Below are 10 ingredients that constitute a democracy according to different opinions of diverse people in society (their answers in quotation marks). Also present is a simple tool to measure it.

According to academia, in a democracy, power is exercised by the people using legitimate mechanisms of participation in decisions. It can be direct when it is applied in communities or groups that are not very large, or representative if it is at the national level. There is also participatory democracy that provides citizens with the direct capacity to intervene in decisions beyond voting; citizens monitor and control how public policy is applied and propose improvements and changes.

According to the interviews conducted, democracy has different opinions extended in the society, which produced the following 10 elements:

Exercise:

Instructions: Using a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is bad, 2 is better than bad, 3 is fair, 4 is good, 5 is excellent) rate each of the ten ingredients below typical of a democracy in any country you know. Then add up the points and divide by 10. The maximum score is 50 and the minimum is 10.

INGREDIENTS of a democracy (in quotation marks the different opinions). Democracy is:

1. A Magna Carta - "there is a political constitution that states so".

2. Freedom--freedom cannot be unlimited--Benito Juarez said it: "Respect for the rights of others is peace."

a. Individual freedom-"To be able to do what I want without affecting others. Freedom of mobilization, communication, electoral freedom, a more.

b. Freedom of the press-"That the media can say what they want without reprisals."

3. Elections -- "That there be clean elections periodically with secret ballot and super-monitored".

a. "That the opposition parties practice democracy and be a real opposition".
b. "That there be changes in power".
c. "That there be pluralism" -- respect for diversity.

4. Division of powers -- "That there be a real division of the powers of the State" 5.

5. "The power of the majority". Always respecting the human rights of minorities.

6. Power belongs to the people - "Power well distributed in society" 7.

7. Justice-- "Respect for human rights". Justice balances the individual good with the collective good according to fundamental human values.

8. Equality before the law; "That the rulers and the rich are enforceable before the law." Government assures equal rights and obligations without favoritism.

9. Social Justice--"Let there be social justice." Social justice focuses on resolving issues of equity in society.

10. Wealth creation. "Let there be no poverty".

Always remember, respect is essential to live together in peace.

Carpe diem

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