DEMOCRACY

1. DEMOCRACY

2. What does Democracy mean? • Greece is considered the birthplace of Democracy. • The word Democracy comes from the Greek word "Démos"which means "people"and "Kràtos"which means "rule"so • Democracy basically means: • ~The RuleofThe People~

3. A definition of Democracy • The belief in freedom and equality between people; • A system of government by the whole population, or all the eligible members of a state; • The belief that everyone in a country has the right to express their opinions and that power should be held by people who are elected.

5. Democracy is: Choosing your own way Freedom of expression Your choice for life Laws must be respected

6. Democracy means • Individuals are equal and have the same opportunities • It is based on respect for others • Everyone has ethical, social, economic, political and civil rights • Everyone has duties towards others • Equality before the law and freedom of choice

7. All adult citizens participate in politics through free voting • There is a wide degree of freedom to profess and promote one’s political or economic, religious or non religious opinions • Tolerance • Carries out the law on citizenship • Protection of the national language and of the historical and cultural artistic heritage

8. History of Democracy • Solon and Cleisthenes set Democracy up in the 6th century B.C. • Noted Reformers: Solon and Cleisthenes • Solon: • When Athens ran into trouble he saved the day. • -Reforms- • ·Outlawed slavery • ·Established classes of citizenship • ·Council of 400 • prepared business for existing council • Cleisthenes: • -Regarded as father of democracy in Athens • -Tried to balance the rich and the poor • -All Citizens could sumbit laws for debate and passage • -Created council of 500 to propose laws and counsel assembly

9. The people allowed to vote were: • Only men with citizenship • Landowners • The people who were not allowed to vote were: • Women • Slaves • Foreigners • Two great Greek philosophers said: • Plato « I think Democracy leads to tyranny» • Aristotle« Democracy only works when everyone is represented»

10. The Roman Emperors were not so democratic in fact they treated people badly and called them Plebs. • In the Middle Ages, power was mainly in the hands of Aristocracy, the Monarch and the Church but in some places such as Iceland there was a Parliament in 930 A.D.

11. In England people forced the king to sign the Magna Charta in 1215. This document prevented the king of England to do whatever he wanted. • The Magna Chartastatedthateven the kinghad to follow the country’srules and lawswritten in the Constitution.

12. In the USA • 1789 A.D., in the USA, people wrote up a new Constitution for their new country, their first President was George Washington while in France peoplestarted a revolution: the French Revolutionwhose motto was: • FREEDOM • EQUALITY • BROTHERHOOD • The power returned to the people until Napoleon seized it.

13. Towards present days • In the 19th century more countries became democracies. The right to vote was extended: • Rights for everybody, white males with citizenship aged 25 and up and employed; later unemployed, too. • And women? • In the late 19th century, women led a movement called TheSuffragetteswhich fought to extend the right of women to vote in elections. • In 1928, women were granted equal voting rights in the UK. • Native Americans and African Americans got voting rights only in 1965!

14. The 20th century brought: • In 1933 World War I - In 1939 World War II • Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, said: • «It has been said that Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time»

15. Roosevelt, 32nd American President stated: • « Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education»

16. Democracy today • Today, most democracies are indirect or representatives which means people cannot vote for a new law themselves but they can vote for people who make laws. • Democracy protects people’s best interests no matter what is their race, gender, political opinion or religion. These interests can be: • Human Rights • Quality of life • Infrastructures

17. Key features of Democracy • Democracy allows ordinary people to elect representatives to govern their country. • The most important key features of Democracy are: • Respect for Human Rights • A multi-party political system and political tolerance • A democratic voting system • Respect for the Rule of Law • Democratic Governance • Citizen participation

18. Respect for Human Rights • Democracies have a Constitution that outilnes individuals’ Human Rights such as • The right to vote • Freedom of speech and assembly • Freedom of religion • The right to equality

19. A multi-party political system and political tolerance • In a Democracy, active opposition parties monitor and debate the work done by the ruling party, or ruling parties in case of a coalition, and this leads to accountability. • Multi-party systems require political tolerance which means accepting and respecting point of views of all individuals. • Democracy entails acceptance and respect of others through a dialogue.

20. A democratic voting system • In a representative Democracy, elected representatives pass legislation and govern the country through regular elections. • Universal suffragemeaning all adult citizens have the right to vote • Elections are held regularly • Elections are free and fair • Majority rule meaning the political party or party coalition with the most votes gets to govern the country

21. The Rule of Law • This means that public officials can only exercise power to make decisions if authorized by the law, they cannot act arbitrary. • The process by which laws are enacted, administered and enforced must be transparent, fair and efficient and in accordance with the law. • Nobody is exempt from or above the law!

22. Democratic Governance • A Democratic Government is characterized by three state powers: • The legislative responsible for passing laws • The executive responsible for the administration and implementation of laws • The judiciary responsible for judging criminals

23. Citizen participation • Democratic systems aim to empower individuals by giving them the opportunity to freely participate in social and political life. • Successful democracies need active citizens! • Citizens should take part in elections by voting or by joining a political party. • All of us can help to shape a successful Democracy!

24. Democracy in Italy • Italy is a Parliamentary Republic with a multi-party system. It has been a Republic since June 2, 1946 when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. In 1948, a constituent assembly was elected to draft a Constitution. • The bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Constitution vests executive authority in the Council of Ministers, headed by the President of the Council (the Prime Minister). The President, who is the head of state, nominates the Prime Minister after consulting with the leaders of all political forces in the Parliament.

25. THere are three branches of power in Italy: executive, legislative, and judiciary. • The executive power is in the hands of the Council of the Ministers, presided over by the President of the Council - more commonly known as the Prime Minister. • The ministers are responsible for executing laws and other political decisions. This is usually done by presenting bills to Parliament, but can also be done by passing decrees.

26. The legislative power belongs to Parliament, whose main job is to make laws. Parliament can also make amendments to the Constitution, and is responsible for reviewing and guiding the government. • Meanwhile, the judiciary power belongs to judges, who are responsible for implementing the laws passed by Parliament. They are not elected but are chosen based on exam results and internal commissions, and they serve for life.

27. The President is not elected by the people • Italy's Presidents are elected by secret ballot by Parliament and regional representatives. They serve seven-year terms, and the reason for this is so that they won't be re-elected by the same Parliament (both houses have five-year terms). • The President has some key duties such as naming the prime minister, calling for elections, calling referendums, and officially putting laws into effect .

28. A bicameral parliament • Italy’s Parliament is made up of two houses which both have equal power: The Chamber of Deputies (or Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). • The Chamber of Deputies has 630 members, and only Italian citizens aged over 25 can stand for election. The Senate has 315 elected members, who must be at least 40 years old to stand. In both cases, members are elected for five-year terms, which can only be extended if Italy goes to war.

29. Voting age • All Italian citizens aged over 18 can vote for members of the Chamber of Deputies. When it comes to Senate elections, however, the voting age rises to 25.