FIND OUT MORE. Decolonization 434 • French Revolution 415 • Revolutionary Russia 428 • The Law 310–311 • The State 308–309
Society and Beliefs^307
HOW MANY TYPES OF DEMOCRACY ARE THERE?
There are two main types of democracy: presidential, where voters elect a
president, who then appoints the government, such as in the USA or France; and
parliamentary, where voters directly elect the government of their choice, such as
in the UK. Sometimes a president may rule yet represent a minority party.Democracy (from the Greek for “rule by the people”) is a way that
people can choose their government from a range of political
parties. In republics, or countries without monarchies, the electors
vote for a head of state, or president, as well as the government.WHAT IS A REFERENDUM?
Sometimes a political decision is too important to be
left to elected politicians, so the issue is decided by
voters, normally with a simple yes or no answer to a
direct question. A referendum is typically used for a
decision that affects people’s basic rights, or the
sovereign (independent) status of a nation.HOW ARE POLITICAL PARTIES CREATED?
A new party is created when people who share
common political beliefs feel unrepresented and
decide to compete for political power. They agree a
name for themselves, and draw up a list of their ideas,
called a manifesto, for voters to consider. Party
members normally vote to choose their leader.DO DEMOCRACIES NEED CIVIL RIGHTS?
Sometimes laws that represent the will of the majority
can restrict the freedom of others and exclude
minorities from full political and social participation
and threaten the idea of democracy. Civil rights
protect the freedoms of all people within society.Citizens of democratic societies expect
equal participation in political, social, and
economic life. These freedoms are called
civil rights. They are meant to guarantee
that society is fair to everyone.Political parties are formed to represent
different interests. These may be economic,
social, or religious – each with its own
ideas about how society should be ruled.1 NELSON MANDELA CASTING A VOTE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S ELECTIONS
During elections, each citizen may vote anonymously for the candidate
of their choice by marking an “X” against the candidate’s name on the
ballot slip and placing it in a sealed ballot box. Sometimes electors vote
for individuals, sometimes they vote for parties.
WOMEN DEMONSTRATING 3
Women in Aceh, Indonesia, protest against the introduction of sweeping
emergency laws by the government in 2002, issued to combat rebel
groups. These laws took away many basic civil rights.DEMOCRACY
4 POLITICAL RALLY
Parties often hold large meetings, such as this convention of Democratic
Party supporters in the USA. The meetings help choose party leaders,
reward their supporters, and publicize their interests.CIVIL RIGHTS
PARTY
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
American, 1929–1968
“We know through painful
experience that freedom is
never voluntarily given by
the oppressor; it must be
demanded by the oppressed.”
In the 1950s and 1960s, King
campaigned against racial
injustice and for civil rights
for all black Americans.politics