Democracy And Citizenship Flashcards
(38 cards)
What was apartheid?
Apartheid was a time when:
People who were not white were not allowed to live, study or work where they wanted.
They could not move around freely or mix freely with white people.
People who were not white were not allowed to vote
When did apartheid end?
1994, when South Africa became a democracy
What is democracy?
A system of government in a country where everyone can vote to elect the leaders
What is voting?
Showing which person or people you want to choose
What is “government”?
The group of people in charge of a country
What are democratic elections?
The process through which all adult citizens have the right to vote
What are citizens?
People of a country
How do people usually choose their leaders?
By voting
In a democracy, the people with the most votes will…
…form the largest part of the government
What happened to the people who fought against the apartheid government?
The people were tortured and put in jail, they were forced to leave the country, and many people also lost their lives
What is a political party?
A group of people who have similar ideas about how a country should be run
What is a ballot paper?
A page given to a voter on which to mark which party or person they are voting for
Each ______ ______ decides who its leaders will be.
Political party
How often are elections held in SA?
Every 5 years
What do the political parties do in the weeks before the elections?
They all try to convince the voters in the country to vote for their party
How do political parties encourage people to vote for them?
They put up posters, send out flyers and have meetings
What happens on the day of the election?
People can vote for the party they want to support
How do people vote?
They are given a ballot paper and make a mark next to their choice. They can only mark one choice.
What happens after people cast their votes?
The ballot papers are counted and everyone is told how many votes each party received. The results are announced in newspapers, on television and on the radio
Which party lead SA during apartheid?
The National Party (NP)
What fraction of the 19 million people who voted in 1994 voted for the ANC?
Almost two-thirds
What is constitution?
A set of the most important laws of the country. It describes certain rights and responsibilities that people have. It states how South Africans should treat one another. It also states how the government should work
How long did it take to change the constitution when SA became a democracy?
2 years (1994-1996)
How does the constitution differ from the other laws of the country?
The constitution cannot easily be changed by the political party in power
