POLI 330 WEEK 3 DQ Political Science
WK#3 DQ: Comparing Democracies
Greetings, Professor and classmates,
A genuine democracy is a government created by the people, for the people. In a democracy, the citizens elect representatives who they believe will advocate for and defend their best interests. The people exercise supreme power directly or indirectly through a free electoral system, which makes the government a product of the people’s will (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, Jones, 2014). Such a government promotes formal equality, political equality, and social equality. The majority of democratic governments strive to protect human rights and maintain stable governance by respecting the will of the people. Voting enables people to express their preferences and promotes consensus on decisions that affect them. In a democracy, all citizens have equal participation in the government, and the people’s voice is executed and implemented for the benefit of the majority (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, Jones, 2014).
Reference:
Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An
Introduction. 13th Ed. Pearson.
POLI 330 WEEK 3 DQ Political Science
Response#1
I agree that both unitary and federal systems have their drawbacks. The federal system allows for more divided power, which provides individual states with more autonomy to address the unique needs of their residents. This system is fair because New York’s issues are different from Florida’s, and thus each state needs to allocate resources differently. Divided power in the federal system was designed to ensure that the national government didn’t have absolute power (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, & Jones, 2013). The federal system favors the voice of the people and allows state representatives to lobby for their residents. Limited powers also promote individual liberty, including freedom of religion, speech, cultural expression, and information (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, & Jones, 2013). These aspects are vital, and the federal system allows for their protection by establishing divided powers.
Reference:
Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2013). Political Science: An Introduction. 12th Ed. Pearson. Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., J. A. Medeiros, & Jones, W. S. (2013). Political Science: An Introduction, 13th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from
https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781269724821/
POLI 330 WEEK 3 DQ Political Science
Hi Jennifer, I agree with the quote you shared in your post that “democracy does not always equal freedom” (Ruskin, Cord, and Medeiros, & Jones, 2013, p.85). While democracies allow for more inclusion and consideration of people’s opinions than other forms of government, they don’t always guarantee individual freedom. In the United States, for example, representatives from each state have direct contact with the White House and can voice the opinions and desires of their constituents through voting. However, to truly innovate, strengthen democratic institutions, and unlock the potential of the country, there needs to be more direct participation from the people.
References:
Ruskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., J. A. Medeiros, & Jones, W. S. (2013). Political Science: An
Introduction, 13th Edition. [Vital Source Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved
From https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781269724821/
Greetings Professor and Classmates,
In light of our readings, it is evident that governments vary in their distribution of state power. Unitary systems are centralized, with decisions being made by a single authority, resulting in efficient and fast decision-making. This system is well-received by citizens if they feel fairly represented, and it promotes freedom and liberty. However, the system may lack inclusivity and may not address localized issues that may be more pressing to certain areas. Federal systems, on the other hand, are more complex and involve multiple authorities with divided powers. While this may result in slower decision-making, it distributes the workload and responsibilities and enables the focus on localized issues. The presence of three branches of government serves as a check and balance system to prevent any form of dictatorship. However, the system’s subdivided nature may create competition among states, discrepancies in laws passed, reduction of welfare funding, and promote segregation.
In conclusion, unitary systems offer efficient decision-making, while federal systems promote inclusivity and localized attention. However, both systems have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of system should be based on the specific needs and circumstances of a country.
Reference:
Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., & Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction. Pearson.
Hi Kelcei,
Federal systems offer several benefits, such as allowing local authorities to have control over matters that are relevant to their state, including education, policing, and transportation infrastructure (Ruskin, Cord, Medeiros, Jones, 2014). These issues are of significant importance to the local community, city, and state. The power is dispersed across different levels of government, which helps to address different needs in different areas. This helps to protect citizens from tyranny, promotes citizen participation, and fosters accountability and responsibility. A centralized government would not be
effective in running a diverse country like the United States, and the division of power between the national, state, and local levels promotes pluralism. Poor election turnouts and citizen ignorance on political issues are challenges in a federal system, but those who understand the importance of democracy actively participate in the political process. In a federal system, the dispersion of power allows for different perspectives to be heard and considered in decision-making, which can lead to better policies that reflect the needs and desires of the citizens.
Reference:
Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction. 13th Ed. Pearson.
POLI 330 WEEK 3 DQ Political Science
Hello Marie,
As you have noted, in a unitary system, the central government holds all the power and makes decisions on behalf of the people. This includes matters related to foreign affairs, national economic policy, and national defense, without any checks and balances despite some decentralization of power to local authorities in a process known as “devolution” (Federal, Unitary & Confederate Government Systems: Home, 2017). It is important to emphasize that even though some local power may exist, any law passed by the central government applies to all states. Most European nations have unitary systems, with a few exceptions such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, and Russia (Federal, Unitary & Confederate Government Systems: Home, 2017). However, this type of government has proven effective in the European nations that embrace it, likely because the central government prioritizes the protection and care of its citizens.
References:
Federal, Unitary & Confederate Government Systems: Home (2017). In Skyline College. Retrieved from
