DEFINING

FEATURES OF
DEMOCRACY
Reporters:
Ma. Alyssa Avie Mendros
Troy Benjamin Tiamzon
WHAT ARE THESE BASIC
PRINCIPLES?
First: when decisions to be made for a whole group of people, all of them have a right to partake in
the deliberations that will influence the outcome. In life, we take many decisions as individuals.
Experience tells us that most collective decisions are subject to disagreement, with different views
about which is most appropriate. Differences can sometimes be expressed quite strongly. Thus, another
basic principle of democracy is how it offers a method for dealing with such differences. This is through
open discussion and debate, wherein the main competing views on a given matter can be publicly aired,
understood, and, if possible, resolved.
Here’s lies democracy’s third idea or principle: that everyone counts as equal: with an equal right to
have their views heard and to be treated with respect by others, even if they may disagree. This principle of
political equality is justified on the grounds that every person is capable of understanding what their
interests are and developing a view about where the common interests lies.
 DEMOCRACY AT THE LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT
The second institutional means through which democracy is realized is through an effective
framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. These rights guarantee the freedom
of expression, assembly, and association among others. Human rights enable people to develop
their own associations for solving common problems, improving their conditions of life, and
bringing their concerns to the government.
Another institutional component of democracy is known as the rule of law, which protects
people from the arbitrary intervention of government in their everyday lives and activities. Its
manifestations are the following:
 Laws duly enacted by parliament are effectively and fairly enforced;
 The courts and judges tasked with this are wholly independent of the government:
 All public affairs are subject to the law and must operate within its constraints; and
 Those accused of breaking the law are tried according to fair procedures.
REGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Human rights and fundamental freedoms are entitlements inherent to all human beings and
are deemed essential to the greater goal of achieving human dignity. That human beings are
inalienable, inviable rights, as well as fundamental freedoms are proof of the moral gains
obtained from the idea of the enlightenment and modernity.
These rights of freedoms are the very foundation of democracy and serve to protect the
citizenry from authotarian rule that may be imposed by the state. It is also the lever the balances
human relationships in the family, and the community, and the boarder life of the nation, and
even in the international arena.
Human rights entails obligations from the state. Under international law, states assumes
obligations and duties to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights.
CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
Human rights can be classified according to the following:
 Personal rights are applied not only to the citizens of the states but to all who live on its
territory. The most significant right subsumed under this include the right to life; right to
security; freedom from slavery, imprisonment; freedom of conscience; and freedom of
expression.
 Political rights and freedoms span the participation of a citizen in the state’s political life, as
formation and realization of the state’s power. Most political rights are aimed towards defining
the relationship of the citizen and the states. Political rights include freedom of speech and
opinion; right to access basic services like water, medical care and education; right to organize
and attend public gatherings, and articulate opinions in public gathering where one can
articulate opinions; and form organizations and join political movements.
 CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
 Social and economic rights and freedoms are aimed at the provision of welfare and the
quality a person’s life. These rights mandate the state to provide for services that will enhance
the quality of life and promote total human development.
 Cultural rights include the individual’s rights to participate in the cultural life of the nation,
articulate values, access information, use one’s native language, and participate in the
development in accordance with one’s identity, ethnicity, and gender.
CONDUCT OF REGULAR, FAIR, AND
FREE ELECTIONS
Elections are the means by which public officials are sworn into office by a process that
elicits majority works. It is the core idea of representation democracy because the people
exercise their rights to choose the leaders who best represent their interests. Thus, elections are
competitive and the ones who get elected are accountable to its constituencies.
The electoral system also equalizes the opportunities for citizens to run for public office. In
a real democracy, the process of choosing who can run does not discriminate between those who
have the resources or not, and it is assumed that those who will best serve the public interest will
amass the more number of votes as the citizenry are discerning.
For the elections to be faithful to the spirit of democracy, the following requirements should be present:

• The citizens have the right to choose from the running candidates and parties without any restriction. They
must free to decide who to vote for or whatever they want to abstain from the exercise.
• Voting is done in secret, and there must be no way of knowing which candidate or political party a citizen will
vote. The secrecy of the process is unsured through a system that allows the citizen to cast his or her vote
without any fear of being watched or influenced in the polling booth.
• Democratic elections allow the citizens to monitor the electoral process, from the actual voting to the counting
of the votes.
• Democratic societies hold elections on a regular basis.
• Finally, the result of the elections are considered and executory.
RULE OF LAW
 The rule of law is founded on respect for the law and the Constitution.

 The bill of rights of every citizen, as well as the state's responsibilities in protecting, upholding, and
promoting those rights, are enshrined in the constitution.
 Under the law, all citizens in a democratic state are equal.

 The rule of law is complemented by the separation of powers of the three branches of government, also
known as ‘trias politico’.
-The Legislative branch
-The Executive branch
-The Judicial branch
 The term trias politico, which refers to the three branches of government, was created by the French
Enlightenment thinker Charles Louis II.
BROAD CITIZEN
MANAGEMENT
 The inalienable right to free speech and expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of
religion are just a few of the core rights that citizens should have in a democratic society.
 Democracy is about plurality of voices; that is why it has also been referred to as the free
marketplace of ideas.
 Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are essential to democratic life.
 Religious Freedom includes the right to choose a religion and manifest belief to a faith system.
 Civil Society is a distinct area of life distinct from the country that allows people to address
concerns and matters free from the state’s authority and control.
 Civil society interacts with democratic institutions of society primarily through organized
action, which is channeled through what is commonly referred to as civil society organizations.
 Civil Society functions as watchdog.