Page 192 - SST Class 07

federal democratic republic with the President provides protection to individuals against social
being the Head of the State. Today, Narayanhiti evils such as untouchability, child marriage and
Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of other forms of discrimination.
Nepal, has been converted into a public Who make laws for us? Unlike in an absolute
museum. monarchy or dictatorship where the king (queen)

People were considered in the community as a to the dictator is the lawgiver, in a democracy are
whole. It also implies that democratic govern- the people who make laws for themselves. It may
ment should work for the welfare of all the be done directly by the people themselves or
people. indirectly through their representatives. In our
A country’s system of democracy works well only country, it is the Parliament, constituted by
if the people freely participate in its governance. representatives of the people, which makes laws
It does not mean that everyone participated in it for us. Similarly, the State Assemblies make laws
directly, but that everyone has the right and duty for the States.
to participate in it, directly or indirectly. Even if certain elements of democracy like the
How do the citizens of a country participate in its system of election, public opinion, rule of law,
government? In a democracy, an important etc. are present in a country, it may not yet be
means for people to exercise their political power truly ‘democratic’ in the wider sense of the term?
are elections. All adult men and women vote to Democracy is not just a form of government
elect their representatives. In doing so, they are alone. It is also a form of society and a form of
indirectly participating in the governance of the economy. In other words, the values of democ-
country. The elected ones take part in the gov- racy such as justice, freedom and human dignity
ernment directly, but on behalf of the entire should be deeply embedded not only in the
community. If people are not satisfied with their political system, but also in the social and eco-
government, they can remove it in the next nomic life of the people. The grating of the right
election. People not only elect their government, to vote is not enough to establish democracy.
but also control it. The policies of the govern- There should be a democratic society and an
ment are bound to reflect the wishes of the economic democracy to make it really meaning-
people, that is, the public opinion. ful. Only then, we can call it a complete democ-
Every citizen has a role to play in shaping the racy. It is very important for us to understand this
destiny of the country. Elections and public wider meaning of democracy.
opinion are two important tools of democracy Democratic Society
with which people can fulfil this responsibility. When people enjoy the right to elect and to
Another important feature of democracy is the remove their rulers, it is political democracy. But,
rule of law. It means that all are equal before the the social life of the people can still be filled with
law. The President of a country and an ordinary various forms of injustice. Thus, a democratic
citizen get the same protection of the law. It government becomes meaningful only if the
makes no distinction between the rich and the society is democratic. In other words, there
poor, or the educated and the uneducated. It also should be no discrimination of any kind in a
ensures that there is no one above the law. democratic society. Evils like the caste system
However, a powerful person may be, bounded and untouchability spoil the democratic structure
by the law of the country. The rule of law also of the society. All men and women should be

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