Principles of Democracy: Sovereignty, Rights & Separation of Powers

Principles of Democracy: Sovereignty, Rights & Powers

1. Sovereignty: The supreme political power in the state.
2. Government: The governing body that exercises political power; in democracies the government assumes executive power according to the division of powers.
3. Popular will: The political will of citizens expressed collectively.
4. Democratic attitude: The disposition to live together and reach agreements with those who have different opinions and interests.
5. Tolerance: An attitude of acceptance toward people with different beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and interests.
6. Minority rights: Rights recognized in democracies for groups that hold minority opinions or behaviors.
7. Human rights: The basic rights that all human beings possess by virtue of being human.
8. Universal suffrage: The right of all citizens to participate by voting in political decisions and in choosing those who exercise political power.
9. Division of powers: The separation between the fundamental powers of the state.

The origins of democracy

Democracy is a form of state in which political power comes from the people — the citizenry. Modern democracy is the product of developments over past centuries. In pre-modern states a privileged political minority often held power; ordinary people had no right to intervene in public affairs. From the French Revolution onward, many people became aware of these injustices and sought change, which gave rise to the modern democratic ideal.

Division of powers

The scheme of separation of powers divides the state's main functions among distinct branches so that each can check and balance the others.

• Executive: The government is responsible for policy decisions required for the smooth running of the state and society, always acting in accordance with the law.
• Legislative: The body that makes the laws and exercises oversight and control over executive power.
• Judicial: Composed of judges and magistrates who apply the law to crimes and resolve disputes between parties in social life.

Democratic rule of law

The democratic rule of law is a state that authentically respects human rights and is, at once, governed by the rule of law and organized as a democratic polity.

Forms of democratic state under the rule of law

A democratic constitution must respect the scheme of the division of powers. States may take different forms:

• Republics: The head of state is elected.
• Monarchies: The head of state is a monarch and the position is often hereditary.
• Presidential systems: In some democracies, the executive is elected directly by citizens.
• Parliamentary democracies: In other democracies the executive is elected by parliament.