DEMOCRACY What is it Really?

Some Say it Means… Majority Rule Freedom Rule by the People

Interpret the word Literally Demos means Mob Kratia means to rule or govern Do you associate democracy with Mob rule?

Greek Democracy Based on the small city-state Citizens could express their views directly No elected leaders

United States Democracy Responsibility for governing in the hands of elected leaders – representative democracy People have sovereign power but allow a representative to act on their behalf

4 Conditions must be present All Citizens must have equal voting power – each person has one vote at the polls All Voters must have equal access to information. People must be free to organize with others to achieve political goals Elections must be decided by the majority keeping in mind minority rights.

Who are “the People” Must be citizens Anyone over 18 Men, women, all races Meet residency requirements Register to vote

“The People” have changed over time. When the nation was founded only white male property owners could vote Residency remains a requirement however some think it should be anyone who pays taxes should vote And felons who have been released and served their time should be able to vote

What if people don’t vote? Some want those who do not vote in a certain number of elections to lose their voting rights Force you to pay a fine if you don’t vote. Ballots printed only in English

75 Nations are Democratic Human Rights Watch asked the Community of Democracies not to allow any country who are democratic in title only.

For Example: Russian government controls the free press Egypt arrested a democratic reform agent for criticizing election procedures Human rights activists in Tunisia have been unfairly detained and deprived of their basic rights.

Democratic Index "Whether national elections are free and fair"; "The security of voters"; "The influence of foreign powers on government"; "The capability of the civil servants to implement policies".

Democratic Index 1 Norway 9.93 Full democracy 17 Uruguay 8.17 Full democracy 2 Sweden 9.73 Full democracy 19 United States 8.11 Full democracy 3 Iceland 9.58 Full democracy 20 Japan 8.08 Full democracy 4 New Zealand 9.26 Full democracy 21 South Korea 8.06 Full democracy 5 Denmark 9.11 Full democracy 22 Spain 8.05 Full democracy 6 Switzerland 9.09 Full democracy 23 France 8.04 Full democracy 7 Canada 9.08 Full democracy 24 Costa Rica 8.03 Full democracy 8 Finland 9.03 Full democracy 25 Czech Republic 7.94 Flawed democracy 9 Australia 9.01 Full democracy 26 Belgium 7.93 Flawed democracy 10 Netherlands 8.92 Full democracy 27 India 7.92 Flawed democracy 11 Luxembourg 8.88 Full democracy 28 Botswana 7.87 Flawed democracy 12 Ireland 8.72 Full democracy 29 Italy 7.85 Flawed democracy 13 Germany 8.64 Full democracy 30 South Africa 7.82 Flawed democracy 14 Austria 8.54 Full democracy 15 Malta 8.39 Full democracy 16 United Kingdom 8.31 Full democracy 17 Mauritius 8.17 Full democracy

Lowest on the Democratic Index 130 Vietnam 3.41 Authoritarian regime 132 Russia 3.39 Authoritarian regime 133 Angola 3.35 Authoritarian regime 134 Burundi 3.33 Authoritarian regime 135 Rwanda 3.25 Authoritarian regime 136 Qatar 3.18 Authoritarian regime 137 Kazakhstan 3.17 Authoritarian regime 138 Egypt 3.16 Authoritarian regime 139 Oman 3.15 Authoritarian regime 140 Swaziland 3.09 Authoritarian regime =141 The Gambia 3.05 Authoritarian regime =141 Myanmar 3.05 Authoritarian regime 143 Guinea 3.01 Authoritarian regime 144 China 3.00 Authoritarian regime 145 Djibouti 2.99 Authoritarian regime 146 Republic of the Congo 2.89 Authoritarian regime 147 Bahrain 2.87 Authoritarian regime 148 Azerbaijan 2.83 Authoritarian regime 149 Yemen 2.79 Authoritarian regime 150 Zimbabwe 2.78 Authoritarian regime 151 Afghanistan 2.77 Authoritarian regime 152 United Arab Emirates 2.64 Authoritarian regime 153 Sudan 2.54 Authoritarian regime 154 Uzbekistan 2.45 Authoritarian regime 155 Eritrea 2.44 Authoritarian regime 156 Tajikistan 2.37 Authoritarian regime 157 Laos 2.21 Authoritarian regime 158 Iran 1.98 Authoritarian regime 159 Guinea-Bissau 1.93 Authoritarian regime 160 Turkmenistan 1.83 Authoritarian regime 161 Saudi Arabia 1.82 Authoritarian regime 162 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1.75 Authoritarian regime 163 Syria 1.74 Authoritarian regime 164 Equatorial Guinea 1.66 Authoritarian regime 165 Chad 1.50 Authoritarian regime 166 Central African Republic 1.49 Authoritarian regime 167 North Korea 1.08 Authoritarian regime

John Locke believed that government should be based on the will of the people Who are “the people”? What is your will for your democratic government? It is a question we must all answer for ourselves and yet, in true democratic form, we need to consider others’ views too.