Democratic Theory explores the principles and practices that define democracy, focusing on how power and decision-making are distributed among citizens. It examines the balance between majority rule and minority rights, aiming to create systems that are both fair and effective in representing diverse interests.
Majority-rule voting is a decision-making process where the option receiving more than half of the votes is selected. It is widely used in democratic systems to ensure that the choice reflects the preference of the majority of participants.
At-large voting is an electoral system in which representatives are elected by the entire voting population of a region rather than from individual districts. This system can lead to greater representation for the majority group while potentially marginalizing minority voices, as it often results in a winner-takes-all outcome.
Direct election is a democratic process in which voters directly cast ballots for candidates or parties they wish to elect to a specific office, rather than through an intermediary body. This method is often seen as a way to enhance accountability and representation, as it reflects the direct will of the electorate.
Electoral bias refers to the systematic advantage or disadvantage that a political party or candidate experiences in an electoral system, often due to factors like district boundaries, voting rules, or demographic distributions. It can lead to outcomes where the distribution of seats does not accurately reflect the popular vote, thus impacting the perceived fairness and legitimacy of elections.
Presidentialism is a system of government where the executive branch is separate from the legislative branch, and the president is both the head of state and government, elected independently of the legislature. This system often emphasizes the separation of powers, checks and balances, and a fixed term for the president, which can lead to both stable governance and potential gridlock between branches.
A supermajority requirement is a rule that stipulates a proposal must receive a higher threshold than a simple majority, often two-thirds or three-fifths, to be approved. This mechanism is used to ensure broader consensus for significant decisions, preventing major changes from being made without substantial support.
Communalism refers to a socio-political ideology that emphasizes the division of society into distinct religious or ethnic communities, often leading to conflict and tension. It can undermine national unity by prioritizing communal identity over common citizenship, potentially resulting in violence and discrimination against minority groups.