Constitution

• Democracies have constitution that delineate the basic forms, organization, and operation of government. It describes both governmental powers and imitations.
• Constitutions are diverse, some long, some short.
• Britain does not a written constitution, for them, it is synonymous with fundamental principle of the nation, practical cultures manifested in custom and convention.
• Implicit in democratic constitution is the idea that: 1) government should be responsive to people. 2) limited in goals and in means used. 3) effective and competent

Responsive Government

• Constitutional Democracies exercise popular control according to the principle of majority rule.
• Alex de Tocquelle, “Democracy in America” said that the notion of majority in band on nation of that there is more intelligence and wisdom in many rather that one also, interests
• Explain on human equality

Tyranny of Majority

• If democratic government become defined in forms of unlimited rule in the majority becomes anonymous with “ mob rule” on the western town sheriff and mob justice shows.

Limited Government

• The notion of “a morally infallible majority is nonsense”.
• Majority contains individuals, it is a collection - some of these might be misguided, misled, or misinformed on any given issue.
• To prevent injustice, limitations must be plaid on majority rule. Powers through a variety of provinces, Bill of Rights, etc.

Minority Rights

• Bill of Rights allow to protect minority rights. Even if majority want to take away right of speech from minority they can’t because the constitution protects their rights.

Rule of Law

• Law represents reason free from passions of individuals (aristotle.)
• John Locke-high law- state should not people without their consent . Constitution in U.S.A.- in the tradition of John Locke- became higher law – supreme law of the land!!

Constitution As A Correct Procedure

• This is synonymous with the rule of the law and can be defined as the correct procedure.
• Constitution indicates procedures to be followed in election, distribution of power, and procedural justice - “rules of the game”
• Although constitution say all Americans are equal under the law –black Americans and other minorities were denied their right in practice
• Free society result when constitutional proclamation are realized in practice
• Federalism
• Unitary form
  
  
• Alternative sources of information available to the public equality in terms of voting.
• Peaceful change with limited govt. coercion
• Democracy- combines right to representative govt. and right to exercise individual freedom
  
  
• Representative institutions based on majority rule, chosen thru free and open elections with choice of political parties.
• Limitations on the power of govt., either thru a consolidation written constitution or other authoritative codified documents, implying a pluralistic society in which the state is not all-embracing but co-exists with other competing private interests.
• Accountability of the govt. to the electorate. Thru periodic elections and other mechanisms under rule of law.
• Freedom of expression, assembly and person, guaranteed by an independent judiciary.
• A skilled and impartial permanent civil service that is responsible to the current political leadership and through it to the electorate.
  
  
• Liberal democracy: active private market with limited govt. intervention; few restrictions on private individuals
• Social democracy: significant govt. control over market including targeted taxes and subsides, managed wages and production and substantial welfare benefits for individuals; some restrictions on private individuals in areas of expression and political activity