【Civics】Building Society Together: Democratic Politics
Hello! Today, let's learn about "Democratic Politics" together. When you hear the word "politics," you might think, "That sounds difficult..." or "Does that really have anything to do with me?" But in reality, politics is just about "making rules so that everyone can live happily." Class meetings at school or deciding with your friends where to go hang out are actually the first small steps toward politics. It might feel a bit tricky at first, but don't worry. If we break down the basics one by one, you’ll definitely get the hang of it!
1. The Basics of Democracy: Deciding Together
Democracy is the idea that "matters concerning everyone should be discussed and decided by everyone." Politics based on this idea is called democratic politics.
Direct Democracy and Indirect Democracy
There are generally two styles of making decisions.
・Direct Democracy: A method where citizens gather directly to discuss and make decisions. (Example: Ancient Athens in Greece, or some cantons in Switzerland. This is possible in places with a small number of people.)
・Indirect Democracy (Representative Democracy): A method where we choose "representatives," who then gather to discuss and make decisions. Japan and many other countries today use this form. It is also called Parliamentary Democracy. (Example: Think of it like a class where, instead of having everyone talk at once, you elect a class representative to attend a meeting.)
【Key Point】 In a large country like Japan, it's impossible for everyone to gather in one place. That is why indirect democracy, where we choose representatives through "elections," is the mainstream.
2. Majority Rule and Respect for Minority Opinions
When opinions are split, the most common method used is the "principle of majority rule." This is a method of adopting the opinion supported by the most people, but there is one rule you must never forget.
Common Mistake: Thinking, "Because it was decided by majority rule, we can ignore the opinions of those who opposed it," is wrong!
The Correct Approach: 1. First, discuss things thoroughly until everyone is satisfied. 2. Even when deciding by majority rule, make an effort to incorporate the opinions of those who opposed it (minority opinions) as much as possible. This is called "respect for minority opinions."
【Did you know?】 If you decided everything solely by majority rule, it could lead to the "tyranny of the majority." That is exactly why the process of discussion is the most important part.
3. The Four Principles of Elections
In an indirect democracy, the most important element is the "election." Elections in Japan have four principles that must be strictly observed. Memorizing these is a great tip for your tests!
1. Universal Suffrage: Anyone who reaches a certain age (18 years old in Japan) can vote. (There was a time in the past when only people who paid a large amount of taxes were allowed to vote.)
2. Equal Suffrage: Everyone has a vote of equal value. (It is not allowed for someone to have "10 votes because they are rich" or "3 votes because they are important.")
3. Secret Ballot: Ensuring that nobody else knows who you voted for. (This is protected so that no one can threaten you by asking, "Tell me who you voted for!")
4. Direct Suffrage: Choosing your representatives directly by yourself. (You write the name yourself rather than having someone else choose for you.)
【Tips for Memorizing】 Try to memorize them by the rhythm of the four principles: Universal, Equal, Secret, and Direct! You can use a memory aid to remember the order.
4. Election Systems (Electoral Districts)
When choosing representatives in an election, we mainly use a combination of two systems.
・Single-Seat Constituency System: A system where only one person is elected from each district. Pros: The winner is clear, making politics more stable. Cons: All votes cast for candidates who didn't come in first are wasted (these are called wasted votes).
・Proportional Representation System: A system where you vote for a political party, and the number of winners is allocated based on the number of votes each party received. Pros: The opinions of smaller groups are more easily reflected (fewer wasted votes). Cons: Many small parties can emerge, sometimes making it difficult to reach a consensus.
【Key Point】 In the current Japanese House of Representatives election, we use a system with the long name "Parallel System of Single-Seat Constituencies and Proportional Representation," which combines these two methods.
5. The Role of Political Parties
Groups of people who share similar ideas and policies (goals) are called political parties.
・Ruling Party (Government Party): The party that wins the election, forms the cabinet, and is in charge of politics. ・Opposition Party: Parties other than the ruling party. They check the actions of the ruling party and propose alternative plans.
【An Analogy】 Think of the relationship like a car: the ruling party is the "driver," and the opposition party is the "person in the passenger seat watching." By having the person in the passenger seat point out things like, "That's dangerous!" or "This road is faster!", the car can be driven (governed) safely.
Summary Key Points: 1. Democratic politics is based on "discussion" and "choosing representatives"! 2. Even in majority rule, cherish "minority opinions"! 3. Master the 4 principles of elections (Universal, Equal, Secret, Direct)! 4. Understand the difference between single-seat constituencies (choosing 1 person) and proportional representation (choosing by ratio)!
That’s it for today! Great work. The terminology might feel difficult at first, but when you hear words like "election" or "political party" on the news, try to remember, "Oh, I learned that in class!" It will start to get more and more interesting. I'm rooting for you!