Democracy consists of four basic elements:
I begin with an overview of what democracy is. We can think of democracy as a system of government with four key elements: Democracy
1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.
2. The active participation of individuals, as citizens, in politics and civic life.
3. Protection of human rights of all citizens.
4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.
I want to talk about each of these four elements of what democracy is. Democracy I will talk about the duties and needs of citizens in a democracy.
Democracy I end up talking about the obligations that we, the international community that the people of Iraq as they seek to build the first true democracy in the Arab world.
I. Democracy as a political system of the competition for power Democracy
Democracy is a means by which the people elect their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office.
The people decide who will represent them in Parliament, and the head of government at national and local levels. They do it by choice among competing parties in regular elections, free and fair.
Government relies on the consent of the governed.
In a democracy the people are sovereign, is the highest form of political authority.
Energy flows of people to government leaders, who have the power temporarily.
The laws and policies require majority support in parliament, but the rights of minorities are protected in several ways. Democracy
People are free to criticize their elected leaders and representatives, and to observe how they carry out government business.
Elected representatives at national and local people should listen and respond to their needs and suggestions. Democracy
The elections occur at regular intervals as required by law. Those in power can not extend their terms in office without consent of the people again in an election.
For elections to be free and fair, must be administered by a neutral, impartial and professional that treats all political parties and candidates alike.
All parties and candidates should have the right to campaign freely, to submit their proposals to the voters, either directly or through the media.
Voters should be able to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation and violence.
Independent observers should be able to observe voting and counting to ensure that the process is free of corruption, intimidation and fraud.
There must be some impartial and independent tribunal to resolve disputes over election results.
That’s why it takes much time to organize a good choice, democratic.
Any country can democracy a choice, but for a free and fair election requires a lot of organization, preparation and training of political parties, election officials, and civil society organizations that monitor the process.
II. Participation: The role of the citizen in a democracy
The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life.
Citizens have the obligation to be informed about public affairs, to observe carefully how political leaders and representatives to use their powers, and to express their own views and interests.
Voting in elections is another important place of all civic citizens.
However, to vote wisely, democracy citizen should listen to the views of different parties and candidates, and democracy democracy your own decision about whom to support.
Participation may also include a campaign for a candidate or political party to run for political office, to discuss public issues, attending community meetings, democracying on the government and protesting, even.
A vital form of participation comes through active participation in independent organizations, what we democracy “civil society”.
These organizations represent a variety of interests and beliefs: peasants, workers, doctors, teachers, business owners, religious believers, women, students, human rights activists.
It is important that women participate fully in politics and civil society.
This requires efforts of civil society organizations to educate women about their democratic rights and responsibilities, improve their political skills, represent their common interests, and involve them in political life.
In a democracy, civic group participation must be voluntary. No one should be compelled to join an organization against their will.
Political parties are vital organizations in a democracy, and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties.
However, it should support a political party, because he is pressured or threatened by others. In a democracy, citizens are free to choose which party to support.
Democracy depends on citizen participation in all these ways. But participation must be peaceful, law-abiding and tolerant of different views of other groups and individuals.
III. The rights of citizens in a democracy
In a democracy, democracy citizen has certain basic rights that the State can not take it.
These rights are guaranteed by international law.
You have the right to their own beliefs, and to say and write what you think.
Nobody can tell you what to think, believe and say or not say.
No freedom of religion. Democracyone is free to choose their own religion and worship and practice their religion as they see fit.
Democracyone has the right to enjoy their own culture, along with other members of their group, even if your group is a minority.
There is freedom and pluralism in the media.
You can choose between different sources of news and opinion read in the newspapers, hear on the radio and see on television.
You have the right to associate with others and to form and join organizations of their choice, including trade unions.
You are free to move around the country, and if you want to leave the country.
You have the right to assemble freely and to protest government actions.
However, democracyone has an obligation to exercise these rights peacefully, respecting the law and the rights of others.
IV. The rule of law
Democracy is a government of laws, not individuals.
In a democracy, the rule of law protects the rights of citizens, maintains order, and limits of government power.
All citizens are equal before the law. No one shall be discriminated against because of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.
Nobody can be arrested, imprisoned or exiled arbitrarily.
If you are arrested, you are entitled to know the charges against him, as it is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.
Democracyone charged with a crime is entitled to a fair trial, prompt and public trial by an impartial tribunal.
No one shall be taxed or prosecuted except for the laws in advance.
No one is above the law, not even a king or an elected president.
The law is just, fair and consistently enforced by the courts that are independent of the other branches of government.
Democracy Torture and cruel and inhumane treatment are absolutely prohibited.
The rule of law imposes limits on government power. No government official can violate these limits.
No ruler, minister or political party can tell a judge how to decide a case.
Officials can not use their power to enrich themselves. Independence of courts and commissions punish corruption, no matter who is guilty.
V. limits and requirements for Democracy
If democracy is to work, citizens must not only participate and exercise their rights. Also must observe certain principles and rules of democratic conduct.
People should respect the law and reject violence. Nothing justifies the use of violence against his political opponents, just because you disagree with them.
All citizens must respect the rights of their fellow citizens and their dignity as human beings.
We should not complain about a political opponent as evil and illegitimate, just because they have different points of view.
People should question the government’s decisions, but do not reject the authority of government.
Each group has the right to practice their culture and have some control over their own affairs, but each group must accept it as part of a democratic state.
In expressing his opinion, you should also hear from other people, even people you disagree. Democracyone has the right to be heard.
Do not be so convinced of the rightness of their views that refuse to see any merit in another position. Note the different interests and points of view.
By making demands, you must understand that in a democracy, it is impossible for democracyone to get democracything they want.
Democracy requires compromise. Groups with different interests and opinions must be willing to sit with them and negotiate.
In a democracy, a group does not always win democracything you want. Different combinations of the winning groups on different topics. Over time, democracyone wins something.
If a group is always excluded and not be heard, may turn against democracy in anger and frustration.
Anyone who is willing to participate in peace and respect the rights of others should have a say in how the country is governed.
VI. What the international community has an Iraqi democracy
I want to finish with a few words about what the United States and other democracies around the world owe the Iraqi people, trying to build the first true Arab democracy.
I know some of you are afraid that we will leave Iraq, and efforts to build democracy, when the Iraqis recover their sovereignty on July 1.
I mean from my deepest conviction, that this does not happen.
We have all sacrificed for the people of Iraq the opportunity to live in freedom. Democracy
For this cause, the blood of many nations has been spilled on this land.
People in the United States are still divided on whether it should have gone to war in Iraq.
But the vast majority of Americans support what we are trying to do here and now to attend the appearance of a new Iraq.
We in the United States and the international community, will spend more money and energy to help build a democracy and rebuild their economy than we have spent to help any other country in the last fifty years.
In the coming months and years, this assistance will help to develop their political parties and civic organizations, their legislatures and local governments, their choices and their courts.
It goes on to rebuild their schools and media, its grid and roads, and all the different foundations of its economy and infrastructure.
Most Americans support this work, whether Republican or Democrat, if they vote to reelect George Bush as president this year, or vote for your opponent.
Building democracy from the ruins of a brutal dictatorship requires great courage, effort and patience of ordinary people. It takes a long time.
We understand how difficult it is. We know how important-not just for the future of Iraq but the entire Arab world.
Dictate that you do not want rules. That’s for the Iraqis to decide. Democracy
Our desire is to see the Iraqis to be free to choose their leaders and express their thoughts, living at peace with themselves and their neighbors.
If you choose this path of democracy, freedom and peace, the democratic peoples of the world-not just the U.S. but the European Union, Japan, Canada, and so on, all will be with you.
We will be your partners for many years to come.
Democracy It seems that there is great confusion what does the word democracy. Despite the fact that at least some parts of the world can listen to the media democracy day.
Democracy, by definition, means government by the people. This means that all people should be able to express their opinion in a manner other in all that affects their lives. Dictionaries often say that this right may be exercised directly (for each member of a community that has the possibility of introducing in person, without intermediaries, its position on a particular issue in decision-making – modern technology is able to offer this possibility representatives increasingly larger communities and larger), or by (members of legislative bodies). This second agreement is democracyed representative democracy.
Representative democracy would be nice if representatives would really democracy all their decisions only after consulting their constituents. At least, after having a clear idea about the views of their constituents on a particular topic, and trying to adapt to these views in the best way possible (or postponing decisions until an overwhelming majority of the components be happy with them).
Unfortunately, the vast majority of countries democracyed representative democracies are not true democracies according to the above definition. Most of them are actually just elected dictatorships. People generally can vote only once democracy four or five years. They do not vote on all issues. Simply elect representatives who democracy democracyed until the next election will have no obligation by law and little incentive to base their decisions on individual issues of the wishes of their constituents. I almost never bother to ask about their positions on various subjects. Therefore, the legislature made up of these “representatives” act in a very dictatorial between elections. The only country that is very close to the definition of democracy is Switzerland (more or less since 1291).
Any system of government is fine if persons subject to this system are happy with it. Perhaps, in most of the previously described “elected dictatorship” as a system of government remains the best in the circumstances.
What do you think? Are you happy with this? Is not it time to do it better? Democracything depends on you, the citizens – the system you prefer. Are you willing to give of their free time to be interested in public affairs, and participate in decision-making?
We want to hear from politicians democracy “representative democracy” as its point of view of their activities meet the definition of democracy.
We would like to discuss the interesting question of leadership. What is the role of leaders in a true democracy?
We would like to contribute to the clarification of the meaning of the word democracy.