How does the American system of democracy work In what way it is different from India's form of democracy?
455861
Both are federal states and both are republics, but in India, the president is a mere figurehead without any political power (like European monarchs). The executive branch of government in India is a cabinet led by the Prime Minister, but to govern the cabinet needs support from Parliament. While the US is a "presidential" style, the Indian system is thus a "parliamentarian" style of government. \n\nIndia has a multi-party system, while in the US, two parties are dominant (making it a 'two-party system'). The current Indian government is led by the Congress party but is dependent upon support from a range of smaller left-wing parties in parliament. The parliamentary system is fairly similar to that of the UK, the Westminster system, with two houses. In India, the lower house is elected by popular vote and this is from where the cabinet must have support. The upper house could be compared to the US Senate, with representatives from each state, but the election process is different. \n\nThe judiciary in India is independent and the Indian Supreme Court is on the one hand an arbitrer between the states, and the states versus the central government (as a constitutional court like the US Supreme Court), and also the last appellate court.
390478
The ancient Greeks, who invented democracy, had a philosopher who said." every government tends to fail by excess of its own basic principle". I cannot recall his name.\n\nThe USA was an experiment in government modeled partly on ancient Greece as revealed to europeans again during the renaissance when monks found old greek teachings and lore in Muslim libraries during the crusades that were translated and taken to Europe. This ended the dark ages in Europe.\nAlso the USA copied some native American government models.\nThe basic principle of USA is democracy rather than Monarchy, so it is this very aspect of our own government that threatens to topple it. Certainly it is made worse by ignorant masses that vote, but it is the power to vote that makes this ignorance dangerous. Not the ignorance per se.\nIf USA were an enlightened dictatorship, then this would not be a problem as the wise and kind ruler would protect the idiots from themselves.\nBut we let anyone vote. They need not own property, or be educated,or even be literate. They can still vote at age 18. This has made the gathering of the votes of morons a big business. This democratic system will be the undoing of USA as the morons are led to the slaughter by the evil geniuses that manipulate them and eventually will enslave them. Part of the con is to make working for the man a moral obligation (ha ha) Then paying taxes to a corrupt government becomes a growing legal obligation. Then obeying religious leaders and tithing. The rest is like taking candy away from a baby. The only reason the trap is not yet sprung is because evil factions are still fighting over the slaves. Once they end their war or have a truce, USA and all its freedoms is doomed.\nOH YEAH, they also do not want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg so it is better to let the fools think they are free as long as possible. We dont want no revolution! First thing to do is to distract them with drugs, TV and false issues to divide them. Then ruin the schools so nobody will ever get smart enough to see what is happening. It is really easy and almost done. so long suckers!
575622
Real Democracy existed more in America when everyone in America took part.  When everyone was watching the news and discussing candidates.  \n\nDemocracy is Government for the People, By the People - pure and simple.  it is hard to make that work with less than 60% of eligible voters actually getting to the polls.\n\nIt's a group of folks all working toward a peaceful society and willing to discuss and make compromises.  It's people serving time as elected officials, because everyone has to chip in and help - not because it's a good way to get rich.\n\nI think Democracy exists in America today, but more so in our smaller Community Organizations - Mother's Clubs, etc.  A group of like minded individuals working together for no extra pay to create something valuable, while respecting each other's right to be different.
242104
Well, as far as I know, the process in the US must be similar to that of Argentina (where I live), since both countries are federal, representative democratic republics (how democratic they really are might be up to debate)...\nAnyway, in such system, the government is divided in three powers... Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.\n\nThe Legislative Power (Senate and Congress) has its members elected every x number of years (2, I think), from the different political parties they belong two. (In the US there are only two important political parties, but here in Argentina we have more ideological diversity).\n\nAnyway, these elected representatives of the Legislative Power propose laws among themselves, which must be examined by jurists, and then voted, either on the Senate or on the Chamber of Representatives (depending on the law itself), and then, if the law is aproved, its passed over to the president (executive power), so that he turns the project into an effective law. Sometimes the president can veto some laws, annuling them.\nAlso, sometimes the president can write laws by himself, without them passing through the congress. But this is a mechanism supposed to be reserved for special occasions, and if a president does this too regularly he might be accused of abusing his power.\n\nThe duty of the judiciary is to ensure that the already enacted laws are enforced in the country. Sometimes, the different judges must decide is a law is or not valid in certain occasions, setting precedents that are then followed.\n\nTo sum up - Legislative creates and approves the laws.\nExecutive enforces them in the territory, and sometimes can veto them or propose its own laws, and judiciary has the duty to examin how are these laws enforced on the territory, making sure that people obey them.\n\n\nThis is how the system is supposed to work, but as you will see, the problems of corruption, political and economic lobbies, bussiness influence, and dictatorial tendencies of some politicians often tend to end up screwing the system.\n\n\nEdit: I am talking about national laws too. The different states and counties have their own executive, legislative and judiciary powers.\nFor more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_government\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_democracy
938258
Iraq is a long way from being a real democracy and I doubt if it ever will be.  The standard definition of determining establishment of democracy in a country is that the state has gone through at least two successful election cycles.  Just because you set up a form of government based on a few democratic ideals does not mean you have a democracy; that determination rests with the people. As far as the US is concerned, its own defiinition is even more restrictive in that the results of the election have to be to its own liking.  The Palestinians' election of Hamas might have been 'democratic' but it did not suit US designs. So if the elected do not meet US approval then by the US definition it is not a real democracy.\n\nI would suspect that if the Iraqis are left alone, free of US meddling and intereference, they will revert to a system more relevant to their own cultural and social background and resembling nothing like US-style democracy.  In that regard, it will still be evil according to the USsince it would not be under the direct control of politicians in Washington.
37196
Democracy is a form of government where the people make the decisions. People mistake the US for a democracy, but we are not. We select the people that make the decisions, and this is what a republic is about.
87809
To be clear, a Republic is a system whereby people elect representatives, and then those representitives are free govern as they see fit, without regard to the opinions of those they represent if need be.\n\nA Democracy is a system whereby representitives are elected, but must govern exactly as the people wish.\n\nThe United States is a Republic,  and no, our laws do not make more than two parties a requirement.
1020075
Britain is neither a republic nor a democracy.  It is a constitutional monarchy.  America isn't a democracy, either - it is a republic.
231430
umm... well, theres a democratic republic.. that IS our government, we dont really have more than one government in America. but, each states has its own government, though not as powerful in some areas as the national government, and you also have county, city, and community governments
1140971
there is the democratic republic - which the USA has.  They elect people to legislate on their behalf - and elect the leader as well.\n\nThere is the democratic monarchy - which the UK and others have.  It still elects those to legislate for them - but the leader is there by birthright (there are still a couple where the monarch is not just a figure head).\n\nThere is plain democracy, which does not exist to my knowledge anymore, it was in ancient Greece, where there was no real "leader" and that while there was a senate to deal with certain issues, one person = one vote on main issues.\n\nI suppose you could also include the democratic dictatorship where there is "an election" every so many years and surprisingly the "leader" keeps getting re-elected. basically one person = no vote.\n\nThere was the attempt at democratic socialism, but am not sure as much about that.
126226
True the US fore-fathers revolted against a colonial power and gave US its discernible freedom and democracy much in line with what was happening in France.\n\nHowever, in this day and age, democracy allows us to vote out those we don't want or vote in those we want. however the power of the citizenry is not limited there, they can lobby their senators and can band together via lobbies to influence thinking in white house.\n\nSo to answer your question, it is important that the structures built over the years to develop the checks and balances of governance are not eroded - like the free media etc...so strengthen these..and ou will see a stronger US...
94471
I do not agree with the last answer before mine. The United Sates of America does not have a Democracy. We have a Repubic, where we elect people to represent us. In a true Democracy, all citizens vote on every issue. It is as simple as that. The people truly have power, and do make the decisions. However, because of the population of the world now, getting every citizen in a country to vote on every issue would be a chaotic mess. Also, this would it much easier for people to change ballots (something Jeb Bush obviously did to get his brother George elected for President in 2000).
330427
huge difference one was democratically elected and kept it, and installed his own party to control everything. The other had to be re-elected and has competetion..thats why they call it a democracy.
36645
Democracy is a joke! us americans think that we are free that is not the case, and america thinks that it's there job to polize the world
337042
Your question is a little vague so I will approach it from the perspective of type of government.\n\nThe United States has never been a democratic form of government -- it has always been a republic.\n\nThe difference is that in a democracy the people have a direct vote.  In a republic, the citizens appoint (elect) individuals to represent them in office.\n\nOn the federal level our republic includes the president and both houses of congress.  On the state level, we have the state legislature and the governor.
1127598
Actually the U.S. is a republic, not a democracy.  \n\nI'm not going to argue politics with a foreigner.
267775
Democracy is a system where the population of a society controls the government. It may be narrowly defined as that of nation-state government specifically, or more broadly to describe a society as a whole, which can also exert political power and social power.\n\nDemocratic government aspires to serve under "the people" rather than ruling over them. This ideal is pursued by implementing some form of a voting system, usually involving indirect representation (see also republic).\n\nIndia is worlds largest Democracy.