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WEEK 4
SUBJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION
TOPIC: REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
CONTENT:
MAJORITY RULE WITH ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS OF RIGHTS OF THE MINORITIES
In a democratic system leader are voted into power through its most popular principle known as majority rule; that is, the side with the most votes wins the election.
Indeed, the majority vote decides who should form the government. So, when it is said that “the people have spoken” or the “people’s will should be respected, the people are generally expressed through its majority.
If majority rule continues to be the only expression of supreme power in a democracy, then the rights of the minority will be abused and violated continually.
Therefore, the minority must have the right to seek and possess all the rights necessary to compete fairly in elections such as freedom of speech, assembly, association and petition malpractices, otherwise, the majority would make itself permanent and become dictatorship.
Factors that bring about minorities in society
The minorities refer to a relatively small group of people within a community or country that is different because of race, religion, language, opinion, political conviction, etc. Such group may feel inferior or cheated or neglected in the distribution of amenities, employment, offices, etc
The factors that bring about minority groups include:
- Boundary adjustments.
- Creation of local government areas or states.
- Beliefs, languages and superstitions.
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