2nd Term
CONSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRACY
Meaning:
constitutional democracy is a system of government in which the people are ruled
by the people-made laws. There are clear limits of political authorities, and
the electorate has the power to remove poor performing governments. Constitutional democracy is
the type of democracy where powers of the majority are exercised within a frame
work of the constitution designed to guarantee the majority right. In Constitutional Democracy, how the people are to be
ruled and governed are clearly stated in the constitution.
Types of constitutional democracy: (1) Pluralism: A pluralist
democracy describes a political system where there is more than one
center of power. This is a type of constitutional democracy in which
majority of the people are allowed to exercise their views, opinions and idea. Democracies are by
definition pluralist as democracies allow freedom
of association. However, pluralism may exist without democracy. (2) Constitutional
Direct Democracy: This fashion all its progressions and procedures according to
the constitution of the state and allow the people direct participation in the
political affairs. (3) Republican constitutional democracy: This type
of democracy is representational. The people are not directly the government,
but they only elect those that will represent them in government. It is the
elected representatives that exercise governmental powers on behalf of the
people.
Features
of constitutional democracy: (1) POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. The
people are the ultimate source of the authority of the government which derives
its right to govern from their consent. (2) MINORITY RIGHTS. Although “the majority rules,” the
fundamental rights of individuals in the minority are protected. Under
constitutional democracy, the rights of the voiceless or the unprivileged are
well secured through the constitution. (3) LIMITED GOVERNMENT. The powers of government are limited
by law and a written or unwritten constitution which those in power obey. The
government in constitutional democracy is limited unlike that of other forms
of democracy in which government can be dissolved at
any time. (4) INSTITUTIONAL AND PROCEDURAL
LIMITATIONS ON POWERS. There are certain institutional and
procedural devices which limit the powers of government. These may include: Judiciary and Legislature, and the
procedure of passing bills into laws. (5)
SEPARATED
AND SHARED POWERS. Powers are separated among different
agencies or branches of government. Each agency or branch has primary
responsibility for certain functions such as legislative, executive, and
judicial functions. However, each branch also shares these functions with the
other branches. (6) CHECKS AND BALANCES.
Different agencies or branches of government have adequate power to check the
powers of other branches. Checks and balances may include the power of judicial
review and the power of courts to declare actions of other branches of
government to be contrary to the constitution and therefore null and void. (7) DUE PROCESS OF LAW.
Individual rights to life, liberty, and property are protected by the guarantee
of due process of law. (8) LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION THROUGH
ELECTIONS. Elections insure that key positions in government will
be contested at periodic intervals and that the transfer of governmental
authority is accomplished in a peaceful and orderly process. (9) Popular Sovereignty: In
constitutional democracy, the people are seen as the louder voice of the
government of a state, this makes the will of the electorate to prevail. (10) Basic freedom: The
constitution allows the people to know their rights and ensure that their
rights are protected; there is basic freedom of interference from the people in
the affairs of government (11) Majority rule: This is
the rule that gives the majority the chance to express their views and opinions
in the affair of the government. Majority rule gives leadership rights to the
people and thereby gain the full support and recognition of the masses.
Advantages
of constitutional democracy (1) It prevents dictatorship (2) it gives equal opportunity to the
citizens (3)there is Political
stability (4)Rule of law
Disadvantages
of constitutional democracy (1) It inhibits innovative changes (2) It is expensive to operate (3) Delayed decision making
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