Do I Need To Be A Registered Democrat To Vote In Massachusetts In The Democratic Primary?

No i is built-in a good citizen, no nation is born a commonwealth. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must exist included from nativity.
Kofi Annan

What is Democracy?

The give-and-take democracy comes from the Greek words "demos", significant people, and "kratos" meaning ability; so democracy can exist thought of as "power of the people": a way of governing which depends on the will of the people.

There are then many different models of democratic authorities around the globe that information technology is sometimes easier to empathise the idea of democracy in terms of what it definitely is not. Republic, then, is not autocracy or dictatorship, where ane person rules; and it is not oligarchy, where a small segment of society rules. Properly understood, republic should not even be "rule of the majority", if that ways that minorities' interests are ignored completely. A democracy, at least in theory, is government on behalf of all the people, according to their "volition".

Question: If republic is government by the people, are in that location whatever existent democracies in the world?

Why republic?

The idea of democracy derives its moral forcefulness – and popular appeal – from ii key principles:
1. Individual autonomy: The thought that no-one should be subject field to rules which have been imposed by others. People should be able to control their ain lives (inside reason).
ii. Equality: The idea that everyone should have the aforementioned opportunity to influence the decisions that bear upon people in society.

These principles are intuitively highly-seasoned, and they assist to explain why commonwealth is so popular. Of course we feel it is fair that we should take as much chance as anyone else to decide on common rules!

The issues ascend when we consider how the principles can be put into do, because we need a mechanism for deciding how to address conflicting views. Because information technology offers a simple mechanism, republic tends to be "dominion of the bulk"; only rule of the majority can mean that some people'due south interests are never represented. A more than genuine mode of representing everyone'south interests is to apply decision making by consensus, where the aim is to find mutual points of interest.

Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of making decisions by consensus, compared to using majority dominion? How are decisions fabricated in your youth group?

The evolution of commonwealth

Ancient history

The ancient Greeks are credited with creating the very first commonwealth, although at that place were almost certainly earlier examples of primitive democracy in other parts of the world. The Greek model was established in the 5th century BC, in the city of Athens. Among a sea of autocracies and oligarchies – which were the normal forms of authorities at the time – Athenian commonwealth stood out.
Withal, compared to how we sympathize democracy today, the Athenian model had two important differences:

1. Theirs was a form of direct democracy – in other words, instead of electing representatives to govern on the people'southward behalf, "the people" themselves met, discussed questions of government, then implemented policy.

2. Such a system was possible partly because "the people" was a very express category. Those who could participate directly were a pocket-size part of the population, since women, slaves, aliens – and of form, children – were excluded. The numbers who participated were still far more than than in a mod democracy: peradventure l,000 males engaged straight in politics, out of a population of around 300,000 people.

Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of directly democracy?

Democracy in the modern globe

Today in that location are equally many unlike forms of democracy as there are democratic nations in the world. No two systems are exactly the same and no one organization can be taken as a "model". There are presidential and parliamentary democracies, democracies that are federal or unitary, democracies that use a proportional voting system, and ones that utilize a majoritarian system, democracies which are also monarchies, so on.

One affair that unites modern systems of democracy, and which also distinguishes them from the ancient model, is the use of representatives of the people. Instead of taking function directly in law making, modern democracies use elections to select representatives who are sent by the people to govern on their behalf. Such a system is known as representative republic. It tin lay some claim to being "autonomous" considering it is, at least to some degree, based on the two principles in a higher place: equality of all (one person – one vote), and the correct of every individual to some degree of personal autonomy.

Question: What should an elected official do to brand sure he or she is representing properly those who elected him or her?

Improving republic

People often talk near countries "condign" democracies, once they start to take relatively gratis and open up elections. Merely republic includes far more than than only elections, and information technology really makes more sense to think almost the will of the people idea, rather than virtually institutional or voting structures, when nosotros are trying to assess how democratic a land is. Republic is improve understood as something that nosotros tin can always accept more – or less – of, rather than something that either is, or is not.

Democratic systems can nearly always be made more inclusive, more reflective of more than people's wishes, and more responsive to their influence. In other words, there is room to improve the "people" office of democracy, by including more people in decision making; there is also room to better the "ability" or "will" part of commonwealth, past giving the people more existent ability. Struggles for democracy throughout history have commonly concentrated on ane or the other of these elements.

Today, in almost countries of the world, women do have the vote but the struggle has been won only relatively recently. New Zealand is said to exist the first land in the earth to have introduced universal suffrage, in 1893, although even here, women were just granted the right to stand for parliament in 1919. Many countries have granted women the correct to vote first of all, and only several years later, have allowed them to represent elected office. Saudi arabia has only  granted women the ability to vote in elections in 2011.
Today fifty-fifty in established democracies, there are other sections of guild, which commonly include immigrants, migrant workers, prisoners and children, who are not given the right to vote, even though many of them might pay taxes and all are obliged to obey the laws of the land.

Prisoners and voting rights

Prisoners are allowed to vote in 18 European countries.
Prisoners' rights to vote are restricted in 20 countries, depending on such things equally length of sentence or severity of the criminal offence committed, or the blazon of election.
In 9 European countries, prisoners are not allowed to vote at all.
Prisoners' voting rights, Commons Library Standard Note SN/PC/01764, last updated in 2012, http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN01764
In the example of Hirst 5. the United Kingdom in 2005, the European Court constitute that the universal ban on prisoners from voting in the UK was a violation of Article 3, Protocol 1 of the European Convention, which says that:
"The High Contracting Parties undertake to concord free elections at reasonable intervals past secret ballot, under weather which volition ensure the free
expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature."

Question: Tin can excluding sure sectors of lodge from the democratic process always be justified?

Democracy and participation

The well-nigh obvious ways to participate in government are to vote, or to stand for part and become a representative of the people. Democracy, however, is about far more than just voting, and at that place are numerous other ways of engaging with politics and government. The effective functioning of republic, in fact, depends on ordinary people using these other means every bit much as possible. If people only vote once every 4 or 5 years – or do not vote at all – and if they do zilch else in the acting, then government actually cannot be said to be "by the people". It is hard to say that such a system is a democracy.
You can read in more detail about ways of participating in the section on Citizenship and Participation. Here are a few ideas – perhaps the minimum that might be needed for members of parliament to be able to act democratically, on your behalf:
Stay informed about what is happening, what is being decided "in the proper noun of the people", and in particular, well-nigh the decisions and actions being taken past your own representative.
Brand your opinions known – either to your representatives in parliament, or to the media, or to groups working on detail issues. Without feedback from "the people", leaders can only lead according to their own will and priorities.
Where decisions appear to exist undemocratic, or against human rights, or fifty-fifty when you lot just feel strongly about them, make efforts to become your voice heard, so that the policies may be reconsidered. The most effective manner of doing this is probably by joining with other people so that your voice is louder.
Vote, when the possibility arises. If people practise non vote, then members are effectively unaccountable.

Question: Take you always participated in whatsoever of these ways (or others)?

Republic and Human Rights

The connection betwixt human rights and democracy is deep, and goes both ways: each is in some way dependent on the other, and incomplete without the other.

First of all, the values of equality and autonomy are also homo rights values, and the right to have function in government is itself a human right. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Homo Rights (UDHR) tells us that "The will of the people shall be the basis of the authorisation of government": so democracy is in fact the only form of government which is consistent with homo rights.

However, a "democracy" is also incomplete without a thorough-going respect for human rights. Taking function in government, in a genuine way, is about impossible to practice without people having other bones rights respected. Consider the following, as examples:
1. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (UDHR, Article eighteen). This is ane of the first rights which are essential in a democracy: people demand to be able to think freely, to concur whatsoever beliefs are important to them, without beingness punished for doing then. Governments throughout history have tried to limit this right because they are agape that if people think virtually other forms of government, this will endanger the current system. So they have locked people away simply for thinking the "wrong" thoughts. (Such people are known as prisoners of conscience.) Still, a society without a pluralism of views is not just intolerant; information technology as well limits its own possibilities to develop in new and possibly improved directions.

2. Freedom of Expression (UDHR, Article 19). It is important not just to exist able to think what you want, but also to be able to express that opinion out loud, whatsoever that opinion may exist. If people are prevented from discussing their views with other people, or presenting them in the media, how tin they "take part" in regime? Their stance has essentially been discounted from the possible alternatives nether consideration.

iii. Freedom of peaceful assembly and clan (UDHR Article 20). This right allows yous to talk over ideas with others who want to do then, to form involvement groups or lobbying groups, or to gather together for the purposes of protest confronting decisions you disagree with. Perhaps such an activity is sometimes inconvenient for governments; however it is essential if dissimilar views are to be made known and taken into account. And that is role of what democracy is all about.

These are just three human rights which are intrinsically bound upwards with the thought of democracy, but any infringement of other human rights will also touch the extent to which unlike people are able to have office in regime. Poverty, poor health, or the lack of a home, can all go far more difficult for someone to have their voice heard, and diminish the bear on of their choice, compared with others. Such infringements of rights almost certainly make it impossible for the person concerned to exist elected to government role.

Question: How well are the three "democratic" rights (listed to a higher place) respected in your country?

Problems with republic

Voter apathy

For a number of years, at that place has been concern about the status of democracy, perhaps peculiarly in the more established democracies. Much of this is based on the decreasing levels of citizen participation at elections, which announced to indicate a lack of interest and involvement on the role of citizens. A low voter turnout calls into question the legitimacy of so-chosen democratically elected governments, which are, in some countries, actually elected by a minority of the total electorate.

Elections and apathy

Turnout at elections to the European Parliament has fallen every yr since the first elections in 1979. In 2009, only 43% of the electorate used their vote, and in some countries, turnout cruel as depression as 34%.
In national elections throughout Europe, turnout ranges from just over 50% in some countries, to over 90% in others.
Some countries, for example, Hellenic republic and Belgium in Europe, make voting compulsory. In such countries turnout is obviously much higher than the average for countries where voting is optional.

Question: What proportion of the electorate voted in your country's most recent elections?

Although it is undoubtedly a trouble that people are increasingly failing to vote in elections, in that location are some studies which signal that participation in different forms may actually be on the increase, for example, force per unit area groups, civic initiatives, consultative organs, and so on. These forms of participation are just every bit of import to the constructive functioning of commonwealth as voter turnout at elections, if non more so.

Democracy and civic participation

The so-called Arab Leap, where masses of people – many of them young – took to the streets in order to express their dissatisfaction with the authorities, has shown a new level of civic participation in countries which have not traditionally been regarded equally democracies. In Europe besides, even in the more traditional democracies, "people power" appears to accept found a new lease of life: students take protested in many countries against moves by governments to impose fees on pedagogy. Trade unions have brought people onto the streets to protestation well-nigh the touch of economic cuts. In addition, autonomous groups of activists have invented new and creative forms of demonstrating confronting climate modify, the power of large corporations, the withdrawal of central state services, and also against oppressive measures of policing.

Rule of the Majority

There are two problems that are more intricately connected to the notion of representative democracy, and these business minority interests. The showtime problem is that minority interests are often not represented through the electoral system: this may happen if their numbers are also few to accomplish the minimum level necessary for whatever representation. The second problem is that even if their numbers are represented in the legislative body, they volition take a minority of representatives and these may not therefore be able to summon upward the necessary votes to defeat the bulk representatives. For these reasons, democracy is frequently referred to as "rule of the majority".

Majority dominion, if not backed up by a guarantee of human rights for all, can lead to decisions which are harmful to minorities, and the fact that these decisions are the "will of the people" can provide no justification. The basic interests of minorities as well as majorities demand to exist safeguarded in any democratic organization past adherence to human rights principles, reinforced past an effective legal mechanism, whatever the volition of the majority may be.

Question: If the majority of the population is in favour of depriving certain people their human rights, do you think "the people should decide"?

The rise of nationalism

A related problem is the worrying trends across Europe towards support for farthermost right parties. These parties accept frequently played on nationalist feelings, and take targeted "not-indigenous" members of the population, particularly asylum seekers, refugees, and members of religious minorities, and sometimes in fierce ways. Equally a defence, such parties often appeal to their support among the population, and the autonomous principle that they correspond the opinions of a large number of people. However, where a party advocates violence in any grade, and where it fails to respect the human rights of every member of the population, it has lilliputian right to appeal to democratic principles.

Depending on the extent of the problem, and the particular cultural context, information technology may be necessary to limit the right to freedom of expression of certain groups, despite the importance of this correct to the democratic process. Almost countries, for example, have laws against inciting racial hatred. This is regarded past the European Court equally an adequate limitation of freedom of expression, justified by the need to protect the rights of other members of society, or the structure of society itself.

Question: Is nationalism any different from racism?

Young People and Republic

Young people ofttimes practice not even have the vote, so how can they exist a part of the democratic procedure?
Many people would reply this question by saying that immature people are not ready to be part of the process, and that only when they are 18 (or at any historic period their land gives them the vote) will they be able to participate.

In fact, many young people are politically very agile long before they go the vote, and in some ways, the impact of such action can be stronger than the single vote they receive later – and may or may not determine to use – once every 4 or 5 years. Politicians are often anxious to appeal to the youth vote, so they may be more probable to listen to the concerns of young people.

Many young people are engaged in environmental groups, or in other protest groups campaigning confronting war, against corporate exploitation, or against child labour. Perhaps one of the virtually important ways that immature people can begin to be engaged in community life and political action is at a local level: here they volition be more enlightened of the particular issues that are of concern to them and those with whom they come into contact, and they will be meliorate able to have a straight impact. Democracy does not merely bargain with national or international issues: it needs to begin in our own neighbourhoods!
Youth organisations are one of the ways through which immature people experience and practise democracy and, therefore, take an important role in democracy, provided, of grade, that they are independent and democratic in the style they role!

Question: If a 16-year-erstwhile is considered mature enough to marry and get a job, should he or she not exist able to vote?

Work of the Quango of Europe

Democracy is 1 of the core values of the Quango of Europe, together with human rights and the rule of law. The Council of Europe has a number of programmes and publications looking at the improvement and futurity of democracy. In 2005, the Forum for the Futurity of Democracy was established by the Tertiary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. The aim of the Forum is to "strengthen democracy, political freedoms and citizens' participation through the substitution of ideas, data and examples of best practices". A coming together of the Forum takes place every year, and brings together about 400 participants from the 47 Council of Europe member States and observer States.

Support for development and implementation of standards for republic is carried by the European Committee for Democracy through Law – also known as the Venice Commission – which is the Council of Europe'southward advisory body on ramble matters.  The commission has been particularly active in assisting in the drafting of new constitutions or laws on ramble courts, electoral codes, minority rights and the legal framework relating to autonomous institutions.

In addition to this standard-setting work, the Council of Europe promotes democracy and its values by programmes on democratic participation, education for autonomous citizenship and youth participation, because democracy is much more than voting in elections!

Source: https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/democracy

Posted by: goldsteinthempling.blogspot.com

Share this post