Democracy: ‘demo’ the people ‘kratos’ rule
Democracy is more than voting
A democracy is a system of government in which the people have the power to shape decisions and hold those in authority accountable.
It is not just about voting every few years – it is about ongoing civic participation and oversight. In a democracy, elected representatives should govern according to the law, respecting human rights.
The rule of law is essential in a democracy: it ensures that those in power do not act arbitrarily but are accountable for their actions and bound by legal and ethical standards.
To function properly, a democracy relies on checks and balances, transparency, and public accountability. It also depends on an informed and engaged population, and a shared commitment to the rule of law, where there is a culture that citizens and leaders alike respect and follow the law.
The people rule by voting
In a democracy, citizens vote for
representatives to make laws and
decisions on their behalf. This is
called Representative Government.
People are treated equally. Each
person has one vote, and they have
the freedom to choose who they vote
for to represent them parliament.
This requires regular elections,
which must remain free, honest, and
fair. Secret voting, which was
established in the Victorian Colony
shortly after the Eureka Rebellion in
1856, is important in allowing
citizens the freedom to choose their
elected representative without
undue pressure.
If the people are unhappy with the
decisions that their elected
representative are making on their
behalf, they can let their elected
member know through letters and
petitions. Regular elections are the
ultimate way those in power are
accountable. Those who are
unhappy with their elected
representatives do not need to vote
them in at the next election.
In a democracy, all citizens must also
have the opportunity to be
nominated and become an elected
representative themselves.
Checks and Balance to
control the Government
A strong democracy has systems in
place to make sure no one has too much
power.
Checks and balances are the
guarantees of justice and help protect
rights and freedoms by enabling
effective scrutiny and accountability.
They include a constitution, laws and
legal processes, open and transparent
decision making, freedom of the press,
scrutiny of decisions, bicameral system
of government and an independent
judiciary.
Those voted into government are
generally part of a political party and the
party with the majority of votes in the
House of Representatives (Lower House)
forms the government of the day. They
are accountable (responsible) to the
Parliament. A bicameral parliament is
particularly effective as it provides two
levels of scrutiny between multiple
political parties, ensuring government
decisions pass through one of the
required checks and balances before
being passed as law.
Parliamentary supremacy ensures that
the final say about laws is given to
parliament. This limit on powers means
the Parliament who are elected by the
people of Australia to govern and not the
Courts or government officials, have the
ultimate power to make laws on the
people’s behalf.
Protects the Australian People
Active and informed citizens are at the
heart of a strong and well-functioning
democracy.
It provides the people with the power to
participate in decision-making through
their elected representatives and to have
a say about the law to which they must
follow.
To be well informed, there needs to be
freedoms that allow active participation
such as freedom of speech, freedom of
the press and freedom of association.
Governments need to be open and
transparent about their work and to
share information to the people quickly
and clearly so they can understand what
is happening and hold the government to
account for their decisions.
This also requires a supportive culture
where citizens, including those in power,
are active and follow the laws made on
their behalf.
Citizens follow the law not merely
because they are forced by the
government or fear the penalties for
breaking the law, but because they
respect the law and believe it is for the
good of all of society if everyone follows
it.
