Lesson 5: DEMOCRATIC INTERVENTIONS

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Identify preferred democratic practices and explain and analyze the reason for their
preferences
2. Explain the importance and illustrate the benefits of democratic participation
3. Distinguish and differentiate participatory from representative democracy
4. Generate the criteria to assess prevailing political and social institutions and what
can be done when undemocratic practices arise

The word democracy originated from the Greek language. Demos means “the
common people” and kratos means “rule”. From the origin of words, we can say that
democracy means rule of the common people. We have often heard that democracy is a
government by the people, of the people and for the people. Under a democratic
government, the protection of individual liberties, the conduct of free elections, and the
assurance of political equality are safeguarded by the state. In a democracy, people
collectively exercise equal rights to participate in the decision-making processes.

Traditionally, the concept of democracy is believed to have originated in Athens in

c508 BC, although there is evidence to suggest that democratic systems of government may
have existed elsewhere in the world before then, albeit on a smaller scale.

1. Rule of Law - ensures that the rights and freedom of citizens are protected and no
one is above the law. All citizens stand as equal in the eye of the law.
2. Separation of Powers – Check and balances. Powers are distributed among the
executive, legislative and the judiciary system.
3. Basic rights and freedom –
a. Human Rights – a right that is believed to belong justifiably to every person
b. Civil Rights - guarantees of equal social opportunities and protection under
the law, regardless of race, religion, or other characteristics.

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 Lesson 5: DEMOCRATIC INTERVENTIONS
c. Political Rights – rights that protect individual’s freedom from infringement by
government, social institution, and private individual.
4. Suffrage – Every citizen, within the recognized legal age, has the right to participate
in elections by casting a vote regardless of sex, religion, political affiliation,
educational attainment and socio-economic status.
5. Freedom of speech – ensures that the citizen are able to voice out their agreement,
disagreement, affirmations, criticism, and proposal to their government.
6. Pluralism – people are entitled to diverse beliefs and opinions, which may result in
the becoming part of different organizations with varying thrust and advocacies.

Ethical Defense - recognizes the worth of a man. It rejects the right of one or few to
rule over the others. Under democracy the community as a whole is the custodian of
sovereignty state.
Common Welfare - respond to the needs of all since power of sovereignty vests in
all. The citizen is at once the subject and the ruler.
Rule of Law - guarantees rights and freedom. Freedom to live or travel. Freedom to
work at any job for which one qualifies. Freedom to marry and raise family. Freedom
to receive free education in public schools. Freedom to join in a political party, union
or other legal group.
Equality - There are no ruler and ruled. People can live and regulate their lives
according to their needs and choice.

Voters can be bribed

Not everyone votes
Violence during election
Elections are very expensive and huge revenue
Political stability, Political Dynasty and Political Corruption

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Direct Democracy
In a direct democracy, all members of an organization gather together and individuals cast
their vote. In a direct democracy, citizens propose, decide, and change Constitutional laws;
initiate referendums; and choose and remove public officials who are not effectively doing
their jobs. This is suitable only for small communities or countries.

Representative Democracy
It requires the election of a few members who are responsible for the people. These people
are chosen by the electorate as their representatives in government and thus answerable to
the people by making such decisions.

Undemocratic practices are those oppressive acts or practices that curtail human rights and
obstruct the exercise of one’s free and sovereign will. These practices breed social ills that
haunt societies in the planet. Dissatisfaction of citizens with their governments includes:

a) failure to meet their basic needs that create profound insecurities,

b) failure to protect them from the sweeping winds of economic change where they
lose their customs and traditions, and
c) failure to involve its citizens in its policies and programs.

Democratic Participation is the empowerment of people to effectively involve

themselves in creating structures, designing policies and programs that serves that interest
of all. It requires association with the people. This strives to create opportunities for all
members of a population to make contributions to decision-making and seeks to broaden
the range of people who have access to opportunities.

Participation plays a vital role in order to achieve success. We are driven to live in
better conditions so it is our individual duty to do everything to achieve it. By actively
participating in democracy, individuals will be provided with opportunity to influence public
decisions and be a part of democratic decision-making process.

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Let’s Evaluate
Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is incorrect.
1. The rule of law ensures that every citizen is equal and no one is above the law.
2. In democracy, the civil and political rights of a person can be taken if he or she has a different
perspective or way of life.
3. According to its etymology, democracy is the rule of powerful people.
4. Direct democracy is suitable for countries with large population.
5. In representative democracy, people elect members who’ll be responsible for them.
6. When the government did not meet the needs of the citizens, it may result to undemocratic
practices.
7. Pluralism is the right to vote in political elections.
8. Democracy does not help people protect their interests.
9. In democracy, people exercise equal rights to participate in the decision-making processes.
10. Democracy ensures personal freedom and human rights.
Enumerate the following.
11-12 The 2 Greek words where the term democracy came from
13-15 Give 3 disadvantages of democracy

Let’s Apply
Undemocratic practices are very evident in everywhere just like gender biases, poverty,
political marginalization, racial inequality, cultural domination, etc. The biggest challenge is how to
stop and make it right.
Using a twitter board how are you going to voice out your advocacy or concept of stopping or
correcting undemocratic practices as a student or as a part of the society? Create your relevant
hashtags for your advocacy. Please note that you may only use 280 characters including your hashtags.
You may create one digitally or by using a bond paper. (8x11 inches/short size).
Criteria: Sample:
Relevance 50%
Impact 30%
Originality 10%
Craftsmanship 10%
Total 100%

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