Module 1

Democratic values and

responsible and active
citizenship
SOK Book Module 1

Read;
Introduction and
Unit 1 & 2
 Values:
are beliefs one finds important in life and
become guidelines for life.
 Values in Modern Democracy
(from SOK Syllabus)

Individualism -the belief that the freedom of

individual people is more important than the needs
of society or the government

Communitarianism - An ideology that emphasises

the responsibility of the individual to the
community and the social importance of the family
unit.

Diversity- the state of having many different

forms, types, ideas, races, cultures, groups or
organisations.
 Values in Modern Democracy

Rights – in relation to politics and

democracy; a protection

Duties – something one is obliged to do

Freedom- the condition of being free;

the power to act or speak or think
without externally imposed restraints
 Values in Modern Democracy
Equity -giving everyone what they need to be successful.

Equality –
•Treating everyone the same; having the same rights,

Fairness-
• Impartial and just treatment free from discrimination or
favouritism.

Justice-
• How fairness is upheld and administered

The Value of Life- the importance of human life

 Values in Modern Democracy
Tolerance – to accept others differences

Respect –to obey a rule or law

Conflict resolution- relates to tolerance and respect in terms

of working out differences

Participation- to be actively involved

Active and Responsible Citizenship- to participate and take

up one’s duties (moral obligation) as a citizen
.
Government can be described as the person,
people or groups within society with the
authority (power) to make, and enforce laws
as well as manage disputes about them.

Government is derived from the Greek;

meaning "steersman,“ "pilot" or "rudder".

Government guides society, gives it direction

and manages society.
Autocracy: governments where one individual
ultimately holds all power.
Eg. Monarchy, dictatorship

Oligarchy: governments where political power is

held by a small group of individuals.
Eg. Plutocracy; small group of the wealthiest
members of society.

Democracy are governments where the people as a

whole hold political power. It may be exercised by
them (direct democracy), or through
representatives chosen by them (representative
democracy).
 Ancient Greek Democracy

Democracy, led by Cleisthenes, was introduced around

508 BCE.

Cleisthenes is known as ‘the father of Democracy.’

“Democracy” comes from greek combining the elements

demos (which means "people") and kratos ("force,
power") rule.

The word “democracy” means “rule by the people."

 Direct democracy

is a political system where the citizens vote on all

major policy decisions.

It is called direct because there are no

intermediaries or representatives.
 Direct Democracy

-everyone had a say in deciding what happened in

government and therefore society.

-beneficial because laws in a democracy are what

the people want.
 Ancient Greek Democracy; comprised
three separate institutions

The ekklesia (assembly), a sovereign governing body

that wrote laws and dictated foreign policy

The boule, a council of representatives from the ten

Athenian tribes.

The dikasteria, the popular courts in which citizens

argued cases before a group of lottery-selected jurors.
Pericles was the leader of the Democracy 461 BCE -
429 BCE.

- Funeral Oration for the Athenian dead in 431 BCE, the first
year of the Peloponnesian War(431–404 BC) (fought against
Sparta)

‘It is true that we are called a democracy because the

administration (of the government) is in the hands of the
many and not of the few.“

What did he mean? Who are the few and who are the many?
 Democracy in Ancient Athens
Classical period; 480-300 BCE

The Classical period of Ancient Athens is known as the

‘Golden Age’.

What do you think this means?

The 5th century BCE is known as the ‘Golden
Age’ as it was a time of cultural flourishing,
economic growth and political hegemony.

Hegemony is the political, military and

economic dominance over other states.

In the 5th century, Athens dominated over

other city-states.
Why was direct democracy possible in ancient
Greece and not so easy to have today?

- relatively small amount of citizens participating in

the Assembly and voting on all issues.

Approximately, 6,000.

Would direct or a more participative form of

democracy be possible today? How?
Although, ancient Greek Democracy included all citizens
in the decision making, who was not included?
Citizenship rights- limited to male, adult, non-slave
Athenians of citizen descent.

Male citizens, 18 years or over could speak and vote

in the assembly- positions such as magistrates and
jurors; over 30 years of age.

Women, children, slaves, foreigners — a majority

of the city's population — had no right to participate
in the assembly.
Ancient Greek Democracy is important in the scope
of history as it was the first working example of
Democracy.

Democracy was brought back in modern time period

because Greek historians and philosophers wrote
about their great democracy and culture.
What type of democracy is our modern
system?
 Representative democracy: a type of democracy in
which the citizens delegate authority to elected
representatives

Citizens elect officials to make political decisions,

formulate laws and vote on issues that effect their lives.

Representative means that the political official is a

substitute for the citizens (they vote for the citizens).

In a parliamentary system of democracy it is the

ministers who represents the voters.
Decisions in a democracy are made by
majority rule, what does this mean?
The Majority rule is the rule or law
that requires more than half of the
citizens who cast a vote to agree in
order for the decision to be
instituted.

50 percent plus 1
When is modern democracy considered direct?
Referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate
is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

Recent Referendums in Malta;

Maltese European Union membership referendum, 2003

Maltese divorce referendum, 2011

Spring Hunting 2015

Maltese divorce referendum, 2011

Choice Votes %
Yes 122,547 52.67
No 107,971 46.4
Invalid or blank 2,173 0.93
Total votes 232,691 100.00

Source: Department of Information

How is participation in voting in referendums and
national elections in our parliamentary
democracy limited?