| |  Democracy and respect for human rights have long been central components of U.S. foreign policy. Supporting democracy not only promotes such fundamental American values as religious freedom and worker rights, but also helps create a more secure, stable, and prosperous global arena in which the United States can advance its national interests. In addition, democracy is the one national interest that helps to secure all the others. Democratically governed nations are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open markets, promote economic development, protect American citizens, combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health. With these goals in mind, the United States seeks to: - Promote democracy as a means to achieve security, stability, and prosperity for the entire world;
- Assist newly formed democracies in implementing democratic principles;
- Assist democracy advocates around the world to establish vibrant democracies in their own countries; and
- Identify and denounce regimes that deny their citizens the right to choose their leaders in elections that are free, fair, and transparent.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) is committed to supporting and promoting democracy programs throughout the world. As the nation's primary democracy advocate, DRL is responsible for overseeing the Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), which was established in 1998 to address human rights and democratization emergencies. DRL uses resources from the HRDF, as well as those allocated to Regional Democracy Funds, to support democratization programs such as election monitoring and parliamentary development. Over the past quarter-century, a large number of nations have made a successful transition to democracy. Many more are at various stages of the transition. When historians write about U.S. foreign policy at the end of the 20th century, they will identify the growth of democracy--from 30 countries in 1974 to 117 today--as one of the United States' greatest legacies. The United States remains committed to expanding upon this legacy until all the citizens of the world have the fundamental right to choose those who govern them through an ongoing civil process that includes free, fair, and transparent elections. | | | FAQs
Democracy is a form of government where elected representatives hold power. Citizens elect their representatives through voting and these elected representatives hold the power. Q. Democracy is a form of government in which the ___________ in who should hold power and how the power should be used.
What is a famous quote about democracy? ›
There are of course those often cited, such as Abraham Lincoln's “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.” And “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time” from Winston Churchill.
What is the best explanation of democracy? ›
Democracy (from Ancient Greek: δημοκρατία, romanized: dēmokratía, dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') is a system of government in which state power is vested in the people or the general population of a state.
What makes a democracy so great? ›
Democracies must be continually nurtured and protected. The credibility of any democracy is its willingness to accept criticism, self-correct, and embrace diverse perspectives. These core attributes set democracies apart from authoritarian states where challenges to the status quo are repressed.
What is a democracy simple answer? ›
This means that our government is elected by citizens. Here, citizens vote for their government officials. These officials represent the citizens' ideas and concerns in government.
What is democracy very simple? ›
a. : government by the people. especially : rule of the majority. b. : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
What did Abraham Lincoln say about democracy? ›
In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people. ...
What was Plato's famous quote about democracy? ›
Plato Quotes
Democracy... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.
What is the famous slogan for democracy? ›
Abraham Lincoln has said, "Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people".
What are examples of democracy? ›
What is an example of democracy? The U.S. is an example of Democracy. They have a representative democracy where the people choose the Executive and Legislative officials for the debate over policies that interest the people.
The Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic form of government. That is, we have an indivisible union of 50 sovereign States. It is a democracy because people govern themselves. It is representative because people choose elected officials by free and secret ballot.
What is a democracy for kids? ›
The. word democracy describes a form of government. The word comes from two Greek words that mean “rule by the people.” In a democracy the people have a say in how the government is run. They do this by voting, though there are usually rules about who can vote. Democracies are different from dictatorships.
Is democracy human rights? ›
Democracy and Human Rights
The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides an environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.
Who created democracy? ›
Democracy is generally associated with the efforts of the ancient Greeks, whom 18th-century intellectuals considered the founders of Western civilization. These individuals attempted to leverage these early democratic experiments into a new template for post-monarchical political organization.
How to improve democracy? ›
In almost every country surveyed, changes to politicians are the most commonly mentioned way to improve democracy. People broadly call for three types of improvements: better representation, increased competence and a higher level of responsiveness.
What is a democracy quizlet? ›
Democracy. It is a form of government which is run by the population, usually through elected representatives. It can also be used as a more general term to describe a state which is governed by democratic principles, it is used to describe a classless society, one which has toleration.
What are the arguments for democracy answer? ›
The Arguments in Favour of Democracy are that a democratic government is a better form of government because it is more accountable. It raises the standard of decision-making. It improves citizens' dignity. Democracy is superior to other kinds of government because it allows us to make corrections.
What does direct democracy mean? ›
In direct democracy, the people decide on policies without any intermediary or representative, whereas in a representative democracy people vote for representatives who then enact policy initiatives.
