![]() ![]() And when opposition parties do win, there is a transfer of power and renewed public debate on how to steer the country forward. That means that more than a single political party is able to freely participate in an election campaign and be an option for the people. Democracy thrives on openness and richness of thought by suppressing the rights and freedoms of the minority, the majority holds itself back.Ĭitizens must have a choice on election day. And even though their views may not have carried election day, they still have the right to continue to share those views to other citizens and the government. ![]() In a true democracy, the rights of all citizens are equal and must be respected regardless of who’s in power. Political toleranceĪlthough majority rule is at the heart of democracy, this does not mean that the minority is forgotten. Information of the government should, with few exceptions, be available to the public upon request, journalists and people alike should be able to ask their politicians questions, and groups that work on transparency should be free to operate. Transparency means government actions are clear to the people, as are the results and outcomes. They have to know if their government is making good decisions or its policies aren’t working, if it's following the rules or plundering public money. In order to make informed choices at the ballot box, voters have to know the score. When authoritarian governments take control of the newspapers and news channels, when they hamstring and harass civil society groups, it becomes all too easy to keep corruption and abuses of power out of the public eye, and this makes it harder for the people to hold the government accountable on election day. Politicians are accountable to the people, must act consistent with their will, and have a duty not abuse their power to enrich themselves and their friends. People entrust powers to those they elect, and they are tasked to use those powers to enrich their communities. That’s the most fundamental element of equality in a democracy. And when it does come time to vote, it means that every vote counts the same – your vote is just as valuable and counts just as much as the wealthiest or most powerful person in your country. It also means that people have equal access to the free enjoyment of their rights – for example, equal access to the voting booth. This means that they are not discriminated against because of their ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. It is not only important but necessary that all people are treated equally in a democracy. Citizens’ groups and civil society help make sure people have the ability to do all of these things and should be supported to ensure greatest participation. Each of these are forms of participation that help make people informed when it does come time to mark a ballot. But equally important are public debate, town meetings, and peaceful protests, among other things. Participation is not just voting on election day, although this is surely its most notable form. In either case, citizen participation is the foundation that makes democracy strong. In representative democracy, it means they get to choose who represents them and have a free voice to express their opinions and desires. In direct democracies, this can mean citizens vote directly on the laws they live under. Participation of citizensīy its very definition, democracy allows the people a voice in charting the course of their government and their future. What are the 14 principles of democracy? 1. ![]()
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