Power and Authority

1. Power and Authority

2. Democracy • government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. • http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/democracy

3. Four Characteristic of Democracy • Core Democratic Characteristics • Democracy is government in which power and civic responsibility are exercised by all adult citizens, directly, or through their freely elected representatives • Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights. Democracies guard against all-powerful central governments and decentralize government to regional and local levels, understanding that all levels of government must be as accessible and responsive to the people as possible. • Democracies understand that one of their prime functions is to protect such basic human rights as freedom of speech and religion; the right to equal protection under law; and the opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life of society. • Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to citizens of voting age. • Citizens in a democracy have not only rights, but also the responsibility to participate in the political system that, in turn, protects their rights and freedoms

4. Two Forms of Democracy • Direct Democracy • In a direct democracy, citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials, can participate in making public decisions. Such a system is clearly most practical with relatively small numbers of people – in a community organization, tribal council, or the local unit of a labor union Representative • citizens elect officials to make political decisions, formulate laws, and administer programs for the public good

5. Majority Rule and Minority Rights • In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guarantees of individual human rights that, in turn, serve to protect the rights of minorities and dissenters – whether ethnic, religious, or simply the losers in political debate. • The rights of minorities are protected because democratic laws and institutions protect the rights of all citizens. • The principle of majority rule and minority rights characterizes all modern democracies, no matter how varied in history, culture, population, and economy.

6. Pluralism and Democratic Society • Pluralism: assumes that the many organized groups and institutions in a democratic society do not depend upon government for their existence, legitimacy, or authority • Power of the government is clearly defined. • Business have freedom to work with out government control • Citizen have the freedom to move and make choices. • http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/May/20080623194736eaifas0.658703.html • American government Archive

7. Consensus • An application of the decision making process • Takes into account a range of possibilities to come to a consensus as to how to react to a situation. • Increases citizenship participation • Works to help keep on group in a dominate position of control • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_democracy

8. autocracy • government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others; the government or power of an absolute monarch. • That one person is supported by the noble, military and religious leaders • Traditionally this was how a monarch would rule before the power was moved to the people of the country. • Often thought of as a dictatorship, ruled by a tyrant. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocracy • http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/autocracy

9. Military dictatorship • All of the political power resides with the military • It is similar to a editorship but has varying degrees as to how much power the military has. • One form is that the military is not in actual power, but it can force the ruling government to make decisions based on what the military wants. • Is run by a committee of officers who are usually the most high ranking in the military • There are some military dictatorships that are run by one person who is the most senior member of the military. • Most times that a military is in control of the country is when it over throws the previous government • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship

10. Monarchy • Is a form of government in which the head of state is held by one person for life. • This title is usually hereditary and the head of state is usually known as the King or Queen of that country. • It was the most common form of Government in the 19th century. • The most common form of Monarchy now is a Constitutional Monarchy • This means that the monarch is a figure head and the government is run by elect official who rule the country on behalf of the King or Queen. • A constitutional monarchy is a democrat form of government • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy