What is Democracy? Why Democracy? – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarising key democratic concepts, examples, institutions, and criticisms from the lecture notes.

Democracy

A form of government in which rulers are elected by the people and major decisions rest with those elected.

Democratic Government

Government that fulfills four features: elected rulers make major decisions, elections are free and fair, each adult has one vote of equal value, and rule is limited by constitutional law and citizens’ rights.

Non-Democratic Government

Any system where rulers are not chosen by the people, elections are not real or meaningful, or basic rights and constitutional limits are absent.

Rulers

Individuals or bodies that take final decisions on behalf of the state.

Elected Representatives

Persons chosen by citizens through elections to make decisions and run the government on their behalf.

Free and Fair Election

An electoral process offering real choice among political alternatives, where those in power have a genuine chance of losing.

Universal Adult Franchise

The right of every adult citizen to vote, with each vote carrying equal value.

Political Equality

Principle that every citizen, regardless of status, has the same political rights and weight in decision-making.

Rule of Law

Condition in which everyone, including rulers, is subject to the law and independent judiciary.

Citizens’ Rights

Basic freedoms—speech, association, protest, etc.—that a democracy must respect and protect.

Constitutional Limits

Legal boundaries set by a constitution that restrict government power and protect minority interests.

Military Coup

Seizure of power by armed forces, as in Pakistan under General Musharraf, bypassing elected authority.

Referendum

Direct vote by the populace on a specific issue; can be misused to legitimise undemocratic rule.

Monarchy

Rule by a king or queen who inherits power, not elected by citizens (e.g., Saudi Arabia).

Dictatorship

Government headed by one person or a small group holding absolute power without free elections (e.g., Pinochet in Chile).

One-Party Rule

System where only one political party is allowed to govern or contest, as in China under the Communist Party.

Accountable Government

Administration answerable to citizens, obligated to justify decisions, and removable through elections.

Consultation

Process of discussing policies with various stakeholders before decisions are taken, typical of democratic decision-making.

Decision-Making Delay

Time taken in democracies because many people must be consulted, often cited as a criticism.

Representation

Mechanism by which elected officials act on behalf of the people in modern democracies.

Majority Rule

Concept that decisions are made by the side receiving more than half the votes, without ignoring minority rights.

Gram Sabha

Village assembly where all adult residents can participate directly in decision-making—a form of direct democracy.

Independent Judiciary

Courts free from executive control, vital for upholding rule of law and citizens’ rights.

Political Competition

Contest among parties and candidates for power, central to democratic elections but can lead to corruption.

Electoral Malpractice

Illegal actions (rigging, coercion, misuse of media, etc.) undermining the fairness of elections.

PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party)

Mexican party that dominated elections for decades using unfair practices, showcasing pseudo-democracy.

Chinese Communist Party

Ruling party in China that approves all election candidates, limiting voter choice.

Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui

China’s National People’s Congress, a 3,000-member parliament elected under one-party constraints.

Autocracy

System where unchecked power lies with a single ruler or group; opposite of democracy.

Famine Responsiveness Argument

Observation that large-scale famines have not occurred in functioning democracies because governments must answer to citizens.

Dignity of Citizens

Sense of self-respect derived from equal status and participation in democratic processes.

Corrective Mechanism

Feature of democracy allowing public debate and elections to rectify governmental mistakes.

Representative Democracy

Common modern form where people elect representatives to govern on their behalf.

Direct Democracy

Form where all citizens participate directly in decision-making, feasible only in small communities.

Broader Meaning of Democracy

Application of democratic principles—consultation and equality—to other spheres like family, school, or parties.

Political Participation

Active engagement of citizens in politics—voting, debating, protesting—vital for sustaining democracy.

Legal Framework Order (2002)

Decree by Musharraf granting himself power over Pakistan’s assemblies, undermining democracy.

Minority Rights

Safeguards ensuring groups smaller in number are protected from majority oppression in a democracy.

Zimbabwe under Mugabe

Example showing elected but undemocratic rule due to harassment of opposition, media control, and constitutional manipulation.

Electoral Choice

Availability of genuine alternatives for voters, a core requirement for a democratic election.