Q12. No country can be described as being completely democratic. There are always communities and
individuals trying to expand the idea of democracy ?
On the basis of this highlight any five basic principles of democracy ?
Answers
Answer:
Consent of the governed. Democracy is based on the idea that governments are only legitimate (they only have the right to rule) if they are based on the consent of the people. People have to agree to be ruled by a government in order for it to be democratic.
Representative government. In a democracy, citizens have to be able to elect people to represent them in the government. That allows the people to be in overall control of the government.
Rule of law. This means two things. First, governments and government officials have to obey the law just like everyone else. Second, it means that governments can only punish people for disobeying laws that are actually written down. The government cannot make up rules on a whim and punish you for violating them.
Individual rights. In a true democracy, people have to be guaranteed certain fundamental rights. These are rights like the right to freedom of speech and religion.
Checks and balances. A democratic government needs to have various parts (the US has three branches and two separate houses in the legislative branch) that can stop one another from acting in bad ways. This prevents any one person or part of government from becoming dominant and dictatorial.