1. DEMOCRACY
What is it Really?

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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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.

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

9. “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

10. 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

11. 75 Nations are Democratic
Human Rights Watch asked the Community of Democracies not to allow any country who are democratic in title only.

12. 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.

13. 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".

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.