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A Model of DemocracySarah, Michelle, Li Bin, Wei Yi
Definition of Democracy
TOPS Index
Switzerland
A Brief Outline:
The EconomistColumbia Electronic EncyclopediaToh Ow Siaw Poh (TOPS)
TO DO LIST1) Definitions2) TOPS Index
3) Switzerland
The
Economi
st
Democracy can
be seen as a set
of practices and
principles that
institutionalise
and thus
ultimately protect
freedom
Features of a Democracy (The Economist)
Columbia
Electronic
Encyclope
dia
Democracy describes
a philosophy that
insists on the right
and the capacity of
a people, acting
either directly or
through
representatives, to
control their
institutions for their
own purposes
Features of a Democracy (Encyclopedia)
TOPS
Index
Democracy is a system
of government which
vests power in the
public with regards to
decision-making at a
national level and on
the basis of the
majority rule, and in
which civil liberties are
accorded equally to all
citizens and are
protected by the
Constitution.
TO DO LIST1) Definitions
2) TOPS Index3) Switzerland
System of Evaluation (TOPS)
TO DO LIST1) Definitions
2) TOPS Index3) Switzerland
Switzerland
• According to Economist Intelligence Unit democracy index 2006:– Switzerland is considered a Full Democracy– Ranked 10th in the index (overall score: 9.02)
• Commonly seen as the closest state in the world to a direct democracy
• Politics has the framework of a multi-party federal parliamentary democratic republic
Advantages of TOPS
• Scoring system shows category scores, facilitating analysis of individual aspects of the country
• 5 bands instead of just 3, better accounting for differences between countries
• Less dependence on public opinion, which is subjective and may not really reflect the political climate of the country
EVALUATION
TOPS Index: Evaluating…
Electoral Process
Indicators
Electoral Process – Profile of voters
Band 2 Band 5
Inequality is extremely evident with only privileged groups in society (i.e men, property owners, those of high social standing) being granted the right to vote.
Universal suffrage is granted with exceptions
Exceptions to the case include those who do not qualify under citizenship, legal age, mental capacity or criminal convictions
Switzerland’s profile:• All Swiss citizens aged 18+
can vote• There is no discrimination of
gender, race, religion etc. (Universal suffrage)
• Even foreigners who have lived for a certain no. of years are eligible to vote
Electoral Process – Profile of voters
BAND AWARDED:
5
Band 2 Band 5Electoral fraud is extremely prevalent
1) Electorate manipulation2) Intimidation3) Buying of votes4) Misinformation5) Misrecording of votes
Electoral fraud not committed
Electoral process is fully transparent, reasonable, justified and well accepted
Checks and balances
Citizens are free to vote based on their own free will
Electoral Process – Presence of electoral fraud
Switzerland’s profile:• Multi-party voting system• No known instance of
electoral fraud• Checks and balances in place• Votes sorted manually and
tallied by hand
BAND AWARDED:
5
Electoral Process – Presence of electoral fraud
Band 1 Band 5Opposition parties are marginalised and disadvantaged
Dominant ruling party that practices tactics of manipulation
All parties treated fairly in electoral process
Opposition parties have a realistic prospect of achieving government
Laws provide equal campaigning opportunities
Electoral Process – Opposition
Switzerland’s profile:
• Multi-party system• All citizens above 18 have the
right to run for office• Any citizen may challenge any
law at any time (no right to draft laws, only challenge laws passed by legislature)
• Only marginal changes in party representation
Electoral Process – Opposition
“Magic Formula”Coalition of 4 major parties:
Swiss People's Party (SVP)Social Democratic Party (SP)Free Democratic Party (FDP)Christian Democratic Party (CVP)
BAND AWARDED:
3
Electoral Process – Opposition
TOPS Index: Evaluating…
Government Structure
Indicators
Band 1 Band 5Political power is alienated and vested in the hands of a single individual
Seat distribution is extremely disproportionate
Seats allocated do not reflect population size of each district
Equal amount of political power is given to all citizens
Direct and clear correlation between percentage of votes received & percentage of seats given
Seats allocated to each district reflect population size accurately
Government Structure– Representation
• Switzerland’s profile:– Seats awarded based on canton size:
• National Council: 200 seats• Council of States: 46 seats
– Political power given to all Swiss citizens above 18 years
– Representatives are elected– Seat distribution relative to votes mostly accurate
BAND AWARDED:
3
Government Structure–
Representation
Government structure– Diversity of Input into Decision Making
Band 1 Band 5In all issues, the state is governed by few or by a single individual.
One individual does most of the decision making. All decisions are final and incontestable
In all issues the state is governed by the majority of the people
Any individual or elected representative can contribute.
Government Structure– Diversity of Input into Decision-making
• Switzerland’s profile:– State issues addressed by government, but
citizens able to influence decision making– Bicameralism is practiced– Any individual can challenge decisions
made
BAND AWARDED:
3
Government Structure– Diversity of Input into Decision-making
Band 1 Band 5Any national constitution in place is a façade. Its documents may be ignored when the government feels threatened or never put into practice.
One individual holds absolute power over state & government
National constitution in place and abided by.
Separation of powers exists as 3 branches (executive, legislative & judiciary) working independent of one another
Government Structure– Distribution of Power
• Switzerland’s profile:– Federal Council (Executive) appointed by,
but not dependent on, parliament (legislative), with an independent judiciary
– Executive has limited legislative influence– Judiciary has no power of review– Federal constitution in place
BAND AWARDED:
4
Government Structure– Distribution of Power
TOPS Index: Evaluating…
Government Functioning & Process
Indicators
Government functioning & processes –
Market System
Band 1 Band 5Centrally planned economy system (markets controlled by state)
No legal free markets & no private ownership
Single central authority decides allocation of resources, good & services and income
Entirely private enterprise system (markets free from state intervention)
Economy based on a totally free market & there is a high degree of private ownership
Free price system decides allocation
Switzerland’s profile:– 2010 Index of Economic
Freedom: ranked 6th in the world with an overall score of 81.1
– Business freedom– Trade freedom–Monetary freedom
BAND AWARDED:
4
Government functioning & processes –
Market System
Band 1 Band 5Corruption is rampant and cases appear frequently
Large majority of the government officials abuse their legislated power by using it for illegitimate private gains
Cases of corruption are severe
Virtually no evidence of corruption
Government functioning & processes –
Freedom from Corruption
Switzerland’s profile:• Ranks 5th out of 179 countries
(Corruption Perceptions Index 2008)
• Strict laws regarding corruption• Cases of Swiss
individuals/companies bribing foreign officials
• No cases of Swiss officials being bribed :
BAND AWARDED:
4
Government functioning & processes –
Freedom from Corruption
Band 1 Band 5Information entirely classified
Access restricted to only certain people
Ordinary citizens entirely unaware of happenings
All of the information is unclassified
Government takes active role in ensuring citizens are aware of happenings
Press faces no restrictions in accessing and releasing information
Government functioning & processes –
Transparency
Switzerland’s profile:• Cantons – large amount of
information held by cantons, not federal government
• Law introduced to increase transparency
• Media has free access to information
• Hearings in parliament open to public
BAND AWARDED:
3
Government functioning & processes –
Transparency
Band 1 Band 5Decisions made based on authority of a single person or party
No debating or voting procedures
Only individual in power/members of ruling party have the power to make amendments
Decisions made based on results of voting
Votes made without any form of external influence
All representatives allowed to initiate amendments
Majority consensus is required in all decisions
Government functioning & processes –
Bill-passing
Switzerland’s profile:• Creation of laws:
1. Draft by administration2. Consultation3. Parliamentary debate and final
version passed4. Possibility of a referendum
– Federal council cannot stop or influence motions, postulates or initiatives
BAND AWARDED:
5
Government functioning & processes –
Bill-passing
TOPS Index: Evaluating…
Civil Liberties
Indicators
Civil Liberties–
Quality of Life
Band 1 Band 5Crime endangers large segments of society
No national crime prevention organization, or a weak and ineffective one
Severely corrupt judicial system under political and financial manipulation Basic needs (water, food, sanitation, shelter) unfulfilled for large segments of the society
Security and safety of all citizens protected by an uncorrupt national crime prevention organization (e.g. a Defence Corps or police)
All citizens are equal before the law and have the right to a fair trial Basic needs of all citizens met as far as possible given country’s economic status
The elderly, underprivileged and disabled are given basic care (e.g. health care).
Switzerland’s profile:– Effective law enforcement• Cantonal police agencies• Border Guard Corps
– All citizens equal before the law and have the right to a fair trial
– Fairly equal income distribution– Emphasis on social security
(Swiss social security)
BAND AWARDED:
5
Civil Liberties–
Quality of Life
Civil Liberties–
Freedom of the Press
Band 1 Band 5
No independent media organisations are permitted to exist
Media is fully manipulated by the government or authorities
Media content is biased, restricted and generally one-sided, with no conflicting or minority viewpoints
Internet access is nationally restricted to a large degree
Media pluralism evidenced by a variety of independent media organisations, which express diverse and different viewpoints via various mediums (e.g. newspapers, radio broadcasts, television news channels)
Media coverage is extensive and subject to minimum censorship
No political restrictions on the Internet
Switzerland’s profile• Media freedom guaranteed in the
Constitution • Media presents diverse
viewpoints• Media are politically neutral but
financially dependent on government
• Some media is privately owned butthere is limited pluralism
• Occasional internet restrictions (government criticism)
BAND AWARDED:
4
Civil Liberties–
Freedom of the Press
Civil Liberties–
Freedom of Expression
Band 1 Band 5Little or religious diversity is permitted (only one religion may be practiced) - failure to conform is met with severe punishment Minority groups are intensely discriminated against No officially permitted platforms for citizens to express concerns with and/or protest government policies
Diverse political opinions and criticism of the government risk official persecution
All religions may be exercised with no official intervention, save in the case of threatening the wellbeing of other citizens
Both public and private worship are permitted Citizens are given equal rights and opportunities regardless of religion, gender and/or race Citizens enjoy freedom of assembly, and may freely express concerns with and/or protest government policies
Switzerland’s profile:• Equality of all citizens and full
religious liberty guaranteed in Constitution
• 4 official languages recognised• Penal code prohibits racist or anti-
Semitic speech• Relative religious liberty in schools• Federal Service for Combating
Racism
Civil Liberties –
Freedom of Expression
Switzerland’s profile:• Lack of religious neutrality at canton
level
• Some religious minority groups face challenges
• Support for Swiss People’s Party (and other right-wing groups) despite its xenophobic and anti-Semitic tendencies
– Esp. the minaret ban
BAND AWARDED:
4
Civil Liberties –
Freedom of Expression
Civil Liberties–
Equal Access of Power
Band 1 Band 5
The law prevents certain citizens from obtaining an education or holding certain career or governmental positions
Citizens can be allocated professions on the basis of race/ religion/ gender Formation of trade unions, political parties and independent, non-governmental organisations is banned or very selectively permitted, and they hold minimal power
There are no racial, financial, religious or gender prerequisites pertaining to education, employment or parliamentary positions
Citizens may choose their profession, and employment is decided based on meritocracy Citizens are free to form professional, non-governmental organisations with financial and political independence
Switzerland’s profile:• Elementary education is free and
compulsory • Women still under-represented in
politics and some sectors• Presence of major unions– Swiss Federation of Trade Unions– Swiss White-Collar Federation– Confederation of Christian Trade
Unions
BAND AWARDED:
5
Civil Liberties –
Equal Access to Power
Switzerland’s Score:
Category scores (% score)
• Electoral process: 86.667%• Government structure:
73.333%• Government functioning:
80%• Civil liberties: 90%
Average: 82.5 (maximum 100)
Switzerland’s Score:
• 76 < score < 100: full democracy
• Strongest in civil liberties, followed by electoral process, then government functioning and finally government structure
End (:
Swiss Constitution: http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sz00000.html