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ConstitutionsConstitutions• A nation’s

constitution states the government’s duties to the people, limits the government’s power, and lays out the structure of governance.

• Democratic constitutions are flexible and adaptive.

Former Afghan King Mohammed Zahir Shah reviews a draft constitution in 2003.

© AP IMAGES© AP IMAGES

Legislative Legislative branch makes branch makes

laws. laws.

Executive branch Executive branch implements laws.implements laws.

Judicial Judicial branch branch

interprets interprets laws.laws.

Democracies ensure basic civil rights:• Freedom of speech

and religion• Equal protection

under the law• Freedom of assembly

Demonstrators in Hong Kong push for more press freedom in 1998 .

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FreedomFreedom

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© AP IMAGES

"Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the

growth of a true democratic

spirit.”- Mahatma Gandhi

Democratic societies value tolerance, cooperation and

compromise.

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Who participates in a democracy?

All adult citizens, either

directly or through their freely elected

representatives

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How do citizens in

democracies exercise

their power?By voting in free and fair

elections.© AP Images © AP Images

ProtestsProtests When the people’s needs are not met, When the people’s needs are not met,

demonstrations are tools of change. demonstrations are tools of change.

Buddhist monks in Burma take to the streets in defiance of the Buddhist monks in Burma take to the streets in defiance of the country’s military rulerscountry’s military rulers.

Democracies guard against totalitarian central governments by decentralizing authority

In democracies, diverse interests are represented through civil society, which comprises nongovernmental organizations such as:

• labor unions, • religious organizations, • humanitarian groups, and• academic institutions.

Civil SocietyCivil Society

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© AP Images

News Media News Media Watchdogs of DemocracyWatchdogs of Democracy

• A free press is A free press is vital to a vital to a functioning functioning democracy. democracy.

• It informs and It informs and educates its educates its readers while readers while holding holding elected elected officials officials accountable.accountable.

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The word “democracy” is derived from ancient Greek, the language of Athens, its birthplace.

ΔΗΜΟΣ – “people”

ΚΡΑΤΟΣ – “rule”

As democracy spreads, electorates grow – India alone has 690 million voters. But the fundamental principle of democracy does not change:

people hold the power.