Democracy is the political system where all governmental power is dispersed among the people. What the people want‚ is what the people get. Everyone has as much of an equal say as the next person; whether that person is more wealthy‚ more influential‚ or more well liked. It was created in opposition to many forms of government where the main power is held solely by one‚ or a few individuals‚ such as an oligarchy or a dictatorship. There are many modified forms of democracy that exist‚ but the main
Premium Democracy Government Representative democracy
Democracy‚ as defined by Polybius‚ was a “regime based on effective rule by the people.” In Polybius’ Histories‚ democracy was not based on each citizen having the ‘right to do whatever they wish or propose’ but true democracy relied on “reverence to the gods‚ succour of parents‚ respect to elders‚ obedience to laws‚ are traditional and habitual‚ in such communities” as well as decisions being decided by the majority. It has been agreed upon by most ancient historians that Rome was not a democracy
Premium Democracy Government Representative democracy
Greek democracy first arose in Athens‚ for a short period of time. In the following paragraphs‚ the rise of Greek democracy‚ as well as the background and reasoning behind how it rose and fell‚ will be discussed. First‚ Athens became a democracy‚ but it was not always a democracy. In the period between 800 and 500 BCE‚ Athens had aristocrats that had taken control of most of the good land‚ as well as gaining much of the political power in the city. People that were either poorer or middle class
Premium Democracy Ancient Greece Plato
Direct Democracy vs Representative Democracy The term Democracy is derived from two Greek words‚ demos‚ meaning people‚ and kratos‚ meaning rule. These two words form the word democracy which means rule by the people. Aristotle‚ and other ancient Greek political philosophers‚ used the phrase‚ `the governors are to be the governed’‚ or as we have come to know it‚ `rule and be ruled in turn’. The two major types of democracy are Representative Democracy and Direct Democracy. Clearly
Premium Democracy Political philosophy Representative democracy
Abstract The essay to follow will discuss what is meant by liberal democracy. The term will be defined and further discussed. In addition‚ it will be contrasted with that of a socialist democracy. This democratic system will be defined in political terms with reference to valid examples as too will liberal democracy. The following essay is based on a contrast between liberal and socialist democracy from a political perspective. An analysis of the terms‚ concepts and the question will then
Premium Democracy Socialism Liberalism
Running Head: IDEAL DEMOCRACY The Ideal Democracy Victoria Jones Political Science 101 Professor O’Meara March 11‚ 2012 Outline A.) Introduction – Democracy Definition by Latin roots and suffixes a. Background- Articles about the common topic of Democracy and its different definitions. I. Dahl- Dahl’s view in political system. b. Thesis – Through observation from Dahl’s point of view‚ I will explain the meaning of the ideal democracy while considering how
Premium Democracy
The Athenian democracy in the Golden Age functioned somewhat like ours does today. Athenian countryside was divided into areas called demes. In each of these demes‚ registers they kept track of which citizens were eligible to attend the assembly and vote on laws and public policies. Each Deme was then grouped into 10 tribes for other political functions‚ such as choosing representatives for the council of five hundred citizens. The number of representatives chosen from each deme was proportional
Premium Law Democracy Classical Athens
to the people” * John Lennon Introduction Democracy‚ it is generally believed‚ had its roots in Ancient Athens. We know it spread its stems to most of Europe and later to parts of Asia by mid 19th century ‚ mostly in the form of parliamentary democracy. But in the context of this paper‚we are not interested in the histrocity of the idea or concept of democracy‚ but in the idea itself. That is to say we want to analyze the meaning of democracy and its different forms‚ study its efficiency (so
Premium Democracy
Elections certainly are a necessary element in a functioning democracy. Elections charachetristcally exist to provide the governed with voice and choice so as to whom they are governed by. Elections although essential are not the only prerequisite to democracy. A successful democracy should have a strong constitution that advocates protection of civil liberties and prescribes a separation of powers. In a democracy elections are vital but a constitution is first and foremost the greater necessity
Premium Democracy Government Separation of powers
Jeffersonian Democracy vs. Jacksonian Democracy Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were both strong advocates of a democratic government in America‚ and both claimed to be for the “common man”. They did‚ however‚ have their differences on how they believed a democracy should be run in their respective eras. Even though they were both wealthy farmers‚ Jefferson appealed more to the upper class‚ while Jackson appealed more to the lower class. Thomas Jefferson had a strict interpretation of the
Premium Democracy United States President of the United States