Лекция: DEMOCRACY

Over the centuries, people have organized their governments in many different ways. A true democratic government has some characteristics that distinguish it from other forms of government. Abraham Lincoln described democracy as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

All genuine democracies have free and open elections. Free elections give people the chance to choose their leaders and to voice their opinions on various issues. Free elections also help ensure that public officials pay attention to the wishes of the people. Representative democracy means that laws enacted in the legislatures represent the will of the majority of lawmakers. Because these lawmakers are elected by the people, the laws are accepted by the people.

Democracy requires that all people be as free as possible to develop their own capabilities. But, of course, no individual can be completely free to do anything he or she wants. That would result in chaos. Rather, it means that all people should have an equal opportunity to develop their talents, to the fullest extent possible. Government in a democracy works to promote that kind of equality.

Political parties are another important element of democratic government. A political party is a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to win elections, and determine public policy.

Democracy seems to have a better chance in countries that do not have extremes of wealth and poverty and that have a large middle class. People who are out of work or unable to feed their families often become more concerned about security than about voting.