DEMOCRACY and leadership styles LESSON 2: CHV20

Recap: what is democracy? A system in which decisions are controlled by the people. The term comes from the Greek words demo, meaning “people,” and cracy, meaning “rule.”

Democracy is about: Personal freedom Equality Social justice Citizens should have a voice in decision making. All citizens should be treated as equal. All citizens should have fundamental rights and freedoms. Citizens should have a sense of responsibility to other people in the community. Citizens should have a sense of what is socially just.

Origins of democracy You will be completing a major assignment on the Origins of Democracy. Details on this assignment will follow this week. We will touch on the origins later this week.

What Are our rights? As democracy has evolved, so have our ideas of what rights citizens should have. We recognize the following as our rights/freedoms: 1. Civil Rights 2. Political Rights 3. Social Rights

Rights and Freedoms: Those things we are morally or legally entitled to have or do. Have changed or evolved over time.

1. Civil rights (emphasized in 18th century) Equality before the law. Liberty of person. Freedom of speech, thought and religion. Right to own property.

2. Political rights (emphasized in the 19th Century) Right to participate in elections. Right to run for and hold office. Right to vote.

3. Social rights (emphasized in the 20th century) Right to a certain standard of economic and social well-being. Right to participate fully in society.

Leadership styles: Leadership: The art of moving people toward a specific goal. Most leaders display one or more of the following leadership styles:

1. democracy/balanced: Leaders are interested in the task and the group equally. Like the members of their group to feel involved. Individuals are asked for their input. Every effort is made to ensure consensus in decision-making.

2. authoritarian/dictatorship (autocratic) The leader chooses the solutions to problems. The solution is dictated to the group. Group is told what to do and how to do it. People are not asked for input or ideas. The leader is in charge and dictates all actions to be taken and completed.

3. laissez-faire Least effective form of leadership. Not concerned about the group or task. Appear withdrawn or uninterested; unresponsive when asked for their opinion or input. Found to be frustrating to work with.

Who are the people? When we say that, in a democracy, “the people decide,” we assume that the decision are made by the majority of people. Questions: How should decisions be made when different perspectives exist about a public issue? How do we ensure the rights of minorities are respected?

1. Majority rule: the principle that the opinion of the greater number should prevail (50% plus one). 2. Minority rights: the principle that the rights of the minority must be protected. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognize the rights of ALL groups. Some democratic societies use consensus instead of majority rule: Consensus: A collective decision to which all parties agree; all parties agree with the decision.