PBL 5: Democracy

Question 1

Definition of democracy

Answer 1

Modern political democracy is a system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and cooperation of their elected representatives.

Question 2

Rulers

Answer 2

persons who occupy specialized authority roles and can give legitimate commands to others: in a democracy, practices exist that hold rulers accountable for their actions

Question 3

Public Realm (PR)

Answer 3

the scope/reach of a state, which can vary greatly between democracies
-liberalism: PR is low because state involvement is low, (freedom)
-socialism: PR is high because state involvement is high, (solidarity)

Question 4

citizens

Answer 4

the extent to which citizens are involved in the political process determine the extent of democracy.

Question 5

fair elections

Answer 5

the most popular definition of democracy, must occur intermittently, and be fair and competitive

Question 6

majority rule

Answer 6

any governing body that makes decisions by combining the votes of more than half of the electorate democratic.

Question 7

problem with majority rule

Answer 7

when numbers meet intensities: choices made by a properly assembled majority regularly make decisions that harm minorities

Question 8

cooperation

Answer 8

actors must voluntarily make collective decisions binding on the polity as a whole

Question 9

Robert Dahl: procedural norms

Answer 9

1. control over gov. decisions about policies is constitutionally rested in elected officials
2. elected officials are chosen in frequently and fairly conducted elections in which coercion is uncommon
3. practically all adults have the right to run for elective offices in the government
4. practically all adults have the right to vote
5. Citizens have a right to seek out alternative sources of information (which exist and are protected by law)
6. Citizens have the right to express themselves as on political matters without the danger of severe punishment
7. Citizens have a right to form relatively independent associations or organisations including independent political parties/interest groups.

Question 10

Schmitter and Karl 2 Extra proposed procedural norms

Answer 10

8. Popularly elected officials must be able to exercise their constitutional powers without being subjected to overriding opposition from unelected officials (military, civil servants, etc)
9. The polity must be self-governing: it must be able to act without constraints imposed by other overarching political systems

Question 11

democratic myopia

Answer 11

short term vision in political execution in democracy

Question 12

how democracies differ

Answer 12

1. consensus: all citizens may not agree on the substantive goals of political action/state role
2. participation: all citizens are legally able to take part in politics; not all will do so
3. access: all individuals and groups should have an equal opportunity to express their preferences; rulers may not take things into equal consideration
4. responsiveness: following the citizens’ preferred course of action; rulers may deviate
   5.majority rule: decisions must be made by an elected majority
5. parliamentary sovereignty: legislature may not be the only body that can make rules or even the final authority
6. party government: rulers may not be nominated, promoted, disciplined in their activities by well-organ zed political parties
7. pluralism: political processes may not be based on a multiplicity of overlapping groups
8. Federalism: territorial division of authority may not involve multiple levels and local authorities
9. presidentialism: CEO may not be a single person and may not be citizens direct choice
10. checks and balances: not necessary that the different branches of government will be systematically opposed to each other

Question 13

what democracy is NOT

Answer 13

1. more economically efficient
2. more administratively efficient
3. more orderly, consensual, stable, governable
4. more open economies

Question 14

parliamentary committees (Graham Smith):

Answer 14

committee in parliament with an explicit mission to promote long-term thinking (e.g. UK, Finland, Scotland)

Question 15

rethinking electoral rules:

Answer 15

1. make electoral cycles longer
   challenge: less opportunities to remove government
2. disenfranchising older voters
3. ensure presence of legislators who are more likely to protect and promote the interests of future generations
4. sub-majority rules