Chapter 1 - Democracy & Rule of Law Flashcards
Democracy is…
A form of government in which people govern themselves. It originated in ancient Athens in the 5th century BCE. Its name is from the greek words demos, which means ‘people’, and kratos, which means ‘power’
Majority Rule
Majority Rule is the idea that ‘the will of the majority’ of citizens should be reflected in government and law.
Rule of Law
This is the principle by which everyone is subject to the law. All people, governments, corporations and other entities are subject to the law regardless of power, wealth or any other quality.
Direct Democracy
A system of government in which citizens govern themselves by personal participation in law making.
Liberal Democracy
A system of government which is based on both popular sovereignty and the respect and protection of rights
Representative Democracy
A form of government in which the people are sovereign, but are represented in gov by elected members of an assembly acting as their representatives.
Federalism
A system of government in which sovereignty is geographically divided between 1 central and 2 or more regional governments, each sovereign within their own sphere. There are different types of Federalism which indicate the power distribution between the levels of government. Coercive Federalism is where federal has more power than the states. Co-operative is where both levels work together to achieve outcomes and finally Co-ordinate fed where each level is independent and autonomous of the other
Separation of Powers
The separation of powers is the organization of the powers of government in such a way that prevents the concentration of power in the hands of one leader or an elite group.
Checks
Limits to Power
Balances
An equivalence of different types of power
Jobs of the three branches
Judges decide on how the law applies in specific cases and makes legally binding decisions.
Executive (ministers) administer, or carry out the law.
Parliamentarians (Legislature) creates the law.
