Sample questions for CAT

1. What is democracy?
2. Where did the idea of democracy come from?
3. Can a representative system be really democratic?
4. Why should we value democracy?
5. What role do political parties play in a democracy?
6. Why are the media important to democracy?
7. Why are representative democracies
called liberal democracies?
8. Is liberal democracy the only possible form of democracy?
9. Is a free-market economy necessary to democracy?
10. Is decision by the majority always democratic?
11. Can an individual legitimately disobey the law
in a democracy?
12. Is there any connection between nationalism
and democracy?
13. How is a transition to democracy brought about?
14. How can democracy be established
in post-conflict situations?
15. Once achieved, how can democracy be maintained?
16. What are the chief components of a functioning democracy?
17. What are human rights?
18. How are rights classified?
19. Are human rights universal?
20. What is the relation between human rights and democracy?
21. What is the relation between civil and political rights and
democracy?
22. How do economic, social and cultural rights relate to
democracy?
23. Are there grounds on which a democratic government can
legitimately limit rights?
24. Can human rights be suspended in an emergency?
25. Can a democracy legitimately exclude anyone
from citizenship?
26. What rights do minorities have in a democracy?
27. How are human rights to be defended in practice?
28. Is expression of international concern over a country’s human rights record
legitimate?
29. Why are elections important?
30. Should the Head of State be popularly elected?
31. What other public offices should be popularly elected?
32. Should there be more than one elected chamber of parliament?
33. How frequently should elections take place?
34. Should anyone be denied the right to vote?
35. What should be the procedures for voter registration?
36. Does voter turnout matter?
37. Who can stand for election to public office?
38. Why are men and women not equally represented
in public office?
39. In what sense do parliamentary representatives
‘represent’ the electorate?
40. What are the differences
between different electoral systems?
41. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these systems?
42. Is coalition government undemocratic?
43. How can the fairness of the election process be guaranteed?
44. Should political parties be publicly funded?
45. Should elected representatives be allowed to change their party allegiance
between elections?
46. Do voters have any power between elections?
47. When should referenda be held in a democracy?

48. In what ways is open government important to democracy?

49. How can open government be secured?

50. What is electronic democracy?

51. What is meant by accountable government?

52. Why is the separation of powers important?

53. What is the rule of law and how can it be guaranteed?

54. What contribution does parliament or legislature make to government

accountability?

55. Should elected representatives be allowed to hold other paid employment?

56. How can political corruption be minimized?

57. What role does the civil service play in a democracy?

58. What contribution can individual citizens make to accountable government?

59. How can the military remain accountable to citizens?

60. Is there any place for a secret service in a democracy?

61. What is the relation between local government and democracy?

62. What is federalism and when might it be appropriate?

63. What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

64. In what ways does globalization challenge democracy?

65. How can international assistance best help emergent democracies?

66. How can democracies manage threats to their security?

67. Can and should international institutions be democratized?

68. Can democracies control the international policies of their governments?

69. How can democratic apathy be addressed?