Democracy — Flashcards

Answer

The word 'Democracy' comes from two Greek words: 'Demos' meaning 'people' and 'Kratia' meaning 'rule' or 'power'. So, democracy means 'rule by the people'.

Answer

Lincoln's definition means that democracy is a system where the government is formed by the people (elections), operates for the benefit of the people (public welfare), and is controlled by the people…

Answer

Direct Democracy is a system where citizens directly participate in decision-making, such as making laws and policies, without representatives. It works best in small communities like Swiss cantons or…

Answer

Indirect Democracy is a system where people elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf. This is used in large countries like India and the USA due to practical limitations of direct…

Answer

A Referendum is a process where a proposed law or constitutional change is put to public vote. It can be compulsory (required by law) or optional (requested by citizens). The people's decision is fina…

Answer

An Initiative allows citizens to propose new laws or policies by collecting signatures. If enough support is gathered, the proposal is either passed to the legislature or put to a public vote (referen…

Answer

Recall is a process that allows citizens to remove an elected representative before their term ends due to poor performance or misconduct. It ensures accountability of leaders.

Answer

A Plebiscite is a public vote to decide on a major national issue, often held after a war or to decide the fate of a region. It was first used by Napoleon in 1804 in France.