Seshu cheera

Overview of Elections in a Democracy In modern democracies, people govern through their representatives , as direct governance by all citizens is neither possible nor necessary in large communities. Elections are the mechanism by which these representatives are chosen. Why Elections Are Necessary and Useful Elections are considered essential for any representative democracy . They provide a mechanism for people to: Choose their law-makers . Form the government and make major decisions. Select the party whose policies will guide the government and law-making . Choose representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish. Electoral Competition Elections are fundamentally about political competition . Forms of Competition : This takes various forms, most obviously competition among political parties, and at the constituency level, among candidates. Demerits : Competition can lead to disunity and 'factionalism' within localities, with parties and leaders...

I. Overview of Democratic Institutions Democracy and Rulers Democracy is not solely about people electing their rulers; the rulers must also adhere to specific rules and procedures . They are required to operate with and within institutions . This framework allows for major decisions to be taken and implemented, and for disputes related to these decisions to be resolved. Three key institutions in this process are the legislature, executive, and judiciary . Purpose of Studying Institutions The objective is to comprehend how these institutions collectively carry out the work of government . Key questions explored for each institution include: What does it do? How is it connected to others? What affects its democratic functioning? Examples are primarily taken from the national level government (Central Government, Union Government, or Government of India). Need for Political Institutions Governing a country involves various activities like ensuring security, providi...

CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN: AN OVERVIEW A constitution serves as the supreme law of a country , outlining the basic rules that both citizens and the government must follow. It defines the rights of citizens, the powers of the government, and how the government should operate. Key questions about constitutional design include: Why is a constitution needed? How are constitutions drafted? Who designs them and by what methods? What values shape constitutions in democratic states? Can a constitution be changed after its acceptance to adapt to new conditions? 2.1 DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA The recent process of designing a constitution for a democratic state in South Africa provides a significant example. Struggle Against Apartheid Nelson Mandela's Imprisonment: Nelson Mandela, a key figure in the struggle, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for opposing the apartheid regime and spent 27 years in Robben Island prison. His ideal was a democratic and free soc...