ بہر حال کپتان صاحب دفتر میں داخل ہوۓ اور حکم دیا کہ وڈیرے کی بیوی کو بلا کر لاؤ ۔ ملٹری کی جیپ گیٔی اور اسے لا کر کپتان صاحب کے حضور پیش کر دیا گیا۔ صاحب نے مزارع سے پوچھا کہ وڈیرے نے تمہاری بیوی کو کتنے دنوں سے رکھا ہوا ہے ۔ مزارع نے ہاتھ جوڑ کر جواب دیا کہ سایٔیں پندرہ دن سے ۔ کپتان صاحب نے حکم دیا اسے لے جاؤ اور اپنے پاس ایک مہینہ رکھو ۔ سنا ہے دو سال تک پورا پاکستان الف کی طرح سیدھا رہا ۔ پھر جیسے ہی سیاست و جمہوریت کی غلاظت مارشل لاء میں شامل ہونا شروع ہو یٔی سب کچھ ویسا ہی ہو گیا جیسا آج ہے ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ گوبر زدہ سیاست و جمہوریت سے پاک مارشل لاء کی ضرورت ہے پاکستان کو ۔ ۔ ۔
Excelent Column By Aftab Ahmed.
میں مارشل لاء کی حمایت کرتا ہوں اگر وہ جمہوریت اور سیاست سے آلودہ نا ہو : ہمارے ایک دوست جن کا تعلق سکھر شہر سے ہے 1958 کے مارشل لاء کا ایک قصہ سنا رہے تھے کہ جب مارشل لاء لگا تو پورے پاکستان میں ہر جگہ و ہر محکمے میں فوجی افسران اور سڑکوں پر فوجی سپاہی نظر آنے لگے ۔ حکومتی اہلکار و عوام سیدھے ہونا شروع ہو گیۓ عام لوگ سڑک پار کرتے تو زیبرا کراسنگ سے کرتے ، ہر دوکاندار اپنے سامان پر اشیاء کی لسٹ بمع نرخ لگا کر رکھتا ، قصایٔی، خوانچہ والے اور ہوٹل والے اپنے سامان پر جالی لگا کر رکھتے کہ ساما ن مکھیوں سے محفوظ رہے اور لوگ لایٔین لگا کر بس میں سوار ہوتے ۔ناپ تول میں کویٔی گھپلا نہیں ہوتا تھا ، شہر کی دیواریں خراب کرنے کی بجاۓ لوگ بیت الخلاء کا استعمال کرتے تھے ۔عام آدمی کو امید ہو چلی تھی کہ اب ہر چیز سیدھی ہو جاۓ گی اور اسے انصاف ملے گا ۔ ایک کپتان صاحب کمشنر کے دفتر میں بیٹھتے تھے کہ مزارع آ گیا اور حضور کے دربار میں دہا یٔی دینے لگا ۔ کپتان صاحب نے اپنے ساتھ بیٹھے کلرک سے جو تھر تھر کانپ رہا تھا پوچھا یہ کیا کہہ رہا ہے ؟ انہیں بتا یا گیا کہ یہ شکایت کر رہا ہے کہ مقامی وڈیرہ اس کی بیوی کو اٹھا کر لے گیا ہے ۔ تو پھر میں کیا کروں ؟ صاحب نے پوچھا ۔ کلرک نے جواب دیا جناب اسے انصاف چاہیۓ ۔ اچھا تو یہ بھی ہمیں ہی کرنا ہے کپتان صاحب نے پوچھا ۔ خیر انہوں نے کہا کہ اس سے کہو کل آ جاۓ ۔ دوسرے روز وہ مزارع کُکڑ پکا کے لے آ یا پوچھا گیا یہ کیا لاۓ ہو ؟ جواب دیا گیا کہ یہ کپتان سایٔیں کے لیۓ ہے ۔ بہر حال کپتان صاحب دفتر میں داخل ہوۓ اور حکم دیا کہ وڈیرے کی بیوی کو بلا کر لاؤ ۔ ملٹری کی جیپ گیٔی اور اسے لا کر کپتان صاحب کے حضور پیش کر دیا گیا۔ صاحب نے مزارع سے پوچھا کہ وڈیرے نے تمہاری بیوی کو کتنے دنوں سے رکھا ہوا ہے ۔ مزارع نے ہاتھ جوڑ کر جواب دیا کہ سایٔیں پندرہ دن سے ۔ کپتان صاحب نے حکم دیا اسے لے جاؤ اور اپنے پاس ایک مہینہ رکھو ۔ سنا ہے دو سال تک پورا پاکستان الف کی طرح سیدھا رہا ۔ پھر جیسے ہی سیاست و جمہوریت کی غلاظت مارشل لاء میں شامل ہونا شروع ہو یٔی سب کچھ ویسا ہی ہو گیا جیسا آج ہے ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ گوبر زدہ سیاست و جمہوریت سے پاک مارشل لاء کی ضرورت ہے پاکستان کو ۔ ۔ ۔
#1 SaadKnight
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Islam and Democracy (For those muslims who are in love with democracy and are willing to die for it)[/h]
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اسلام علیکم
میں نے نوٹ کیا ہے کہ کچھ لوگ بڑے دھڑلے سے اس فورم پر جمہوریت کا راگ الاپتے ہیں
جمہوریت کی حقیقت کیا ہے اور یہ اسلامی نظام حکومت و سیاست سے کس طرح مختلف ہے؟ اس سلسلے میں درج ذیل دستاویز ملاحظہ فرمائیں
میں نے نوٹ کیا ہے کہ کچھ لوگ بڑے دھڑلے سے اس فورم پر جمہوریت کا راگ الاپتے ہیں
جمہوریت کی حقیقت کیا ہے اور یہ اسلامی نظام حکومت و سیاست سے کس طرح مختلف ہے؟ اس سلسلے میں درج ذیل دستاویز ملاحظہ فرمائیں
تو میرے مسلمان دوستو اور ساتھیوں، یہاں یہ سوچنے کی ضرورت ہے کہ جس نظام کی خاطر ہم سب زرداری، الطاف حسین، نواز شریف یا کسی بھی اور سیاستدان کے لئے کٹ مرنے کو تیار ہیں، کیا یہ نظام ہمیں آخرت میں فائدہ دے گا یا نقصان؟
یہ یاد رہے کہ جمہوریت اور سرمیدرانہ نظام ایک دوسرے کے بغیر نہیں رہ سکتے، سرمیدرانہ نظام قائم رہے اس کے لئے لازمی ہے کہ جمہوریت اس دنیا میں نافذ رہے
بظاہر تو ہمارے دستور میں یہ واضح ہیں کہ حاکمیت اللہ کی پر عملاً اس پر کوئی چیز دیکھنے میں نہیں آتی، اور جیسا کہ ہم سب جانتے ہیں کہ اسلام مخالف قوتیں سر طور کوشش کر رہی ہیں کہ پاکستان میں خالصتاً جمہوریت نافذ کی جائے اور اسلامی نظام کا نام لینے والوں کا وجود ختم کر دیا جائے
میری اس پوسٹ سے بہت لوگ مشتعل ہوں گے اسی لئے میں اس کی پیشگی معذرت چاہوں گا، پر میں یہ بھی چاہوں گا کہ آپ سب لوگ ٹھنڈے دماغ سے سوچیں ضرور، غور کریں، کیونکہ بلا آخر ہم سب کو موت کا مزہ چکھنا ہے اگر قبر میں معاملات سہی گزر گئے تو قیامت کا دن بھی عزت سے گزر جائے گا
یہ یاد رہے کہ جمہوریت اور سرمیدرانہ نظام ایک دوسرے کے بغیر نہیں رہ سکتے، سرمیدرانہ نظام قائم رہے اس کے لئے لازمی ہے کہ جمہوریت اس دنیا میں نافذ رہے
بظاہر تو ہمارے دستور میں یہ واضح ہیں کہ حاکمیت اللہ کی پر عملاً اس پر کوئی چیز دیکھنے میں نہیں آتی، اور جیسا کہ ہم سب جانتے ہیں کہ اسلام مخالف قوتیں سر طور کوشش کر رہی ہیں کہ پاکستان میں خالصتاً جمہوریت نافذ کی جائے اور اسلامی نظام کا نام لینے والوں کا وجود ختم کر دیا جائے
میری اس پوسٹ سے بہت لوگ مشتعل ہوں گے اسی لئے میں اس کی پیشگی معذرت چاہوں گا، پر میں یہ بھی چاہوں گا کہ آپ سب لوگ ٹھنڈے دماغ سے سوچیں ضرور، غور کریں، کیونکہ بلا آخر ہم سب کو موت کا مزہ چکھنا ہے اگر قبر میں معاملات سہی گزر گئے تو قیامت کا دن بھی عزت سے گزر جائے گا
zain786
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
مزارع نے ہاتھ جوڑ کر جواب دیا کہ سایٔیں پندرہ دن سے ۔ کپتان صاحب نے حکم دیا اسے لے جاؤ اور اپنے پاس ایک مہینہ رکھو
bhai ye line samjh ni lage
you need to contact the writer Aftab Ahmed for details
Raaz
(50k+ posts) بابائے فورم
Today I got that you are Pervezi.........
All Musharaf lovers are mostly Qadyani or Pervezi and others....
yahaan Musharaf kaa kahan Zikurr hae bhai urdu medium lalu khait walae tumhara raaz keeya hae kahan julun hae orr keeyon hae burnol lugaoe
KHALEE MUSALMAAN HOKAE SONCHOE ORR DEMOCRACY KAE BURRAE MEIN ISLAM KAE NUZREEAE KAE UNDERRR AA KURR JAWAB DOE
In my opinion it is neither Democracy nor dictatorship that helps a Nation in progress and development, it all dependent on the man in charge, if he is straight than every thing follows it but if he is corrupt than everything becomes corrupt.
There are other forces at work as well, the people who surround this man, those will either keep him straight or corrupt him, so in Pakistan at the time of dictator zia, or Musharraf those who were around them were as responsible as they were.
In todays world look at china, and the progress it has achieved, it is due to the decency and honesty of the supreme Leader, so even communism can work if applied correctly, though I am not in favor of communism I thought it will be a good example to put down.
In Pakistan Islamic law will work the best, meaning people will elect representatives to the Majlis e shura, and that Malis e shure in turn will elect Ameer ul Momeneen. If every thing is done honestly it will work for Pakistan.
There are other forces at work as well, the people who surround this man, those will either keep him straight or corrupt him, so in Pakistan at the time of dictator zia, or Musharraf those who were around them were as responsible as they were.
In todays world look at china, and the progress it has achieved, it is due to the decency and honesty of the supreme Leader, so even communism can work if applied correctly, though I am not in favor of communism I thought it will be a good example to put down.
In Pakistan Islamic law will work the best, meaning people will elect representatives to the Majlis e shura, and that Malis e shure in turn will elect Ameer ul Momeneen. If every thing is done honestly it will work for Pakistan.
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(disambiguation). 
Tomš Garrigue Masaryk, main Czech representative of democracy. He uttered the famous phrase: "Democracy has its faults, because people have their faults. Like teacher, like pupil." — in Czech: "Demokracie m sv chyby, protože občan maj sv chyby. Jak pn, takov krm." He very often said that democracy is a discussion.
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally—either directly or indirectly through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, religious, cultural, ethnic and racial equality, justice, liberty and fraternity. The term originates from the Greek δημοκρατία (dēmokrata) "rule of the people",[SUP][1][/SUP] which was coined from δῆμος (dmos) "people" and κράτος (kratos) "power" or "rule" in the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to ἀριστοκρατία (aristokratia) "rule of an elite". While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically.[SUP][2][/SUP] The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents.
Democracy contrasts with forms of government where power is either held by one person, as in a monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy. Nevertheless, these oppositions, inherited from Greek philosophy,[SUP][3][/SUP] are now ambiguous because contemporary governments have mixed democratic, oligarchic, and monarchic elements. Karl Popper defined democracy in contrast to dictatorship or tyranny, thus focusing on opportunities for the people to control their leaders and to oust them without the need for a revolution.[SUP][4][/SUP]
Several variants of democracy exist, but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government. In most modern democracies, the whole body of all eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is called representative democracy. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, and the American and French Revolutions.[SUP][5][/SUP]
Tomš Garrigue Masaryk, main Czech representative of democracy. He uttered the famous phrase: "Democracy has its faults, because people have their faults. Like teacher, like pupil." — in Czech: "Demokracie m sv chyby, protože občan maj sv chyby. Jak pn, takov krm." He very often said that democracy is a discussion.
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally—either directly or indirectly through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, religious, cultural, ethnic and racial equality, justice, liberty and fraternity. The term originates from the Greek δημοκρατία (dēmokrata) "rule of the people",[SUP][1][/SUP] which was coined from δῆμος (dmos) "people" and κράτος (kratos) "power" or "rule" in the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to ἀριστοκρατία (aristokratia) "rule of an elite". While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically.[SUP][2][/SUP] The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents.
Democracy contrasts with forms of government where power is either held by one person, as in a monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy. Nevertheless, these oppositions, inherited from Greek philosophy,[SUP][3][/SUP] are now ambiguous because contemporary governments have mixed democratic, oligarchic, and monarchic elements. Karl Popper defined democracy in contrast to dictatorship or tyranny, thus focusing on opportunities for the people to control their leaders and to oust them without the need for a revolution.[SUP][4][/SUP]
Several variants of democracy exist, but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government. In most modern democracies, the whole body of all eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is called representative democracy. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, and the American and French Revolutions.[SUP][5][/SUP]
Main article: History of democracy
[h=3]Ancient origins[/h] See also: Athenian democracy
Cleisthenes, "father of Athenian democracy", modern bust
The term "democracy" first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state of Athens during classical antiquity.[SUP][22][/SUP][SUP][23][/SUP] Led by Cleisthenes, Athenians established what is generally held as the first democracy in 508–507 BCE. Cleisthenes is referred to as "the father of Athenian democracy."[SUP][24][/SUP]
Athenian democracy took the form of a direct democracy, and it had two distinguishing features: the random selection of ordinary citizens to fill the few existing government administrative and judicial offices,[SUP][25][/SUP] and a legislative assembly consisting of all Athenian citizens.[SUP][26][/SUP] All eligible citizens were allowed to speak and vote in the assembly, which set the laws of the city state. However, Athenian citizenship excluded women, slaves, foreigners (μέτοικοι metoikoi), non-landowners, and males under 20 years old.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
Of the estimated 200,000 to 400,000 inhabitants of Athens, there were between 30,000 and 60,000 citizens.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP] The exclusion of large parts of the population from the citizen body is closely related to the ancient understanding of citizenship. In most of antiquity the benefit of citizenship was tied to the obligation to fight war campaigns.[SUP][27][/SUP]
Athenian democracy was not only direct in the sense that decisions were made by the assembled people, but also the most direct in the sense that the people through the assembly, boule and courts of law controlled the entire political process and a large proportion of citizens were involved constantly in the public business.[SUP][28][/SUP] Even though the rights of the individual were not secured by the Athenian constitution in the modern sense (the ancient Greeks had no word for "rights"[SUP][29][/SUP]), the Athenians enjoyed their liberties not in opposition to the government but by living in a city that was not subject to another power and by not being subjects themselves to the rule of another person.[SUP][30][/SUP]
Range voting appeared in Sparta as early as 700 BCE. The Apella was an assembly of the people, held once a month. In the Apella, Spartans elect leaders and made voting by range voting and shouting. Every male citizen of age 30 could participate. Aristotle called this "childish," as opposed to something sophisticated as using stone voting ballots the Athenians used. But in terms, Sparta adopted it because of its simplicity, and to prevent any bias voting, buying, or cheating that was predominant in the early democratic elections.[SUP][31][/SUP][SUP][32][/SUP]
Even though the Roman Republic contributed significantly to many aspects of democracy, only a minority of Romans were citizens with votes in elections for representatives. The votes of the powerful were given more weight through a system of gerrymandering, so most high officials, including members of the Senate, came from a few wealthy and noble families.[SUP][33][/SUP] However, many notable exceptions did occur.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP] In addition, the Roman Republic was the first government in the western world to have a Republic as a nation-state, although it didn't have much of a democracy. The Romans invented the concept of classics and many works from Ancient Greece were preserved.[SUP][34][/SUP] Additionally, the Roman model of governance inspired many political thinkers over the centuries,[SUP][35][/SUP] and today's modern representative democracies imitate more the Roman than the Greek models because it was a state in which supreme power was held by the people and their elected representatives, and which had an elected or nominated leader.[SUP][36][/SUP] Representative democracy is a form of democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives as opposed to a direct democracy, a form of democracy in which people vote on policy initiatives directly.[SUP][37][/SUP]
[h=3]Ancient origins[/h] See also: Athenian democracy
Cleisthenes, "father of Athenian democracy", modern bust
The term "democracy" first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state of Athens during classical antiquity.[SUP][22][/SUP][SUP][23][/SUP] Led by Cleisthenes, Athenians established what is generally held as the first democracy in 508–507 BCE. Cleisthenes is referred to as "the father of Athenian democracy."[SUP][24][/SUP]
Athenian democracy took the form of a direct democracy, and it had two distinguishing features: the random selection of ordinary citizens to fill the few existing government administrative and judicial offices,[SUP][25][/SUP] and a legislative assembly consisting of all Athenian citizens.[SUP][26][/SUP] All eligible citizens were allowed to speak and vote in the assembly, which set the laws of the city state. However, Athenian citizenship excluded women, slaves, foreigners (μέτοικοι metoikoi), non-landowners, and males under 20 years old.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
Of the estimated 200,000 to 400,000 inhabitants of Athens, there were between 30,000 and 60,000 citizens.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP] The exclusion of large parts of the population from the citizen body is closely related to the ancient understanding of citizenship. In most of antiquity the benefit of citizenship was tied to the obligation to fight war campaigns.[SUP][27][/SUP]
Athenian democracy was not only direct in the sense that decisions were made by the assembled people, but also the most direct in the sense that the people through the assembly, boule and courts of law controlled the entire political process and a large proportion of citizens were involved constantly in the public business.[SUP][28][/SUP] Even though the rights of the individual were not secured by the Athenian constitution in the modern sense (the ancient Greeks had no word for "rights"[SUP][29][/SUP]), the Athenians enjoyed their liberties not in opposition to the government but by living in a city that was not subject to another power and by not being subjects themselves to the rule of another person.[SUP][30][/SUP]
Range voting appeared in Sparta as early as 700 BCE. The Apella was an assembly of the people, held once a month. In the Apella, Spartans elect leaders and made voting by range voting and shouting. Every male citizen of age 30 could participate. Aristotle called this "childish," as opposed to something sophisticated as using stone voting ballots the Athenians used. But in terms, Sparta adopted it because of its simplicity, and to prevent any bias voting, buying, or cheating that was predominant in the early democratic elections.[SUP][31][/SUP][SUP][32][/SUP]
Even though the Roman Republic contributed significantly to many aspects of democracy, only a minority of Romans were citizens with votes in elections for representatives. The votes of the powerful were given more weight through a system of gerrymandering, so most high officials, including members of the Senate, came from a few wealthy and noble families.[SUP][33][/SUP] However, many notable exceptions did occur.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP] In addition, the Roman Republic was the first government in the western world to have a Republic as a nation-state, although it didn't have much of a democracy. The Romans invented the concept of classics and many works from Ancient Greece were preserved.[SUP][34][/SUP] Additionally, the Roman model of governance inspired many political thinkers over the centuries,[SUP][35][/SUP] and today's modern representative democracies imitate more the Roman than the Greek models because it was a state in which supreme power was held by the people and their elected representatives, and which had an elected or nominated leader.[SUP][36][/SUP] Representative democracy is a form of democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives as opposed to a direct democracy, a form of democracy in which people vote on policy initiatives directly.[SUP][37][/SUP]
zubair1234
Senator (1k+ posts)
بلکل درست کہا بھائی ابھی جبکہ میں اپکا پیرا یا پڑھ رہا ہوں تواپنے والد صا حب سے اس بارے مزید معلومات سے اگہی ہوی کہ ایک شخص مونگ پھلی کھاتا ہوا جلا جا رہا تھا اور راستے میں چلتے ہوے چھلکے پھینکتا ہوا جارہا تھا ایک جوان نے اسکوروکا اور پوچھا کہاں سے ارہے ہواسکوساتھ لیا اور راستے بھر جو چھلکے پھینکے تھے سب اس سے اٹھواے-اسیطرحاح ایک دودھ والے کو روکا دوھ کو چیک کیا کہا سب پھینک دو سوچا رشوت سے کا چل جائیگا مارمار کے دنبہ بنا دیا زخیرہ خوری اندوزوں نے حرا کام چھوڑدئے تھے خورد و نوش سستے اور امن وامان کی حا لت کروڑھا ٹائم بہتر تھی
[h=3]Modern era[/h] [h=4]Early modern period[/h] During the early modern period, the power of the Parliament of England continually increased. The idea of a political party took form in England with a faction of Levellers freely debating rights to political representation during the Putney Debates of 1647. After the English Civil Wars (1642–1651) and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the English Bill of Rights of 1689 was enacted, which codified certain rights and liberties, and is still in effect. The Bill set out the rights of Parliament, rules for freedom of speech in Parliament and limited the power of the monarch, ensuring that, unlike much of the rest of Europe, royal absolutism would not prevail.[SUP][42][/SUP] The voting franchise was slowly increased and Parliament gradually gained more power until the monarch became largely a figurehead.[SUP][43][/SUP]
In North America, representative government began in Jamestown, Virginia, with the election of the House of Burgesses (forerunner of the Virginia General Assembly) in 1619. English Puritans who migrated from 1620 established colonies in New England whose local governance was democratic and which contributed to the democratic development of the United States;[SUP][44][/SUP] although these local assemblies had some small amounts of devolved power, the ultimate authority was held by the Crown and the English Parliament. The Puritans (Pilgrim Fathers), Baptists, and Quakers who founded these colonies applied the democratic organisation of their congregations also to the administration of their communities in worldly matters.[SUP][45][/SUP][SUP][46][/SUP][SUP][47][/SUP]
[h=4]18th and 19th centuries[/h]
The establishment of universal male suffrage in France in 1848 was an important milestone in the history of democracy.
The first Parliament of Great Britain was established in 1707, after the merger of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland under the Acts of Union 1707. The formation of this Parliament marked the continued expansion of parliamentary power, and decrease of monarchical power.
The creation of the short-lived Corsican Republic in 1755 marked the first nation in modern history to adopt a democratic constitution. This Corsican Constitution was the first based on Enlightenment principles and included female suffrage, something that was not granted in most other democracies until the 20th century.
In the American colonial period before 1776, and for some time after, often only adult white male property owners could vote; enslaved Africans, most free black people and most women were not extended the franchise. On the American frontier, democracy became a way of life, with more widespread social, economic and political equality.[SUP][48][/SUP] Although not described as a democracy by the founding fathers, they shared a determination to root the American experiment in the principles of natural freedom and equality.[SUP][49][/SUP]
The American Revolution led to the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitution provided for an elected government and protected civil rights and liberties for some American citizens. This constitution is the oldest surviving, still active, governmental codified constitution in the world.[SUP][50][/SUP] The Bill of Rights in 1791 set limits on government power to protect personal freedoms.
In 1789, Revolutionary France adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and, although short-lived, the National Convention was elected by all males in 1792.[SUP][51][/SUP] Universal male suffrage was established in France in March 1848 in the wake of the French Revolution of 1848.[SUP][52][/SUP] In 1848, several revolutions broke out in Europe as rulers were confronted with popular demands for liberal constitutions and more democratic government.[SUP][53][/SUP]
During this period, slavery remained a social and economic institution in places around the world. This was particularly the case in the eleven states of the American South. A variety of organisations were established advocating the movement of black people from the United States to locations where they would enjoy greater freedom and equality.
The U.K. Slave Trade Act 1807 banned the trade across the British Empire from 1807 after which the Royal Navy began to combat foreign slave traders. In 1833, the U.K. passed the Slavery Abolition Act.
As the voting franchise in the U.K. was increased, it also was made more uniform; many rotten boroughs, with a small number of voters electing a Member of Parliament, were eliminated in the Reform Act of 1832.
In the 1860 United States Census, the slave population in the United States had grown to four million,[SUP][54][/SUP] and in Reconstruction after the Civil War (late 1860s), the newly freed slaves became citizens with a nominal right to vote for men. Full enfranchisement of citizens was not secured until after the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) gained passage by the United States Congress of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[SUP][55][/SUP][SUP][56][/SUP]
[h=4]20th and 21st centuries[/h]
The number of nations 1800–2003 scoring 8 or higher on Polity IV scale, another widely used measure of democracy.
20th-century transitions to liberal democracy have come in successive "waves of democracy," variously resulting from wars, revolutions, decolonisation, religious and economic circumstances. World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires resulted in the creation of new nation-states from Europe, most of them at least nominally democratic.
In the 1920s democracy flourished, but the Great Depression brought disenchantment, and most of the countries of Europe, Latin America, and Asia turned to strong-man rule or dictatorships. Fascism and dictatorships flourished in Nazi Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as nondemocratic regimes in the Baltics, the Balkans, Brazil, Cuba, China, and Japan, among others.[SUP][57][/SUP]
World War II brought a definitive reversal of this trend in western Europe. The democratisation of the American, British, and French sectors of occupied Germany (disputed[SUP][58][/SUP]), Austria, Italy, and the occupied Japan served as a model for the later theory of regime change.
However, most of Eastern Europe, including the Soviet sector of Germany fell into the non-democratic Soviet bloc. The war was followed by decolonisation, and again most of the new independent states had nominally democratic constitutions. India emerged as the world's largest democracy and continues to be so.[SUP][59][/SUP]
By 1960, the vast majority of country-states were nominally democracies, although most of the world's populations lived in nations that experienced sham elections, and other forms of subterfuge (particularly in Communist nations and the former colonies.)
A subsequent wave of democratisation brought substantial gains toward true liberal democracy for many nations. Spain, Portugal (1974), and several of the military dictatorships in South America returned to civilian rule in the late 1970s and early 1980s (Argentina in 1983, Bolivia, Uruguay in 1984, Brazil in 1985, and Chile in the early 1990s). This was followed by nations in East and South Asia by the mid-to-late 1980s.
Economic malaise in the 1980s, along with resentment of Soviet oppression, contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the associated end of the Cold War, and the democratisation and liberalisation of the former Eastern bloc countries. The most successful of the new democracies were those geographically and culturally closest to western Europe, and they are now members or candidate members of the European Union. Some researchers consider that contemporary Russia is not a true democracy and instead resembles a form of dictatorship.[SUP][60][/SUP]
The Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy index map for 2012, with greener colours representing more democratic countries.
Full democracies:
Flawed democracies:
Hybrid regimes:
Authoritarian regimes:
Insufficient information, no rating:
The liberal trend spread to some nations in Africa in the 1990s, most prominently in South Africa. Some recent examples of attempts of liberalisation include the Indonesian Revolution of 1998, the Bulldozer Revolution in Yugoslavia, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia.
According to Freedom House, in 2007 there were 123 electoral democracies (up from 40 in 1972).[SUP][61][/SUP] According to World Forum on Democracy, electoral democracies now represent 120 of the 192 existing countries and constitute 58.2 percent of the world's population. At the same time liberal democracies i.e. countries Freedom House regards as free and respectful of basic human rights and the rule of law are 85 in number and represent 38 percent of the global population.[SUP][62][/SUP]
In 2010 the United Nations declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy.[SUP][63][/SUP]
[h=2]Countries and regions[/h] The following countries or regions are categorised by the Democracy Index 2012 as Full democracy:[SUP][64][/SUP]
The Index assigns 53 countries or regions to the lower category, Flawed democracy: Argentina, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Indonesia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, T
In North America, representative government began in Jamestown, Virginia, with the election of the House of Burgesses (forerunner of the Virginia General Assembly) in 1619. English Puritans who migrated from 1620 established colonies in New England whose local governance was democratic and which contributed to the democratic development of the United States;[SUP][44][/SUP] although these local assemblies had some small amounts of devolved power, the ultimate authority was held by the Crown and the English Parliament. The Puritans (Pilgrim Fathers), Baptists, and Quakers who founded these colonies applied the democratic organisation of their congregations also to the administration of their communities in worldly matters.[SUP][45][/SUP][SUP][46][/SUP][SUP][47][/SUP]
[h=4]18th and 19th centuries[/h]
The establishment of universal male suffrage in France in 1848 was an important milestone in the history of democracy.
The first Parliament of Great Britain was established in 1707, after the merger of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland under the Acts of Union 1707. The formation of this Parliament marked the continued expansion of parliamentary power, and decrease of monarchical power.
The creation of the short-lived Corsican Republic in 1755 marked the first nation in modern history to adopt a democratic constitution. This Corsican Constitution was the first based on Enlightenment principles and included female suffrage, something that was not granted in most other democracies until the 20th century.
In the American colonial period before 1776, and for some time after, often only adult white male property owners could vote; enslaved Africans, most free black people and most women were not extended the franchise. On the American frontier, democracy became a way of life, with more widespread social, economic and political equality.[SUP][48][/SUP] Although not described as a democracy by the founding fathers, they shared a determination to root the American experiment in the principles of natural freedom and equality.[SUP][49][/SUP]
The American Revolution led to the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitution provided for an elected government and protected civil rights and liberties for some American citizens. This constitution is the oldest surviving, still active, governmental codified constitution in the world.[SUP][50][/SUP] The Bill of Rights in 1791 set limits on government power to protect personal freedoms.
In 1789, Revolutionary France adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and, although short-lived, the National Convention was elected by all males in 1792.[SUP][51][/SUP] Universal male suffrage was established in France in March 1848 in the wake of the French Revolution of 1848.[SUP][52][/SUP] In 1848, several revolutions broke out in Europe as rulers were confronted with popular demands for liberal constitutions and more democratic government.[SUP][53][/SUP]
During this period, slavery remained a social and economic institution in places around the world. This was particularly the case in the eleven states of the American South. A variety of organisations were established advocating the movement of black people from the United States to locations where they would enjoy greater freedom and equality.
The U.K. Slave Trade Act 1807 banned the trade across the British Empire from 1807 after which the Royal Navy began to combat foreign slave traders. In 1833, the U.K. passed the Slavery Abolition Act.
As the voting franchise in the U.K. was increased, it also was made more uniform; many rotten boroughs, with a small number of voters electing a Member of Parliament, were eliminated in the Reform Act of 1832.
In the 1860 United States Census, the slave population in the United States had grown to four million,[SUP][54][/SUP] and in Reconstruction after the Civil War (late 1860s), the newly freed slaves became citizens with a nominal right to vote for men. Full enfranchisement of citizens was not secured until after the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) gained passage by the United States Congress of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[SUP][55][/SUP][SUP][56][/SUP]
[h=4]20th and 21st centuries[/h]
The number of nations 1800–2003 scoring 8 or higher on Polity IV scale, another widely used measure of democracy.
20th-century transitions to liberal democracy have come in successive "waves of democracy," variously resulting from wars, revolutions, decolonisation, religious and economic circumstances. World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires resulted in the creation of new nation-states from Europe, most of them at least nominally democratic.
In the 1920s democracy flourished, but the Great Depression brought disenchantment, and most of the countries of Europe, Latin America, and Asia turned to strong-man rule or dictatorships. Fascism and dictatorships flourished in Nazi Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as nondemocratic regimes in the Baltics, the Balkans, Brazil, Cuba, China, and Japan, among others.[SUP][57][/SUP]
World War II brought a definitive reversal of this trend in western Europe. The democratisation of the American, British, and French sectors of occupied Germany (disputed[SUP][58][/SUP]), Austria, Italy, and the occupied Japan served as a model for the later theory of regime change.
However, most of Eastern Europe, including the Soviet sector of Germany fell into the non-democratic Soviet bloc. The war was followed by decolonisation, and again most of the new independent states had nominally democratic constitutions. India emerged as the world's largest democracy and continues to be so.[SUP][59][/SUP]
By 1960, the vast majority of country-states were nominally democracies, although most of the world's populations lived in nations that experienced sham elections, and other forms of subterfuge (particularly in Communist nations and the former colonies.)
A subsequent wave of democratisation brought substantial gains toward true liberal democracy for many nations. Spain, Portugal (1974), and several of the military dictatorships in South America returned to civilian rule in the late 1970s and early 1980s (Argentina in 1983, Bolivia, Uruguay in 1984, Brazil in 1985, and Chile in the early 1990s). This was followed by nations in East and South Asia by the mid-to-late 1980s.
Economic malaise in the 1980s, along with resentment of Soviet oppression, contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the associated end of the Cold War, and the democratisation and liberalisation of the former Eastern bloc countries. The most successful of the new democracies were those geographically and culturally closest to western Europe, and they are now members or candidate members of the European Union. Some researchers consider that contemporary Russia is not a true democracy and instead resembles a form of dictatorship.[SUP][60][/SUP]
The Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy index map for 2012, with greener colours representing more democratic countries.
Full democracies:
9.00-10.00
8.00-8.99Flawed democracies:
7.00-7.99
6.00-6.99Hybrid regimes:
5.00-5.99
4.00-4.99Authoritarian regimes:
3.00-3.99
2.00-2.99
0.00-1.99Insufficient information, no rating:
The liberal trend spread to some nations in Africa in the 1990s, most prominently in South Africa. Some recent examples of attempts of liberalisation include the Indonesian Revolution of 1998, the Bulldozer Revolution in Yugoslavia, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia.
According to Freedom House, in 2007 there were 123 electoral democracies (up from 40 in 1972).[SUP][61][/SUP] According to World Forum on Democracy, electoral democracies now represent 120 of the 192 existing countries and constitute 58.2 percent of the world's population. At the same time liberal democracies i.e. countries Freedom House regards as free and respectful of basic human rights and the rule of law are 85 in number and represent 38 percent of the global population.[SUP][62][/SUP]
In 2010 the United Nations declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy.[SUP][63][/SUP]
[h=2]Countries and regions[/h] The following countries or regions are categorised by the Democracy Index 2012 as Full democracy:[SUP][64][/SUP]
- Norway
- Sweden
- Iceland
- Denmark
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Austria
- Ireland
- Germany
- Malta
- United Kingdom
- Czech Republic
- Uruguay
- Mauritius
- South Korea
- United States of America
- Costa Rica
- Japan
- Belgium
- Spain
The Index assigns 53 countries or regions to the lower category, Flawed democracy: Argentina, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Indonesia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, T
[h=2]Types[/h] Main article: Types of democracy
Democracy has taken a number of forms, both in theory and practice. Some varieties of democracy provide better representation and more freedom for their citizens than others.[SUP][66][/SUP][SUP][67][/SUP] However, if any democracy is not structured so as to prohibit the government from excluding the people from the legislative process, or any branch of government from altering the separation of powers in its own favour, then a branch of the system can accumulate too much power and destroy the democracy.[SUP][68][/SUP][SUP][69][/SUP][SUP][70][/SUP]
[SUP]1[/SUP]This map was complied according to the Wikipedia list of countries by system of government. See there for sources. [SUP]2[/SUP]Several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics are broadly described by outsiders as authoritarian states. This map presents only the de jure form of government, and not the de facto degree of democracy.
The following kinds of democracy are not exclusive of one another: many specify details of aspects that are independent of one another and can co-exist in a single system.
[h=3]Basic forms[/h] [h=4]Direct and semi-direct[/h]
A Landsgemeinde (in 2009) of the Canton of Glarus, an example of direct democracy in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, without needing to register, every citizen receives ballot papers and information brochures for each vote (and can send it back by post). Switzerland has a direct democracy system and votes are organised about four times a year.
Main article: Direct democracy
See also: Politics of Switzerland and Voting in Switzerland
[h=5]Principles[/h] Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue. A direct democracy gives the voting population the power to:
Most western countries have representative systems.[SUP][71][/SUP] Switzerland is a rare example of a country with instruments of direct democracy (at the level of the towns, cantons and federal state). Citizens have more power than in a representative democracy. At the federal level, citizens can propose changes to the constitution (federal popular initiative) or ask for a referendum to be held on any law voted by the parliament.[SUP][71][/SUP] Between January 1995 and June 2005, Swiss citizens voted 31 times, to answer 103 questions (during the same period, French citizens participated in only two referendums).[SUP][71][/SUP]
[h=4]Representative[/h] Main article: Representative democracy
Representative democracy involves the election of government officials by the people being represented. If the head of state is also democratically elected then it is called a democratic republic.[SUP][72][/SUP] The most common mechanisms involve election of the candidate with a majority or a plurality of the votes.
Representatives may be elected or become diplomatic representatives by a particular district (or constituency), or represent the entire electorate through proportional systems, with some using a combination of the two. Some representative democracies also incorporate elements of direct democracy, such as referendums. A characteristic of representative democracy is that while the representatives are elected by the people to act in the people's interest, they retain the freedom to exercise their own judgement as how best to do so. Such reasons have driven criticism upon representative democracy,[SUP][73][/SUP][SUP][74][/SUP] pointing out the contradictions of representation mechanisms' with democracy[SUP][75][/SUP][SUP][76][/SUP]
[h=5]Parliamentary[/h] Main article: Parliamentary system
Parliamentary democracy is a representative democracy where government is appointed by, or can be dismissed by, representatives as opposed to a "presidential rule" wherein the president is both head of state and the head of government and is elected by the voters. Under a parliamentary democracy, government is exercised by delegation to an executive ministry and subject to ongoing review, checks and balances by the legislative parliament elected by the people.[SUP][77][/SUP][SUP][78][/SUP][SUP][79][/SUP][SUP][80][/SUP]
Parliamentary systems have the right to dismiss a Prime Minister at any point in time that they feel he or she is not doing their job to the expectations of the legislature. This is done through a Vote of No Confidence where the legislature decides whether or not to remove the Prime Minister from office by a majority support for his or her dismissal.[SUP][81][/SUP] In some countries, the Prime Minister can also call an election whenever he or she so chooses, and typically the Prime Minister will hold an election when he or she knows that they are in good favour with the public as to get re-elected. In other parliamentary democracies extra elections are virtually never held, a minority government being preferred until the next ordinary elections.
[h=5]Presidential[/h] Main article: Presidential system
Presidential Democracy is a system where the public elects the president through free and fair elections. The president serves as both the head of state and head of government controlling most of the executive powers. The president serves for a specific term and cannot exceed that amount of time. Elections typically have a fixed date and aren't easily changed. The president has direct control over the cabinet, specifically appointing the cabinet members.[SUP][81][/SUP]
The president cannot be easily removed from office by the legislature, but he or she cannot remove members of the legislative branch any more easily. This provides some measure of separation of powers. In consequence however, the president and the legislature may end up in the control of separate parties, allowing one to block the other and thereby interfere with the orderly operation of the state. This may be the reason why presidential democracy is not very common outside the Americas, Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia.[SUP][81][/SUP]
A semi-presidential system is a system of democracy in which the government includes both a prime minister and a president. The particular powers held by the prime minister and president vary by country.[SUP][81][/SUP]
[h=5]Constitutional[/h] Main article: Constitutional democracy
A constitutional democracy is a representative democracy in which the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and usually moderated by a constitution that emphasises the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, and which places constraints on the leaders and on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised against the rights of minorities (see civil liberties).
In a constitutional democracy, it is possible for some large-scale decisions to emerge from the many individual decisions that citizens are free to make. In other words, citizens can "vote with their feet" or "vote with their dollars", resulting in significant informal government-by-the-masses that exercises many "powers" associated with formal government elsewhere.
[h=4]Hybrid[/h] Some modern democracies that are predominately representative in nature also heavily rely upon forms of political action that are directly democratic. These democracies, which combine elements of representative democracy and direct democracy, are termed hybrid democracies[SUP][82][/SUP] or semi-direct democracies. Examples include Switzerland and some U.S. states, where frequent use is made of referendums and initiatives.
Although managed by a representative legislative body, Switzerland allows for initiatives and referendums at both the local and federal levels. In the past 120 years less than 250 initiatives have been put to referendum. The populace has been conservative, approving only about 10% of the initiatives put before them; in addition, they have often opted for a version of the initiative rewritten by government.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
In the United States, no mechanisms of direct democracy exists at the federal level, but over half of the states and many localities provide for citizen-sponsored ballot initiatives (also called "ballot measures", "ballot questions" or "propositions"), and the vast majority of states allow for referendums. Examples include the extensive use of referendums in the US state of California, which is a state that has more than 20 million voters.[SUP][83][/SUP]
In New England Town meetings are often used, especially in rural areas, to manage local government. This creates a hybrid form of government, with a local direct democracy and a state government which is representative. For example, most Vermont towns hold annual town meetings in March in which town officers are elected, budgets for the town and schools are voted on, and citizens have an opportunity to speak and by heard on political matters.[SUP][84][/SUP]
Democracy has taken a number of forms, both in theory and practice. Some varieties of democracy provide better representation and more freedom for their citizens than others.[SUP][66][/SUP][SUP][67][/SUP] However, if any democracy is not structured so as to prohibit the government from excluding the people from the legislative process, or any branch of government from altering the separation of powers in its own favour, then a branch of the system can accumulate too much power and destroy the democracy.[SUP][68][/SUP][SUP][69][/SUP][SUP][70][/SUP]
World's states coloured by form of government as of 2011[SUP]1[/SUP]
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The following kinds of democracy are not exclusive of one another: many specify details of aspects that are independent of one another and can co-exist in a single system.
[h=3]Basic forms[/h] [h=4]Direct and semi-direct[/h]
A Landsgemeinde (in 2009) of the Canton of Glarus, an example of direct democracy in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, without needing to register, every citizen receives ballot papers and information brochures for each vote (and can send it back by post). Switzerland has a direct democracy system and votes are organised about four times a year.
Main article: Direct democracy
See also: Politics of Switzerland and Voting in Switzerland
[h=5]Principles[/h] Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue. A direct democracy gives the voting population the power to:
- Change constitutional laws,
- Put forth initiatives, referendums and suggestions for laws,
- Give binding orders to elective officials, such as revoking them before the end of their elected term, or initiating a lawsuit for breaking a campaign promise.
Most western countries have representative systems.[SUP][71][/SUP] Switzerland is a rare example of a country with instruments of direct democracy (at the level of the towns, cantons and federal state). Citizens have more power than in a representative democracy. At the federal level, citizens can propose changes to the constitution (federal popular initiative) or ask for a referendum to be held on any law voted by the parliament.[SUP][71][/SUP] Between January 1995 and June 2005, Swiss citizens voted 31 times, to answer 103 questions (during the same period, French citizens participated in only two referendums).[SUP][71][/SUP]
[h=4]Representative[/h] Main article: Representative democracy
Representative democracy involves the election of government officials by the people being represented. If the head of state is also democratically elected then it is called a democratic republic.[SUP][72][/SUP] The most common mechanisms involve election of the candidate with a majority or a plurality of the votes.
Representatives may be elected or become diplomatic representatives by a particular district (or constituency), or represent the entire electorate through proportional systems, with some using a combination of the two. Some representative democracies also incorporate elements of direct democracy, such as referendums. A characteristic of representative democracy is that while the representatives are elected by the people to act in the people's interest, they retain the freedom to exercise their own judgement as how best to do so. Such reasons have driven criticism upon representative democracy,[SUP][73][/SUP][SUP][74][/SUP] pointing out the contradictions of representation mechanisms' with democracy[SUP][75][/SUP][SUP][76][/SUP]
[h=5]Parliamentary[/h] Main article: Parliamentary system
Parliamentary democracy is a representative democracy where government is appointed by, or can be dismissed by, representatives as opposed to a "presidential rule" wherein the president is both head of state and the head of government and is elected by the voters. Under a parliamentary democracy, government is exercised by delegation to an executive ministry and subject to ongoing review, checks and balances by the legislative parliament elected by the people.[SUP][77][/SUP][SUP][78][/SUP][SUP][79][/SUP][SUP][80][/SUP]
Parliamentary systems have the right to dismiss a Prime Minister at any point in time that they feel he or she is not doing their job to the expectations of the legislature. This is done through a Vote of No Confidence where the legislature decides whether or not to remove the Prime Minister from office by a majority support for his or her dismissal.[SUP][81][/SUP] In some countries, the Prime Minister can also call an election whenever he or she so chooses, and typically the Prime Minister will hold an election when he or she knows that they are in good favour with the public as to get re-elected. In other parliamentary democracies extra elections are virtually never held, a minority government being preferred until the next ordinary elections.
[h=5]Presidential[/h] Main article: Presidential system
Presidential Democracy is a system where the public elects the president through free and fair elections. The president serves as both the head of state and head of government controlling most of the executive powers. The president serves for a specific term and cannot exceed that amount of time. Elections typically have a fixed date and aren't easily changed. The president has direct control over the cabinet, specifically appointing the cabinet members.[SUP][81][/SUP]
The president cannot be easily removed from office by the legislature, but he or she cannot remove members of the legislative branch any more easily. This provides some measure of separation of powers. In consequence however, the president and the legislature may end up in the control of separate parties, allowing one to block the other and thereby interfere with the orderly operation of the state. This may be the reason why presidential democracy is not very common outside the Americas, Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia.[SUP][81][/SUP]
A semi-presidential system is a system of democracy in which the government includes both a prime minister and a president. The particular powers held by the prime minister and president vary by country.[SUP][81][/SUP]
[h=5]Constitutional[/h] Main article: Constitutional democracy
A constitutional democracy is a representative democracy in which the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and usually moderated by a constitution that emphasises the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, and which places constraints on the leaders and on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised against the rights of minorities (see civil liberties).
In a constitutional democracy, it is possible for some large-scale decisions to emerge from the many individual decisions that citizens are free to make. In other words, citizens can "vote with their feet" or "vote with their dollars", resulting in significant informal government-by-the-masses that exercises many "powers" associated with formal government elsewhere.
[h=4]Hybrid[/h] Some modern democracies that are predominately representative in nature also heavily rely upon forms of political action that are directly democratic. These democracies, which combine elements of representative democracy and direct democracy, are termed hybrid democracies[SUP][82][/SUP] or semi-direct democracies. Examples include Switzerland and some U.S. states, where frequent use is made of referendums and initiatives.
Although managed by a representative legislative body, Switzerland allows for initiatives and referendums at both the local and federal levels. In the past 120 years less than 250 initiatives have been put to referendum. The populace has been conservative, approving only about 10% of the initiatives put before them; in addition, they have often opted for a version of the initiative rewritten by government.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
In the United States, no mechanisms of direct democracy exists at the federal level, but over half of the states and many localities provide for citizen-sponsored ballot initiatives (also called "ballot measures", "ballot questions" or "propositions"), and the vast majority of states allow for referendums. Examples include the extensive use of referendums in the US state of California, which is a state that has more than 20 million voters.[SUP][83][/SUP]
In New England Town meetings are often used, especially in rural areas, to manage local government. This creates a hybrid form of government, with a local direct democracy and a state government which is representative. For example, most Vermont towns hold annual town meetings in March in which town officers are elected, budgets for the town and schools are voted on, and citizens have an opportunity to speak and by heard on political matters.[SUP][84][/SUP]
