Core elements of a democratic state (I): Elections

A democracy is characterized by the fact that all state authority is derived from the people. The people decide. This sounds simple, but how does it work in practice? To help us understand this, we will be returning to our TV family, introduced in basic course 1, which is trying to decide who will be responsible for the family's viewing.

Democracy represents such a system and features regular elections and majority decisions. The elected representatives are responsible for making decisions for everyone including the losing minority. You could say that the winning party decides what everyone else will (have to) watch on TV.

By voting for a candidate and/or political party, voters are actually deciding to support the political program, which that candidate or party would like to implement. In doing so every voter expresses their opinion and belief about the direction they feel the state should take. To ensure that the winning party is actually able to govern, voters give up their battery with their vote. The winning candidate or party is given the authority to rule for a specified period. This right to rule is legitimized by the handing over of the batteries, or rather through elections. Indeed, this is what is meant when it is said that all state power is derived from the people.

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Elections are at the heart of democracy. Some of the important aspects of democratic elections are addressed in the following passages:

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Just how the election works in detail and how the votes are translated into parliamentary seats is set down in a nation's electoral law. Every nation has its own different electoral law. This, in turn, has a huge influence on the structure of the government and the nation's party-political system. All democratic nations, however, do have one thing in common and that is that governments can only rule for a set maximum period. Therefore, elections have to be held regularly within a certain period. The people must be given the opportunity to vote a government out of office, when they are no longer satisfied with the job it's doing.

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It is important to note that not all elections are democratic. Elections in a democratic state follow a kind of quality-criteria system, which has to be complied with to ensure that the election is democratic. In general, democratic elections have to be equal, secret and free.

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Those wanting to do something to change their situation in society have to make a decision and, indeed, even more. If one's own opinion is to be capable of obtaining a majority and if it is to win at an election, it is important to promote it actively. Indeed, choosing a member of parliament is not the only way for citizens to promote their opinion, plenty of opportunity also exists in other areas of daily life. Responsible citizens are essential for a living democracy and they seize the opportunity to take part.

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Subjects:  Human Rights  I  Democracy  I  Parties  I  Examples  I  Europe  I  Globalisation  I  United Nations  I  Sustainability

Methods:    Teaching Politics    II    Peace Education    II    Methods