Essay on Democracy A Unique Form of People Power

The word democracy is derived from the Greek words of â€Å"demos†, referring to people and â€Å"Kratos†, meaning power . The Greeks are credited with developing the earliest forms of democracy around 2,500 years ago. India, Russia, Japan and many other nations have only recently become democratic. Therefore, despite its lengthy history as a concept, democracy has only really become a global reality during the latter half of the 20th century. Democracy means many things to many different people. Winston Churchill has the belief that â€Å"†¦democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.† Democracy is certainly a form of government, whereby the people rule through their elected†¦show more content†¦It matters not what your ethnicity is, which religion you adhere to, your race, or gender, or even age. There is of course a voting age in Canada. However it is part of the beauty of democr acy that, even those not of age are welcome to write to their local Member of Parliament or to have their voices heard by other means. Government must not be overly restrictive, as it is only the free man and woman who may unlock their full, unbridled potential. To that effect, we the people have the freedom to decide who shall govern on our behalf, to convey our voices and our wishes, both as a whole and as individuals. Rights are a core component to any democracy. They guarantee all citizens a set of standards and values to call their own. A prime example of the embodiment of right is, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . ‘The Charter’ as it is also known as, ensures certain political rights to Canadian citizens and civil rights of everyone in Canada from the procedures and policies of every level of government. By far the most famous rights initiative ever formed was the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates 30 articles that cover every aspect of human rights and freedoms. Freedom of speech is a prominent right for the basic reason that without it, we would be unable to voice or fight for any other right. It is however a relative right, meaning it mayShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast the Different Systems of Government755 Words   |  3 Pagesrevolutionised todays modern forms of government. Democracy , Monarchy, Dictatorship, Theocracy, and Anarchy all use various, unique techniques on how to run a civilization. Each of them require different leadership traits in order for it to work properly. There are numerous examples of significant people who have demonstrated a form of governments necessary leadership traits, such as the Dalai Lama, a Theocratic leader. â€Å"In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because thereRead MoreThe Difference between Democratic Government and Oligarchy Government833 Words   |  4 PagesMark Twain Democracy and Oligarcy as forms of government have been in existence for a long period of time, both terms first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought. Both forms of government exist in the modern world, but which form of government is more better, there is a question. So, in my essay I will compare Democratic and Oligarchy Governments to understand which form of them is the best. It is important that we understand what is democracy and oligarchy, soRead MoreThe Russian Government And The European Council941 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION The catastrophes of the past are the foundation of the future, events that occurred in the past cause people to envision a â€Å"better life† of not only for themselves but a society as a whole. By envisioning a better future individual rose up, advocated ideas, and policies that they believed would help in advancing their countries. For the purpose of this course, let us discuss the uprising of the Russian government and the European Council; both as single entities have their own goalsRead MoreThe History and Definition of Democracy742 Words   |  3 PagesAccording to the Oxford dictionary online democracy is defined as, A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives (Oxford, 2014). In other words the population of a nation or land participates in the government. This participation is typically done by elections. Democracy has changed throughout history. In the past the population is the gove rnment; today most often the people will appoint individuals to represent themRead MoreTocqueville : American Exceptionalism?1581 Words   |  7 PagesTocqueville: American Exceptionalism Alexis de Tocqueville was born on July 29, 1805, in Paris, France. He was a historian, political scientist, and a politician, but he is best known as the author of Democracy in America. He began his political career as an apprentice magistrate, a role he was easily able to enter into due to his father’s role in French government. In the role of apprentice magistrate, Tocqueville witnessed the constitutional upheaval between the conservatives and liberals inRead MoreWhat are the Unique Traits of Athenian Democracy? Essay918 Words   |  4 Pages29 September 2013 What are the Unique Traits of Athenian Democracy? There are several traits that make Athenian democracy unique not only in the ancient world but also in the modern world as well. For the first time in recorded history, citizens had a say in what laws were to govern them . Democracy was an unknown and alien concept in the ancient world, and Athenians knew that their political process was different in and they were intensely proud of it. â€Å"Our form of government does not enter intoRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill Essay1369 Words   |  6 Pagesmajority. This process leads to an unequal society in which the rights of the people are restricted. In the essays, On Liberty and On Representative Government, written by John Stuart Mill, there is a concern for the tyranny of the majority. He expresses his concern in, On Liberty, by supporting an increase in individual liberties. It is expressed again in, On Representative Government, by promoting a true democracy. Mill proposes remedies for combating this tyranny of the majority, and further Read MoreHow Revolutionary Was the American Revolution?1701 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Revolution was truly revolutionary in many ways, including the new ideas of Political Equality of the Classes, Inalienable Rights, and Consent of the Governed. The American Revolution caused the movement of Political Equality for all people, despite class or birth, through many ways, including the abolishment of Primogeniture, the participation of the middle-class in politics, and the increase in lower class land ownership, compared to tenancies. In a quote in his autobiography, ThomasRead More Democracy: An Analysis Essay1358 Words   |  6 Pagesonce remarked that â€Å"democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried†. In agreement with his statement, this paper will examine the problems of democratic governments using specific examples, and compare it to the failure of fascist governments in Nazi Germany and Italy and communist governments in the Soviet Union and China. Theoretically, democracy is a stable form of government where power is in the hands of the people. In a democracy, people have the libertyRead MoreRole Of Democracy In Western Civilization1325 Words   |  6 PagesDemocracy in Western Civilization How has democracy evolved throughout the Western Civilization? Democracy is a system of government. Throughout Western civilization, it has appeared in Athens, Greece, Persia, and Roman Republic. In the fifth century, the Greek city-state of Athens created the first political system created. And democracy in the Western civilization has made an impact on how our political systems work today. The evolution of democracy is very important. In the eighth century, Greeks