Division Of Power
There are three branches in a democracy namely executive, legislative, and judiciary. The legislature is responsible for framing and passing laws. The executive body performs the task of executing laws in the country. The judiciary is deemed to be independent of both the other branches. It ensures that laws made by the ruling party are in line with the constitution. If not, then, the judiciary has the power to declare the law as null and void and thus unconstitutional to be executed. This feature of ‘independence of the judiciary’ or ‘judicial review’ safeguards citizens and settles disputes arising between citizens and the government.
Democracy is a Government of People, For the People and By the People
‘Democracy’ is a type of government that is elected by the country’s people. This term has been derived from two Greek words – ‘Demos’ meaning people and ‘Kratos’ meaning rule. Literally translated as ‘rule of people’, such a form of government includes a set of specific government institutions headed by freely elected representatives. Practically, it goes beyond its theoretical definition. At an advanced level, it offers its citizens various rights, freedoms, and other ideals. Democracy rests upon the fundamental principle of majority rule. The term majority rule refers to the most preferred party or leader by adult citizens. A successful democracy largely depends upon the participation of its citizens in expressing their views and criticism of the actions of the elected government. Some of the key elements of democracy are the active participation of citizens, the rule of law, freedom of speech and expression, and a well-structured electoral system.
There are certain features of a democracy that enable its citizens to live a life of dignity. Democracy depends upon the roles and responsibilities of its citizens. Citizens are both active and passive participants in a democracy.
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