GOVERNMENT
A system of governance to provide an enforced rule of law is essential for the stability of every social organization. Without a body of laws that stipulates and enforces the rights and obligations of individuals and institutions, a modern, complex society could not exist. There would be no guarantee of individual rights and no security for people or property. Thus, governments and laws are absolutely necessary for the stability and well being of the human condition.
DEMOCRACY
There are two categories of government: authoritarian and democratic. The Quality of Laws program is focused on democratic governments. In a democracy, the people as a whole (its citizens) constitute the sovereign, or supreme ruler, of the government. The sovereign controls the government through elected representatives, who serve as trustees of the people.
PURPOSE OF DEMOCRACY
The purpose of democracy is to accomplish the objectives that best serve the interests of the people, in terms of their human rights, living standards, and quality of life standards, and that reflect their highest aspirations. To satisfy its purpose, a democracy is obligated to use honorable and efficacious means to accomplish the honorable objectives of the people.
TRUE DEMOCRACY
The goal of every democratic government is to ascend to the status of a true democracy. This is a very high standard. It requires a government to recognize its people as its sovereign, secure the full complement of human rights, and effectively solve or mitigate societal problems for the benefit of the people. This goal, in its entirety, has not yet been reached by any government.
THE THREE LEVELS OF DEMOCRACY
There are three levels of democracy:
1) Electoral Democracy - A government that recognizes its people as the sovereign of government.
2) Liberal Democracy - A government that recognizes its people as the sovereign of government and secures for them the full complement of human rights.
3) True Democracy - A government that recognizes its people as the sovereign of government, secures for them the full complement of human rights and effectively solves or mitigates societal problems for their benefit.
Click here to learn more about the laws of government.
Click here to read about the ascendancy of democracy.
Click here to learn more about human rights, living standards, and quality of life standards.