PILLARS OF
DEMOCRACY
Miss Blessing Ekpenyong
JS 2
CONTENT
 Meaning and Explanation
of Pillars of Democracy
 Pillars of Democracy
MEANING AND EXPLANATION
OF PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
Pillar means a strong supporter or a
fundamental part or an important feature
of something like a system, an organisation
or an idea. This means that pillars of
democracy are those institutions and
features which are the main backbone of
democracy and upon which it stands,
operates and thrives.
PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
1. The People: The people are the main
backbone or bedrock of democracy. The
popular definition of democracy centres
on the people. The people give the
mandate or the governing power through
their votes in electoral process to their
representatives to rule them. The
government is also there to meet the
needs and aspirations of the people that
voted it into power.
PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
2. Democratic Institutions:
Democratic institutions are
pillars of democracy, because
it is operated and sustained by
their operational and functional
presence in any democratic
system.
PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
3. Rule of Law: Rule of Law
becomes the pillar of democracy,
because it safeguards the rights
of the citizenry, promotes the
independence of the judiciary
and ensures compliance to the
law governing the land.
PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
4. Transparent Electoral
Process: A transparent
electoral process ensures
the sustenance of
democracy in any country.
PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
5. Majority Rule and Minority Rights: Democracy
by its definition is the government by the
majority. It is a form of government where the
majority of the people rule by having their will
and wish carried out by the government in
power. But democracy thrives well where the
majority rules and those in the minority are
recognised, their rights and views respected
and expressed.
EVALUATION
 Mention four (4)
pillars of democracy.
ACTIVITY
Look up the meaning of the
following words in the dictionary.
1. Suppressed
2. Falsification
3. Loopholes
4. Legitimacy