Neway challenge academy no.

1
2021/22 Academic Year

SUBJECT: - Civics
GRADE: - 12
TEACHER’S NAME: - Mr. Dires
ITEM: NOTE-1

Lesson one
Unit One
Building a Democratic System
The Necessity of a democratic System
- Today many more countries in the world are marching on the road to democracy ever before
- A Democratic system creates the condition for political, economic and cultural equality.
- It also up holds rule of law, human rights and freedoms.
- Those are necessary for individual and societal development.
- Above all a democratic system upholds constitutionalism as a state ethos this is because
constitutionalism is the life line of democracy.

- Democracy is practiced in two ways

* Direct
* Indirect
- Direct democracy is the ancient form which still works among countries communities of a
small size.
- Today it can be practiced when a referendum is requested by political groups or a community.
- Indirect democracy ids the modern form which is widely practiced in today’s world, It is also
called representative democracy
 Neway challenge academy no.1
2021/22 Academic Year

Lesson two- types of democratic systems

- A Democracy system runs in three ways parliamentary, Presidential and Combined
parliamentary and presidential democracy.
- A parliamentary democracy is led by a prime minister.
- He\She appointed from the winning party and has to be a member of parliament.
- The prime minister leads the executive branch of government and at the same time is the
member of the legislative branch.
- For, some parliamentary democracy weakens effective check and balance between the three
branches of government. Enacting laws is much easier under a parliamentary democracy. Britain
is a good example.
- A presidential democracy is led by a president.
- Under presidential democracy the people choose their representatives and the president
separately.
- The president heads the executive branch and the representative head the legislative branch of
government.
- In this system, the branches of government function independent
- Under a presidential democracy, check and balances are implemented more effectively than in
parliamentary democracy.
- The legislative and the executive branches have the power to veto bills forward by others
- However, this leads to negotiation and compromise to pass veto-bills between the branches of
government good example USA.
- The president has the power to:
* Set annual budget but this must be approved by the parliament
* Nominate judges who need to be approved by the parliament.
- The parliament has the right to formulate laws that must be implemented by the executive i.e.
the president.
- The judiciary is entitled to interpret the constitutionality of these laws formulated by the
parliament and the act of the executive.
- More over although the president has the power to make treaties with other countries, If the
 Neway challenge academy no.1
2021/22 Academic Year

senate does not agree, then he has to change his action until it is approved.
- He can also refuse to sign a bill that has been passed by both houses (senate and house of
representative). But must explain why, before the bill is returned for a further vote in each house

Lesson three ( continued from the previous lesson)

- A majority vote in both houses will ensure the bill becomes law, even if the president does not
approve.
->Parliament:
-approves judges
-approves budget set by the parliament
-make law

->Judiciary:
-interprets constitution of laws
-implements laws through courts

->President:
-execute laws approved by senate
-set budget
-nominates judges
- The third system is called combined parliamentary and presidential democracy.
- This is the hybrid of the first two.
- The people, through a separate process, elect the president in this system.
- The members of the legislature are elected by another process.
- The prime minister, being a member of parliament is elected from this winning party.
- The president is head of state with defined power and authority.
- The prime minister is head of government works under close supervision of the president.
E.g.: France
 Neway challenge academy no.1
2021/22 Academic Year

Exercises from lesson note 1-3

1. Most countries of the world marching on the road to democracy. Explain the reason?
2. What is the difference between direct and indirect democracy?
3. Explain the characteristics of direct democracy?
4. A democratic system runs in three ways. What are they?
5. List down the characteristics of parliamentary democracy?
6. In which government system check and balance is strong?