Democracy at Its Best: The Swiss Style!
by The Direct democracy that prevails in Switzerland differs from the representative democracy of the US or India, where people delegate power to the elected representatives. But the Swiss political system has both the elements of direct democracy and parliament and so it is referred to as the semi-direct democracy.
Democracy at its best: The Swiss Style!
Image via Wikipedia : The Swiss Federal Council, 2008
‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people, it was Lincoln on democracy. The democracy that he defined prevails in his mother country, US. Thanks to the US constitution which plays the balancing act between the three premiere institutions of democracy, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary in the US with a series of powers given to these institutions to control each other, known as ‘checks and balances. Though the President of US is said to be elected directly by the people of US, it is an electoral college that ultimately decides who is to become the President. Election to the upper house, meant for the Senates is held once in two years; similarly members to the House of Representatives are elected by the people periodically. The democracy that prevails in the US is an indirect form of democracy through the elected representatives of the people.
In India, considered to be the largest democracy of the world with a population of more than 120 million, people are delegating their power to their representatives through the election process. The elected members are sometimes participating in the voice voting and in rare cases involving important issues as well as electing the President or the Vice President of India they exercise their vote in a secret ballot. Though illiteracy plays its havoc in having a healthy democracy in India, by and large, it is successful.
Despite the success of democracy, still you cannot say that democracy is at its best in these countries. If you make a sincere search among the democratic countries in Europe, you can come across a small country namely Switzerland, where democracy is at its best. It is the constitution of Switzerland that has provisions ensuring the direct democracy in Switzerland. It is the only country where the direct democracy prevails in which people have the last word on fundamental issues. In this political system called ‘direct democracy, people are allowed to make legislative and constitutional changes directly.
The direct democracy that prevails in Switzerland differs from the representative democracy of the US or India, where people delegate power to the elected representatives. But the Swiss political system has both the elements of direct democracy and parliament and so it is referred to as the semi-direct democracy.
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Post CommentRuby Hawk
On December 12, 2009 at 11:39 pm
It sounds like it works well. Hooray for the people.
Christine Ramsay
On December 13, 2009 at 4:54 am
It does sound like a good system. I like the idea of allowing younger people voting rights. It gives them a sense of responsibility at an earlier age which hopefully will make them more responsible people. An excellent post.
Christine
giftarist
On December 13, 2009 at 6:19 am
I agree with Christine, nice article!
athena goodlight
On December 15, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Democracy is good especially if practiced well. There are many so-called democratic countries whose real governance is actually dictatorial. Good for the Swiss they have it real.