Principles of Liberal Democracy
Characteristic
Brief
A Real or
or Basic
Description (in
Theoretical
Principle of
your own
Example of
Liberal
words)
This
Democracy
Characteristic
or Principle
An Opposite
or
Non-Example
of This
Characteristic
of Liberal
Democracy
rule of law
Rule of law
means that all
people in a
society are
subject to the
same laws,
regardless of
wealth, position
in society, and so
on.
If a prime
minister were
found to be
driving impaired,
he or she would
be charged and
put on trial like
any other person.
A royal prince
murders another
person but is not
charged because
his father is the
king.
free and fair
elections
All adult citizens
may participate
and vote for
whoever they
choose without
fear. Ballots will
be counted fairly.
Scrutineers or
independent
observers are
allowed to
monitor the
election and
verify its fairness.
Voters must cast
ballots in the
open while
armed
supporters of the
governing party
look over their
shoulders.
protection of
minority rights
The majority may
decide who
comes to power,
but they can
bring in laws that
strip fundamental
human rights
away from
minorities.
Homosexuals
cannot be fired
from a job or
prevented from
renting
accommodation
on the basis of
their sexual
orientation, even
if the majority in
the community
disagree with
their lifestyle.
JapaneseCanadians were
rounded up and
interned in World
War II largely on
the basis of their
race and heritage
rather than any
real security
threat they
posed.
protection of
basic human
rights
Fundamental
freedoms and
rights, such as
freedom of
religion or
freedom of
speech, are
protected.
A person can,
without fear of
government
reprisal, write a
letter to the editor
of a newspaper
in which the
government is
openly criticized.
An individual is
imprisoned
because this
person
expresses a
religious opinion
that differs from
what is
sanctioned by
the state.
Exclusion of
this Principle
in Canada
Try and list a
country that
does not
provide this
principle to its
citizens. Why
not?
separation of
powers
No single
government
entity controls all
aspects of the
government.
There are distinct
executive,
legislative, and
judicial branches.
In Canada, the
legislative branch
can bring about
the downfall of
the executive
branch by
passing a nonconfidence
motion.
A president
orders a judge to
convict a political
rival of treason,
despite the fact
there is no
evidence to
support the
charge.
due process of
law
Individuals
charged with a
crime can expect
a speedy and fair
trial.
An individual
charged with a
crime may select
to be tried by
judge or jury and
may have a
lawyer to
represent him or
her.
An individual is
held in prison for
years awaiting a
trial that is
continually
“postponed” by
the government.
existence of
more than one
political party
At least two or
more distinct
political parties
exist to give
voters some
political
alternatives.
Canada has
multiple political
parties for which
citizens can vote.
The communist
party in the
former Soviet
Union was the
only political
party whose
name appeared
on the ballot.
existence of a
constitutional
document or
documents
A constitution
exists which
delineates the
powers of
government and
the rights of the
people and which
takes
precedence over
contradictory
laws passed by
the government.
Abortion laws
were struck down
in Canada when
the courts
determined that
they violated
parts of the
constitution that
protected an
individual’s right
to security of the
person.
A government
may ignore
freedom of
speech or bring
in laws forbidding
free speech
because the
constitution does
not limit the
government’s
power to do so.
government
accountability
Governments are
accountable to
the police and
the courts for any
wrongdoings If
they perform
poorly.
Governments are
also accountable
to the electorate
through periodic
elections.
The Progressive
Conservative
government in
Canada suffered
a massive defeat
in the 1993
federal election
after passing the
hugely unpopular
GST and
bringing in other
unpopular
policies.
Government
officials openly
funnel taxpayer
dollars into
personal bank
accounts, but a
lack of fair
elections makes
it impossible to
remove these
corrupt officials
from office.
freedom of the
press
News media
have reasonable
access to the
government and
may openly
report on, and
potentially
criticize,
government
policies.
A press gallery
exists in the
House of
Commons where
reporters may
observe and
report on
parliamentary
debates.
Government
officials enter a
newspaper office
and arrest staff
who have written
articles critical of
the government.
independent
judiciary
Judges cannot
be summarily
removed from
office or
otherwise
intimidated by
the executive
branch.
Judges in Alberta
successfully
fought a
government
ordered wage
rollback on the
principle that
such actions
could be used in
future to
intimidate judges
who rendered
judgments
unfriendly to the
government.
A president
orders a judge to
convict a political
rival of treason,
despite the fact
there is no
evidence to
support the
charge. The
judge convicts
the president’s
rival for fear he
or she will be
fired.