Democratic Models Political and Electoral Models.

Democratic ModelsDemocratic Models

Political and Electoral ModelsPolitical and Electoral Models

Political ModelsPolitical Models

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy 1. direct democracy (vs. elected 1. direct democracy (vs. elected

representatives)representatives) 2. exclusion (vs. inclusion) 2. exclusion (vs. inclusion)

Who gets the right to vote? Expansion of the Who gets the right to vote? Expansion of the franchise?franchise?

3. civil and political rights?3. civil and political rights? Does the majority respect rights?Does the majority respect rights?

Political ModelsPolitical Models

Republicanism: Representative Republicanism: Representative DemocracyDemocracy Delegate Model of representationDelegate Model of representation Trustee model of representationTrustee model of representation Who elects the representatives?Who elects the representatives?

Popular votePopular vote Intermediary institutionsIntermediary institutions

Political ModelsPolitical Models

MinimalistMinimalist definition: Emphasis on electoral definition: Emphasis on electoral procedures & selection of leaders, i.e.:procedures & selection of leaders, i.e.:

““A system in which the most powerful decision-A system in which the most powerful decision-makers are selected through fair and periodic makers are selected through fair and periodic voting procedures in which candidates freely voting procedures in which candidates freely compete for votes, and in which virtually all compete for votes, and in which virtually all people have the right to vote.” people have the right to vote.”

(Samuel Huntington)(Samuel Huntington)

Political ModelsPolitical Models

Maximalist Maximalist definition: emphasis on electoral procedures AND definition: emphasis on electoral procedures AND protection for civil libertiesprotection for civil liberties

the right to votethe right to vote the right to be elected/eligibility for public officethe right to be elected/eligibility for public office the right of political leaders to compete for support and votesthe right of political leaders to compete for support and votes free and fair electionsfree and fair elections freedom of associationfreedom of association freedom of expressionfreedom of expression alternative sources of informationalternative sources of information institutions that make government policies actually depend on votes institutions that make government policies actually depend on votes

and other forms of (voter) preferenceand other forms of (voter) preference

(Robert Dahl)(Robert Dahl)

Political ModelsPolitical Models

Various degrees of democracy: Various degrees of democracy: terminologyterminology Liberal democracy (full or institutionalized Liberal democracy (full or institutionalized

democracy)democracy) Electoral democracyElectoral democracy semi-democracy/pseudo-democracy/ semi-democracy/pseudo-democracy/

“Illiberal” democracy“Illiberal” democracy

Variation #1: Variation #1: degree of territorial & degree of territorial & political centralizationpolitical centralization

Federal System vs. “Unitary” SystemFederal System vs. “Unitary” System Federal systemFederal system::

Decentralized authorityDecentralized authority sovereignty constitutionally split between at least sovereignty constitutionally split between at least

two territorial levels two territorial levels units at each level can act independently of the units at each level can act independently of the

others in some areas. others in some areas. Citizens have political obligations to two (or more) Citizens have political obligations to two (or more)

authorities authorities Examples: U.S., Canada, GermanyExamples: U.S., Canada, Germany

Unitary System:Unitary System:

Authority & sovereignty centralized in one Authority & sovereignty centralized in one place (the capital)place (the capital)

Policies largely set by “the center”Policies largely set by “the center” No intermediary layer between local and No intermediary layer between local and

central government central government Local govt subservient to central govtLocal govt subservient to central govt Examples: France, Turkey, EnglandExamples: France, Turkey, England

Pros & Cons:Pros & Cons:

Federal system: Federal system: more democratic, more responsive… more democratic, more responsive… Encourages separatism? Less efficient?Encourages separatism? Less efficient?

Unitary systemUnitary system more efficient? more efficient? Encourages national unity?Encourages national unity?

Variation #2: Variation #2: Powers and processes of leadershipPowers and processes of leadership

Presidential vs. Presidential vs. Parliamentary SystemsParliamentary Systems

a. Title & power of head a. Title & power of head of stateof state

Presidential systemPresidential system:: head of govt – always called the president – is head of govt – always called the president – is

elected for a prescribed period and generally cannot elected for a prescribed period and generally cannot be dismissed unless guilty of severe wrongdoing. be dismissed unless guilty of severe wrongdoing.

Parliamentary systemParliamentary system:: head of the government usually (but not always) head of the government usually (but not always)

called the Prime Minister. His/her cabinet called the Prime Minister. His/her cabinet responsible to the legislature (Parliament); can be responsible to the legislature (Parliament); can be dismissed through a vote of no confidence. dismissed through a vote of no confidence.

b. How head of state is b. How head of state is chosenchosen

In In Presidential SystemPresidential System, presidents are , presidents are popularly elected by populacepopularly elected by populace

In a In a Parliamentary systemParliamentary system, head of state , head of state selected by the legislature. selected by the legislature.

Elections for other Elections for other RepresentativesRepresentatives

SMDP Model:SMDP Model: One winnerOne winner Determined by plurality voteDetermined by plurality vote Disproportionate RepresentationDisproportionate Representation

PR ModelPR Model Multi-party systemsMulti-party systems Determined by % of the popular voteDetermined by % of the popular vote Uneasy majorities subject to the disproportionate Uneasy majorities subject to the disproportionate

influence of minority parties…need to hold together influence of minority parties…need to hold together fragile coalitionsfragile coalitions

c. Status of the head of c. Status of the head of statestate

In a In a presidential systempresidential system, president , president appoints the cabinet and they are appoints the cabinet and they are considered subservient to him. considered subservient to him.

In a In a parliamentary systemparliamentary system, the prime , the prime minister serves as one among equalsminister serves as one among equals

d. selection of the d. selection of the cabinet…cabinet…

In Presidential systemIn Presidential system, cabinet appointed , cabinet appointed separately by presidentseparately by president

In Parliamentary systemIn Parliamentary system, cabinet drawn , cabinet drawn from legislature from legislature

e. Length of term in e. Length of term in officeoffice

In a presidential systemIn a presidential system, legislators and , legislators and presidents serve fixed termspresidents serve fixed terms

In a parliamentary systemIn a parliamentary system, legislators , legislators and presidents serve a maximum time in and presidents serve a maximum time in office but a ruling party can call early office but a ruling party can call early elections if it wants toelections if it wants to

f. allocation of govt f. allocation of govt powers…powers…

In In presidential systempresidential system, executive and , executive and legislative functions separatelegislative functions separate

In In parliamentary systemparliamentary system, executive and , executive and legislative functions fusedlegislative functions fused

NotesNotes::

it is common in parliamentary systems to have it is common in parliamentary systems to have a president or monarch who is the a president or monarch who is the CEREMONIAL head of state, and a PM who is CEREMONIAL head of state, and a PM who is in charge of the governmentin charge of the government

Examples of Parliamentary systems: Britain, Examples of Parliamentary systems: Britain, Turkey, South Africa, GermanyTurkey, South Africa, Germany

Examples of Presidential systems: U.S., most Examples of Presidential systems: U.S., most of South America of South America

Many countries have “mixed” systems, i.e. Many countries have “mixed” systems, i.e. FranceFrance

Examples-TurkeyExamples-Turkeychief of state:chief of state: President Ahmet President Ahmet Necdet SEZER Necdet SEZER

head of government:head of government: Prime Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March 2003)(14 March 2003)

cabinet:cabinet: Council of Ministers Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister nominated by the prime minister

elections:elections: president elected by the president elected by the National Assembly for a 7-year National Assembly for a 7-year term; prime minister drawn from term; prime minister drawn from majority party and confirmed by majority party and confirmed by president. president. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan,

2003

Examples- United Examples- United KingdomKingdom chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH

IIII head of government: Prime head of government: Prime

Minister Tony BLAIR (since 2 Minister Tony BLAIR (since 2 May 1997) May 1997)

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister appointed by the prime minister

elections: monarchy is hereditary; elections: monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime ministerusually the prime minister

Tony Blair, British PM (photo from the Birmingham Post)

Example: BrazilExample: Brazil

chief of state:chief of state: President President Luiz Inacio LULA DA Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January SILVA (since 1 January 2003)2003)

note - the president is note - the president is both the chief of state both the chief of state and head of government and head of government

elections:elections: president and president and vice president elected on vice president elected on the same ticket by the same ticket by popular vote for four-popular vote for four-year termsyear terms

parliamentary system:parliamentary system: pros and cons pros and cons

+ Strengthens parties + Strengthens parties over individualsover individuals

+ Encourages policy-+ Encourages policy-based voting rather based voting rather than voting based on than voting based on individual charisma or individual charisma or $$$$

+ Fusing of legislative + Fusing of legislative & exec. branches can & exec. branches can promote efficiencypromote efficiency

- Gives the public less - Gives the public less choice over choice over leadershipleadership

- Flexible election - Flexible election terms can = less terms can = less stabilitystability

- Fusing of executive - Fusing of executive & legislative branches & legislative branches can concentrate too can concentrate too much power in one much power in one placeplace

Presidential system:Presidential system:pros and conspros and cons

+ Gives the people more + Gives the people more choice over leadershipchoice over leadership

+ “strong” government- + “strong” government- president more insulated president more insulated and can act with daringand can act with daring

+ higher levels of + higher levels of government government accountabilityaccountability

+ Greater stability+ Greater stability + Clear separation of + Clear separation of

powerspowers

- Power of presidency - Power of presidency can be abusedcan be abused

- Can encourage - Can encourage deadlock between deadlock between legislature & executivelegislature & executive

- Encourages charisma, - Encourages charisma, $$, rather than $$, rather than substance & policiessubstance & policies

- Set terms= rigidity (bad - Set terms= rigidity (bad leaders can’t be easily leaders can’t be easily removed)removed)

Electoral systemsElectoral systems

How voting works: who, where, How voting works: who, where, and how people get electedand how people get elected

Electoral System Electoral System ‘Families’‘Families’

Source: http://www.idea.int/esd/systems.cfm

Democracy -- A ProcessDemocracy -- A Process

Representative Representative (Delegate) (Delegate) DemocracyDemocracy

Direct Direct DemocracyDemocracy

Participatory Participatory DemocracyDemocracy

Representative Representative (Trustee) (Trustee) Democracy Democracy

Opportunities for Opportunities for Mass ParticipationMass Participation

HIGHHIGHLOWLOW

Democracy -- The OutcomesDemocracy -- The Outcomes

Low Low HighHigh

Protection of Protection of Individual RightsIndividual Rights

CommunitarianCommunitarian

Emphasis on Emphasis on General Welfare of General Welfare of the Communitythe Community

LibertarianLibertarian

Emphasis on Limited Emphasis on Limited Government and Government and Rights of the Rights of the IndividualIndividual

MODELS OF DEMOCRACYMODELS OF DEMOCRACYIndividual Rights/Limited Gov’t

General Welfare

High Mass Participation

Low Mass Participation

Majoritarian Majoritarian DemocracyDemocracy

Elite Elite DemocracyDemocracy

Liberal Liberal DemocracyDemocracy

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

majoritarian democracymajoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participationmost important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being high mass participation will result in decisions being

made that maximize the general welfaremade that maximize the general welfare

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

elite democracyelite democracy most important goal is the general welfaremost important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

liberal democracyliberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rightsmost important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be does not prefer low mass participation but may be

willing to accept itwilling to accept it

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

majoritarian democracymajoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participationmost important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that high mass participation will result in decisions being made that

maximize the general welfaremaximize the general welfare majoritarian democratic critiques of other modelsmajoritarian democratic critiques of other models

elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general self-interested and will look after the good of the general massesmasses

liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, privileged groupslimit government in order to protect small, privileged groups

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

elite democracyelite democracy most important goal is the general welfaremost important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

elite democratic critiques of other modelselite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights

limits government’s ability to pursue the general limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the communitywelfare of the community

majoritarian democracy – masses are too majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-makingbe given control over decision-making

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

liberal democracyliberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rightsmost important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be does not prefer low mass participation but may be

willing to accept itwilling to accept it

liberal democratic critiques of other modelsliberal democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power

to infringe the rights of individualsto infringe the rights of individuals majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will

infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority)majority)

Models of Democracy – Models of Democracy – Viewing Democracy Over Viewing Democracy Over TimeTime elite democratselite democrats

the masses will the masses will alwaysalways be incapable of making be incapable of making decisions for the long-term common gooddecisions for the long-term common good

liberal democratsliberal democrats elites and the majorities will elites and the majorities will alwaysalways be prone to be prone to

infringing individual rights if given the chanceinfringing individual rights if given the chance

majoritarian democratsmajoritarian democrats elites will elites will alwaysalways be self-serving be self-serving masses can learn over time to become better masses can learn over time to become better

democratic citizens democratic citizens if given a meaningful opportunity to if given a meaningful opportunity to do sodo so elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too greatelite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great