Majority Rule and Minority Right

All democracies are systems in which citizens freely make political decisions by majority rule. But rule by the majority is not necessarily democratic: no one, for example, would call a system fair or just that permitted 51 percent of the population to oppress the remaining 49 percent in the name of the majority. In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guaranties of individual human rights that, in turn, serve to protect the rights of minorities – whether ethnic, religious or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation. The rights of minorities do not depend upon the goodwill of the majority and cannot be eliminated by majority vote. The rights of minorities are protected because democratic laws and institutions protect the rights of all citizens.

When a representative democracy operates in accordance with a constitution that limits the powers of the government and guaranties fundamental rights to all citizens, this form of government is a constitutional democracy. In such a society the majority rules, and the rights of minorities are protected by law and through the institutionalization of law.

These elements define the fundamental elements of all modern democracies, no matter how varied they are in history, culture and economy. Despite their enormous differences as nations and societies, the essential elements of constitutional government (majority rule coupled with individual and minority rights, and the rule of law) can be found in Canada and Costa Rica, France and Botswana, Japan and India.

Give a summary of the text. Make use of the topical vocabulary.

19. Read and translate the text:

Democratic Society

Democracy is more than a set of constitutional rules and procedures that determine how a government functions. In a democracy, the government is only one element coexisting in a social fabric of many varied institutions, political parties, organizations and associations. This diversity is called pluralism, and it assumes that the many organized groups and institutions in a democratic society do not depend upon government for their existence, legitimacy or authority.

Thousands of private national and local organizations operate in a democratic society. They serve a mediating role between individuals and social and governmental institutions of which they are a part, filling roles not given to the government and offering individuals opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democracy. These groups represent the interests of their members in a variety of ways – by supporting candidates for public office, debating issues and trying to influence policy decisions. Through such groups, individuals have an avenue for meaningful participation both in government and in their own communities. The examples are many and varied: charitable organizations and churches, environmental and neighborhood groups, business associations and labour unions.

In an authoritarian society virtually all such organizations would be controlled, licensed, watched or otherwise accountable to the government. In a democracy, the powers of the government are, by law, clearly defined and sharply limited. As a result, private organizations are free of government control; on the contrary, many of them lobby the government and seek to hold it accountable for its actions. Other groups, concerned with the arts, the practice of religious faith, scholarly research or other interests, may choose to have little or no contact with the government at all.