In this article you will learn about the Liberal Democratic State in Political Science.
Liberal Democratic State
Against Totalitarian and Authoritarian States, Liberal Democratic States are decidedly very superior as these ensure a respect for rights and freedoms of the people; always work for promoting the welfare of their people, and are ruled by representative, limited, responsible, accountable and transparent governments.
“A Liberal Democratic State is one in which people’s power is supreme.” People are sovereign and they themselves elect and organise their government. The government always works according to the orders or dictates of public opinion. It is a popularly elected, representative government which is continuously responsible, responsive and accountable to the public opinion for all its policies, decisions and actions. It is constituted by fair, free, and regular elections. The people have the right to their government, and they have the right to change it from time to time. A government remains in power so long as it continues to enjoy popular majority support as expressed in elections and otherwise. People are free to criticise its policies. The political struggle is open and free in which a number of political parties, at least two, freely participate. All decisions are taken by the majority or consensus. The majority and minorities form part of one national mainstream. There is rule of law, decentralisation of powers, judicial independence, constitutionally granted and guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people, and freedom of mass media.
The state, the authority, the authority-holders, the people and all the organisations and associations of the people accept and respect the ideology of liberalism which gives highest place to the rights and freedoms of the people. Liberal Democratic posits faith in rights and freedoms of the people, freedom of public opinion, freedom to form associations and parties, people’s right to express dissent, open political competition for power, free enterprise and competitiveness in economic relations and a government working under several political, social and economic checks and balances.
Liberal Democratic State : Salient Features
A Liberal Democracy is characterised by the following salient features.
1. Representative Government formed by Duly and Freely Elected Representative of the People : In a Liberal Democracy the government is the representative of the people and it is elected by the people. The members of the legislature are elected by the people for a fixed tenure. Legislature is the custodian of the finances of the nation and representative of national public opinion. The right to vote is available to all without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour, religion, sex, place or birth and property. Except for a minimum age qualification, there is no rigid and formal qualification in respect of the right to vote. Election of representatives by the people is free, secret, uncorrupt and uncoerced. Government represents the people and has to continuously demonstrate and prove its representativeness. It has to maintain and periodically proves its popularity. People can change the government through elections.
2. Civil Liberties : In a Liberal Democratic the people have the right to freely express their views. They have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Freedom of press and other means of mass media is ensured. People have the right to form voluntary associations and through them to pursue their likes and interests. The constitution of a liberal democratic state grants and guarantees civil liberties of the people. The civil society actively works in a liberal democratic state.
This article on Liberal Democratic State in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.