All democracies are systems in which citizens freely make political decisions by majority rule. But rule by the majority is not necessarily democratic: No one, for example, would call a system fair or just that permitted 51 percent of the population to oppress the remaining 49 percent in the name of the majority. In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guarantees of individual human rights that, in turn, serve to protect the rights of minorities–whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation. The rights of minorities do not depend upon the goodwill of the majority and cannot be eliminated by majority vote. The rights of minorities are protected because democratic laws and institutions protect the rights of all citizens.
What Is Democracy?
Defining Democracy
American Institute in Taiwan 美國在台協會
http://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/docs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm
CONTENTS
Introduction
Defining Democracy
Rights
The Rule of Law
Elections
The Culture of Democracy
Democratic Government
Politics, Economics, and Pluralism
Editor: Howard Cincotta
Internet Editor/Designer: Barbara Morgan
Illustrations: Robert Banks
Photos: Scheré Johnson
The staff is indebted to the following individuals and organizations, whose advice and papers were instrumental in organizing and shaping many of the ideas presented in the text:
Eric Chenoweth
John P. Crisp, Jr.
Matthew Gandal
Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Andrew Forsaith
John O. Frank
Diane Ravitch
Theodore Rebarber
Educational Excellence Network
American Federation of Teachers’ Education for Democracy/International
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