A person who wanted to measure the degree of substantive democracy in a country was most likely to examine
a)whom the policies of government serve
b)The frequency of elections
c)checks and balances
d)the no. of political parties
Answers
There is an ongoing debate over a single, universal definition of electoral integrity, but it can generally be defined as "any election that is based on the democratic principles of universal suffrage and political equality as reflected in international standards and agreements, and is professional, impartial, and transparent in its preparation and administration throughout the electoral cycle." (Kofi Annan Foundation, 2012)
Without electoral integrity, leaders and officials lack accountability to the public, confidence in the election results is weak, and the government lacks necessary legitimacy. Electoral integrity allows for peaceful resolution of conflict, open dialogue, debate, and information sharing among leaders and the public. Integrity depends on public confidence in electoral and political processes. It is not enough to reform institutions; citizens need to be convinced that changes are real and deserve their confidence. To ensure that elections have integrity, other factors outside of the electoral institutions themselves need to be taken into account and strengthened. Election officials, judges and courts must have independence that is respected by politicians.
he Concept
There is an ongoing debate over a single, universal definition of electoral integrity. It is not (yet) clear whether it could serve as a comprehensive and independent concept, an overarching quality standard, or as a synonym for a “good election”. This is an active conversation in scholarly and policy circles over the proper definition and application of the term. A major contribution to the discussion is the Report of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, Deepening Democracy: A Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide (September 2012). This report defines electoral integrity as "any election that is based on the democratic principles of universal suffrage and political equality as reflected in international standards and agreements, and is professional, impartial, and transparent in its preparation and administration throughout the electoral cycle. [1]
Without electoral integrity, leaders and officials lack accountability to the public, confidence in the election results is weak, and the government lacks necessary legitimacy. Electoral integrity allows for peaceful resolution of conflict, open dialogue, debate, and information sharing amongst leaders and the public. The Commission acknowledges that “at its root, electoral integrity is a political problem”, not just a technical problem. Integrity depends on public confidence in electoral and political processes. It is not enough to reform institutions; citizens need to be convinced that changes are real and deserve their confidence. Inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability are all fundamental to developing that confidence (p. 16).” To ensure that elections have integrity, other factors outside of the electoral institutions themselves need to be taken into account and strengthened. Election officials, judges, and courts must have independence that is respected by politicians.
In defining the notion of an “election with integrity”, the Commission’s report takes everyday meanings as a point of departure. Thus, it notes that integrity refers to “incorruptibility or a firm adherence to a code of moral values”, suggesting that in the context of elections it means an adherence to democratic principles. The term also generally refers to “soundness or an unimpaired condition”, so that to speak about an election with integrity means referring to an election “conducted competently and professionally”. Finally, according to the report, integrity also refers to “completeness or the state of being complete”, which, in connection with elections, suggests that “soundness and ethical practice must persist over the course of an entire electoral cycle, not just on election day itself.” The report therefore defines an election with integrity “as any election that is based on the democratic principles of universal suffrage and political equality as reflected in international standards and agreements, and is professional, impartial, and transparent in its preparation and administration throughout the electoral cycle”.[2]
Answer:
the frequency of election