SH1736
Democratic Interventions
I. Democracy
• It is coined from dēmos or “people” and kratos or “rule.”
• The term was derived from the Greek word dēmokratiā, which literally means “rule by
the people.”
II. Components of a Democratic Government
a. Rule of Law
• It is the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to the
law that is fairly applied and enforced (dictionary.com). Also, it can be simply defined
as the adherence to due process of the law (Merriam-webster.com).
• It implies that the creation of laws, their enforcement, and the relationships among legal
rules are themselves legally regulated so that no one—including the most highly placed
official—is above the law (Britannica.com).
b. Basic Rights and Freedom
• According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2017), human rights are norms that
help to protect all people everywhere from severe political, legal, and social abuses.
• United Nations, defined human rights as universal and inalienable, interdependent and
indivisible, and equal and non-discriminatory.
i. Universal and inalienable
Human rights belong to all and cannot be taken away unless specific situations
call for it. However, the deprivation of a person's right is subject to due process.
ii. Interdependent and indivisible
Whatever happens to even one right – fulfillment or violation – can directly
affect the others.
iii. Equal and non-discriminatory
Human rights protect all people regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion,
and political leaning, among others. They should be respected without prejudice.
• According to the 1987 Constitution, Article III, Section 1, “No person shall be deprived
of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied
the equal protection of the laws.” Every citizen has individual personality rights,
political, civil, and socio-economic rights. If the society fails to uphold these rights,
there are national and international government and nongovernment organizations that
are active in the protection of these rights – the United Nations (UN), International
Court of Justice, The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine Alliance of
Human Rights Advocate, among others (Dela Cruz & Dela Cruz, 2017).
c. Elections
• One of the pillars of democracy is an election where citizens have the right to vote and
be elected. In a democratic election, citizens have the right to vote or abstain from
several candidates or political parties as the State safeguards the integrity, transparency,
and legitimacy of this political exercise (Dela Cruz & Dela Cruz, 2017).
d. Division of Powers
• The power in a democratic government is divided into three (3): legislative, judiciary,
and executive. The President represents enforces government laws and policies through
his/her executive powers, the Congress adopts laws through its legislative power, and
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lastly, the Supreme Court has the judicial power to settle cases and disputes of its
citizenry.
III. Democratic Participation
• It refers to acts that are intended to influence the behavior of those empowered to make
decisions. In a society where participation is a value, inability to participate represents a
severe deprivation (Verba, 1967).
• In a democratic government, there are diverse groups that freely organize themselves to
gain influence on social and political life. Because of the diversity of these groups, there
always an opposition that exists. Democracy thrives on how the State handles the dynamic
exchange of views on conflicting issues, and on how the opposition can be a substitute of
the majority and a pressure on the government. A mature democracy is characterized by an
opposition that provides public opinion and makes constructive criticisms (Dela Cruz &
Dela Cruz, 2017).
IV. Models of Democracy
a. Participatory Democracy
• This type of democracy strives to create opportunities for all members of a population
to make meaningful contributions to decision-making and seeks to broaden the range
of people who have access to such opportunities. Catt (1999), as cited in Dela Cruz,
Fadrigon, & Mabaquiao Jr. (2017), enumerates four major components of participatory
democracy:
i. All members have the opportunity to raise an issue, provide possible solutions to
the problem, and take part in the crafting of the decision.
ii. The issues are discussed during face-to-face meetings.
iii. There is much discussion involved in addressing the problem and everyone who
wants to join can contribute to the discussion.
iv. Members want consensus.
b. Representative Democracy
• It is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to
pass laws for them. Local and state officials are also elected. All of these officials
supposedly listen to the populace and do what’s best for the nation, state, or jurisdiction
as a whole (study.com).
• According to People Decide, a participatory democracy online voting platform in
Australia, representative democracy allows its citizens to elect leaders whose job is to
keep an eye on the bigger picture, provide insight and direction, consult experts, and
assist when there is a divide in public opinion.
• Elements of Representative Democracy (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, & Jones, 1997 cited
in Dela Cruz, Fadrigon, & Mabaquiao Jr., 2017)
i. Popular Support of the Government
The preservation of popular support of people to their leaders is necessary for a
democratic system. No leader has an inherent or divine right to rule or to hold
political power.
ii. Political Competition
People have several choices when electing officials under a democratic system.
The Constitution allows for at least two (2) candidates to run for a particular public
office.
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iii. Alternation of Power
No leader or party stays in power forever. The length of each public official’s term
is written in the Constitution.
iv. Popular Representation
People cannot individually tell the government their interests and demands. At
least 200 districts in the entire country are represented by congressional
representatives. In the Senate, there are 24 senators who represent the interests of
the Filipinos.
v. Majority Rule
Government decisions are not always 100% acceptable to all parties concerned.
Through the rule of the majority, the decision that got the greatest number of
support or approval will have to be accepted, implemented, and respected
throughout the country. Although, it must be noted that the majority rule system
should not be used to coerce and oppress the rights of the minority.
vi. Recognition of Rights to Dissent and Disobedience
Democratic governments preserve the rights of people to free expressions and
actions. Included among these rights is the right to resist orders and policies of the
government if they believe that it is against the will of the people. This can be seen
when people conduct strikes, rallies, and mass demonstrations to show displeasure
with government policies.
vii. Political Equality
People have equal rights to run for public office. If a person satisfies the
fundamental requirements to be able to run in a particular government position,
then he or she has the right to be elected.
viii. Popular Consultation
The government must be responsive to the needs of its people. There are different
ways on how a government consults with its people. Survey polls, town hall
meetings, press conferences, and other related strategies may be used to get the
sentiments of the people.
ix. Free Press
In a democratic government, members of the media have the right to express, say,
or write what they think or feel. The absence of freedom of the press creates an
environment for dictatorship.
References:
Choi, N. (n.d.). Rule of Law. Retrieved on September 5, 2017 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/rule-of-law.
Dela Cruz, A. D., Fadrigon, C. C., & Mabaquiao, N. M., (2017). Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the 21st
Century Culture. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Dela Cruz, R. T. & Dela Cruz, R. P., (2017). Wired! Trends, networks, and critical thinking skills in the 21st century.
Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Gavilan, J. (2010). “Things to know: Human rights in the Philippines.” Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/114698-human-rights-philippines.
Longley, R. (2017). “Learn about direct democracy and its pros and cons.” Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-direct-democracy-3322038.
Nickel, J., "Human Rights", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2017/entries/rights-human/.
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Rule of Law. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/rule-of-law.
Rule of Law. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 5, 2017, from https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20law.
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – Article III. Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-
1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-iii/.
Verba, S. (1967). Democratic Participation. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,
373, 53-78. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1037353
What are human rights? (n.d.) Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx.
What is participatory, representative, direct, and deliberative democracy? (n.d.) Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
http://www.peopledecide.org.au/representative_direct_and_deliberative_democracy.
What is representative democracy? Definition, examples, pros & cons. (n.d.). Retrieved on September 6, 2017, from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-representative-democracy-definition-examples-pros-cons.html.
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