Understanding Electoral Systems and Voting Rights
Democracy and the Electoral System
Democracy begins to operate through laws, and citizens are essential for democracy. The only feasible form is representative democracy. There are several forms of democracy:
- Direct Democracy: Citizens directly decide on matters that affect everyone. There are no intermediaries. Rousseau considered this the only true democracy, but its application today would be nearly impossible.
- Semi-Direct Democracy: Institutionalized voters decide on public matters. This form emphasizes
Understanding Authority, Democracy, and the State
Authority is the exercise of power over members of society. That authority is distributed through the “political function.” Authority is exercised through a set of institutions that we call the state. The state also possesses sovereignty, meaning no other institution rules over it. Sovereignty refers to the ability to exercise supreme authority independently of any other superior.
Forms of Government
- Monarchy: Rule by one.
- Oligarchy: Rule by a few, and always the same individuals.
- Democracy: Rule by
Democracy and Law: Understanding Political Systems
Item 6: Democracy
Democracy is a way of organizing political power to prevent injustice and discrimination. It is a word formed from *demos* “people” and *cratos* “power”. It is the power of the people.
- Direct democracy is a democracy that makes all citizens decide on a matter, for example, by referendum.
- Indirect democracy is the kind of democracy through which voting shall elect a representative.
Dictatorship is the political system in which a tyrant comes to power and governs without a party, occupying
Read MoreUnderstanding Authority and Political Participation
Authority
Authority: The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience, drawing on legality. It is the right to command, direct, be heard, and obeyed by all.
Stories
a) Institutions or organizations dating from more power: Military authorities, the military, state authority.
b) Faculty authority or jurisdiction of a charge: The authority of the Head of State, the Mayor of a town, or the Army General.
c) The very persons who have a fact: Esperanza Aguirre, JL. R. Zapatero.
Types
Read MorePower, Authority, and Legitimacy: A Political Analysis
Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
Force is the power of coercion used to exercise civilian control and domination over citizens. Authority is the reason or basis that justifies such force. Authority serves to legitimize and rationalize political power and those who wield it. Power and authority are two aspects of power.
On one hand, power is seen as absolutely necessary to regulate human society. On the other hand, it is perceived as a form of control and domination over citizens.
Legitimation of Political
Read MoreUnderstanding Federalism, Executive, and Legislative Powers
Federalism
Federalism is a system of government where a group of members are bound together by a covenant with a governing representative head. It involves a central authority; however, member states retain certain powers. This power distribution varies:
- Low Central Power: Spain
- Middle Central Power: US
- Strong Central Power: Germany
Federalism rests on certain principles:
- The concern that the legislature may have too much power.
- The concern that the executive may have too much power.
- A Bill of Rights should