Types of Democratic
Systems
• Democracy, like all political systems, is based on an identifiable
ideology. This ideology is common to all modern democracies.
• However, the actual processes by which democracies attempt
to reach their ideals vary somewhat from country to country.
These variations are related to three major points.
• Democracies can be classified as either:
– direct or representative
– federal or unitary
– parliamentary or presidential
Direct and Representative
Democracy
•
•
Democracy originated in ancient
Athens. At that time the
community was small enough
that its members usually knew
one another. It was small
enough that citizens could all
meet together at the same time.
But keep in mind that citizenship
was granted only to the sons of
citizens. Women and slaves
were not citizens!
Citizens would meet on a
regular basis to resolve political
issues. Matters were debated
and decisions were reached by
a majority vote.
• This method of government is
called direct democracy: a
political system in which voters
vote directly on all public
issues. Citizens directly
participate in the making of
laws.
• Today, this system is not
practical because of the size of
communities and the
complexity of issues. However,
direct democracy is still
practiced in some small
communities in Switzerland and
in New England in the United
States.
ALL CITIZENS CREATE LAWS
• Modern democracies use
representative democracy: a
system of government in which
voters elect representatives who
vote on public issues.
• Citizens vote to elect people to
represent their interests and
concerns. Those elected meet
to debate and make laws on
behalf of the whole community.
REPRESENTATIVES
CREATE LAWS
Federal and Unitary System
•
•
•
•
•
Democratic governments are
structured in one of two ways.
The first way is under a federal
system: a system of government
that consists of more than one level
of government (central plus
provincial or state governments).
A federal system has two levels of
government a national level and a
state or provincial level.
Power is divided between the levels
according to the constitution.
The constitution also forbids one
level of government to interfere with
the powers of another.
The CONSTITUTION
divides power
between…
Federal Government
Provincial or State
Government
Municipal Government
The Unitary System
•
National or Central
Government
Exercises all powers
under the constitution
(May delegate some
responsibilities to local
levels of government)
•
•
The unitary system of
government has only a national
government, although some
legislative responsibilities are
usually delegated to lower
(town, city, county) levels of
government.
However, the national
government has the power to
disallow laws passed by these
lower levels.
Sweden is an example of a
constitutional monarchy that
uses a unitary system of
government. (unicameral house
combining executive and
legislative branches, with
separate judiciary)
Parliamentary and
Presidential Democracy
•
•
•
In all democratic systems,
political power is divided
amongst the three branches of
government legislative,
executive, and judicial. The
division of power is designed so
that power cannot be
centralized in any one branch.
This is called the principle of
separation of powers.
Two different interpretations
of the principle of separation
of powers has resulted in two
different systems of
democracy:
parliamentary and
presidential
Parliamentary System
• Canada uses a Parliamentary system, based
on many of the traditions found within the
British system.
Presidential System
• The United States is an example of a
Presidential democracy
• Federal system (Federal and State)
• gained independence from Britain on
July 4, 1776
Presidential System cont’d
• Three famous buildings symbolized the
government in the United States:
White House: residence of the President
(executive power)
Capitol building: home of the Senate and the
House of Representatives (legislative power)
Senate and H of R are called CONGRESS
Supreme Court building: (judicial power)
Presidential System Cont’d
• To prevent any one group or party from
becoming too powerful, the American
Constitution divided the powers of
government among these three branches and
established a system of checks and balances.
Presidential duties
The chief executive or head of state is the
President.
Presidential duties include:
- enforcing of laws
- negotiating treaties with foreign countries
- commander-in-chief of the armed forces
-appoints federal judges and ambassadors
-recommends laws to Congress
-signs or vetoes measures passed by Congress
Checks and Balances
The Separation of powers ensures a system of
checks and balances.
For example:
- The president commands the armed forces, but only Congress
may declare war or vote money for troops.
-All bills passed by Congress must be signed by the president
(he or she has veto power)
-Congress can override the president’s veto by passing the bill
with a two-thirds majority in each house. (H of R and Senate)
-The Supreme Court can check both the executive and
legislative branches by declaring a law unconstitutional.
-Judges can be removed from office by the H of R.
Checks and Balances
• Unlike the Canadian Prime Minister who is
a sitting Member of Parliament, the U.S.
president is NOT a member of Congress
and he is elected to a 4 year term even if his
party does not have a majority in Congress.
U.S. Senate:
Congress
-has the right to approve or reject the president’s appointments
of judges , ambassadors, and all cabinet ministers.
-treaties made by the president must be ratified by a two-thirds
majority of the Senate
-each state elects two senators for six year terms.
-one third of the Senate positions come up for re-election every
two years
House of Representatives
House of Representatives members are elected for two year
terms.
Representatives represent districts (constituencies) around the
country
Judicial Branch
• Judicial Branch:
-is responsible for interpreting and applying the
country’s laws
-U.S. judges are appointed by the president for
life, subject to the approval of the Senate
•
All democracies share a
common set of characteristics
or features although they may
vary somewhat from one
country to another.
•
Democratic political systems
are based on majority rule with
respect for minority rights.
•
Respect for minority rights is
essential to democracy.
•
Only by guaranteeing the
individual rights and freedoms
of all citizens can a democracy
avoid degenerating into a
tyranny of the majority.
• Democracy always
includes elements of
opposition
• However, there are limits to
expressing dissent. The
freedom of dissent is limited
by the requirement of
respecting the rights of
others.
• Taken together, these
characteristic features keep
democracy democratic!