FAQs on Key Features of Democracy - What is Democracy? Why Democracy?, Class 9 SST Civics Video Lecture
1. What are the key features of democracy? |
|
Ans. The key features of democracy include:
- Rule of law: Democracy ensures that all individuals and institutions are subject to the law, promoting equality and fairness.
- Popular sovereignty: In a democracy, the power resides with the people who elect their representatives and participate in decision-making processes.
- Political equality: Democracy provides equal political rights and opportunities to all citizens, regardless of their social, economic, or cultural backgrounds.
- Separation of powers: The power is divided among different branches of government – legislative, executive, and judiciary – to prevent concentration of power.
- Protection of human rights: Democracy upholds and protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, ensuring their dignity and autonomy.
2. What is the meaning of democracy? |
|
Ans. Democracy is a form of government in which the power lies with the people. It is derived from the Greek words "demos" meaning "people" and "kratos" meaning "rule" or "power." In a democratic system, citizens have the right to choose their representatives through elections and participate in decision-making processes. Democracy promotes equality, protects human rights, and allows for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiation.
3. Why is democracy important? |
|
Ans. Democracy is important for several reasons:
- Ensuring individual rights: Democracy protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, such as the freedom of speech, expression, and religion. It promotes equality and prevents discrimination.
- Promoting citizen participation: Democracy allows citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes, giving them a sense of ownership and accountability in governance.
- Encouraging peaceful resolution of conflicts: Democracy provides a platform for dialogue, negotiation, and peaceful resolution of conflicts, preventing violence and promoting stability.
- Preventing abuse of power: Democracy ensures a system of checks and balances, preventing the concentration of power and reducing the risk of authoritarian rule or tyranny.
- Fostering economic development: Democracy promotes economic growth and development by encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment, as well as providing a stable and predictable environment for businesses.
4. What are the different types of democracy? |
|
Ans. There are various types of democracy, including:
- Direct democracy: In this type, citizens directly participate in decision-making processes, such as through referendums or town hall meetings.
- Representative democracy: Most common in modern nations, citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf in a legislative body.
- Parliamentary democracy: The executive branch is accountable to the legislative branch, and the head of government is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the parliament.
- Presidential democracy: The executive and legislative branches are separate, and the head of government is directly elected by the citizens.
- Constitutional democracy: It is characterized by a written constitution that outlines the powers and limitations of the government, protecting individual rights and ensuring the rule of law.
5. How does democracy promote equality? |
|
Ans. Democracy promotes equality in several ways:
- Political equality: Democracy provides equal political rights and opportunities to all citizens, regardless of their social, economic, or cultural backgrounds. Every citizen has the right to vote, run for office, and participate in decision-making processes.
- Rule of law: Democracy ensures that all individuals, regardless of their social status, are subject to the law. The law applies equally to all, promoting fairness and justice.
- Protection of human rights: Democracy upholds and protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, such as the right to life, liberty, and equality before the law. It prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or any other grounds.
- Social and economic policies: In a democratic system, governments are accountable to the people and are expected to promote policies that reduce socioeconomic inequalities and provide equal opportunities for all citizens.
- Access to education and information: Democracy promotes access to education and information, empowering citizens with knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the democratic process and make informed decisions.