Saturday 31 August 2013

Democracy

Points: Definition of democracy — The system of election — Democracy in India.

             Democracy, according to Abraham Lincoln, is “government of the people, for the people and by the people.”  In a democracy, the will of the people determines the policy of the government. The will of the people is expressed through the electoral system of votes. A true democracy is based on universal adult franchise.
             Democracy means government by consent. This consent is expressed periodically through the ballot-box. But unless there is freedom of speech in a country, there can be no fair and free election. The electorate must also be educated. Otherwise, the self-seeking politicians will cheat and mislead the ignorant masses.
             India is the biggest or most populous democracy in the world. The world now recognizes that India has already set up a very good, democratic tradition, India has a written constitution. If lays down the guiding principles to be followed by the government as well as by the citizens. There is an Election Commissioner for India. Whenever an election is announced, his office assumes the charge of conducting it independently. Even a Prime Minister has to bow out if he or she loses in the election. We are proud of being a democratic nation.