Page 70 - Sst Class - IX

Political Science

1. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
1. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Memory Points
Memory Points
• Democracy is the most prevalent form of government in the world today and it is expanding to more
countries.

Arguments for Democracy
• A Democracy requires that the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people.

• A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of
government.

• Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
• Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
• Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.

• Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.

• The majority of people rule through their elected representatives. This becomes necessary because:
 Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for
them to sit together and take a collective decision.
 Even if they could, the citizens do not have the time, the desire, or the skills to take part in all the
decisions.

Arguments against Democracy
• Leaders keep changing in a Democracy. This leads to instability.

• Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
• Many people have to be consulted in a Democracy, so it leads to delays.

• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.

• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.

Types of Democracies
Republic: It is a political system governed by elected representatives without hereditary rights.

Direct Democracy: A system of governance in which policies and laws are made direct by the vote of the

people instead of elected representatives.
Federal Republic: A type of government having a federal state with self-governing units and a Constitution.

Democratic Republic: When the complete authority and power is derived by citizens and the government
is run by elected officials, then the form of government is called a Democratic Republic.

68