What is and is not a democracy.

The assignment in question asked us to read an article by Philipe C. Schmitter and Terry Lynn Karl titled, What Democracy Is... and Is Not, and to Compare what some of the possible procedures are that make Democracy possible versus those that make it feasible. Provide examples from your experience and compare those experiences with those of the authors.

Here is what I came up with. I try to reference the article so as to minimize confusion of reference.

The article, What Democracy is and Is Not states that there are many types of democracies. Generally that diverse practices will produce similar results. “Modern political democracy is a system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and cooperation of their elected representatives”. This is a lovely and concise definition which encompases the spirit of democracy.
The article lists seven (then two more) procedures that make democracy possible. If the above definition is true, then all of these are well met.
1. Constiutionally vested control over government policy.
2. Frequent and fairly conducted elections
3. All adults have the right to vote.
4. All adults have the right to run for office
5. Citizens have a right to express themselves on political matters
6. Alternative sources of information exist and are protected by law
7. Citizens have the right to form independent interest groups
And then
8. No overriding opposition from unelected officials
9. Must be able to act independently from outside political systems.
I once read, though I don’t remember where, that the United States became a democracy when John Adams took office. Had Washington not stepped down, the United States would have been another country which elected a monarch. This principle is basically what the article says makes a Democracy feasible. The power baton must be able to be passed along to another, even to one’s opponent.
I felt a definite tension when, in 2000 the election between Gore and Bush hung in limbo for over a month. While I still feel like the election was stolen (exit polls are a good predictor of actual voting, and it has before 2000, generally been a very accurate measure of how elections have gone), I was relieved when the presidency was awarded to George Bush. That particular flavor of tension flared again, with Ohio in the next election.
While we, the USA still meet, in spirit, the 7(or 9) of the requirements of a democracy, we must safeguard our elections and keep the power out of the constant hands of either party.
Thank you,
Janet Johnson
reference:
Schmitter, P.C, and Karl, T.L., 1991, What democracy is... and is not, Journal of Democracy, National Endowment for Democracy and the Johns Hopkins University Press