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The world knows your amazing trajectory as a judoka, but soon you'll show the world a different side of you when you portray Rusty Kanokogi in the indie movie Don't Call me Sir!. What can you tell us about this project?
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In Government
Why is democracy the best type of government?
democracy is the best type of government because the people can vote for their government. To quote Churchill: "..democracy is the worst form of government, except for all t…he other forms that have been tried..." Objectively, the "best" form of government would likely be the (mythical) Benevolent Dictator, where a semi-omnipotent leader would be able to make selfless decisions for everyone, resulting in the most efficient form of government while simultaneously providing the most benefit to the largest section of society (that is, always chosing the option that provided the Most Common Good). Seeing as how it is next to impossible to pick a Benevolent Dictator, Democracy seems to provide the best balance of general welfare with responsiveness to public attitudes that currently exists. Properly designed, a democracy also can protect minorities better than most other forms of government. (MORE)
Answered
Why is democracy the government by the many?
Democracy Democracy is a form of government where the "majority rule". This means that the people have a say in the decisions made, whether directly or indirectly… (through elected representatives). Answer because is the onlt way to share power (MORE)
Answered
Why is democracy the best form of government?
Democracy is not necessarily the BEST form of government, however human experience over many thousands of years has proved that a democratic system is : Stable, Effective …and Fair. Please do NOT confuse democracy and capitalism. (MORE)
In Ancient
Ancient Greek Democracy
Although the Ancient Greeks only managed to maintain their system of democracy for 200 years, it did lay the foundation for the political variation that the world knows today.… Arguably, without Ancient Greek democracy, there would be no such thing as politics. Democracy developed in ancient Greek society gradually, and represented a system under which a certain segment of the population had the power to make and vote on key decisions. It was under the system of democracy that ancient Greece managed to expand its empire.The birthplace of democracy is widely accepted as being in Athens. It was in Athens that a man named Cleisthenes develops a law that abolished the idea that political decision-making should be restricted to the upper and middle classes of Greece. Under his new law, he made it possible for the poorest people in society to be represented. Like all earlier forms of democracy, this representation was different to the representation that is seen today. You could only vote in Athens if you were an Athenian male resident who was over the age of 18. At the time that democracy was operating in Athens, there were around 250,000 people living there. However, it is estimated that only around 40,000 people had the ability to vote.Democracy in Greece during the ancient period centralized around three important institutions. The first was the Ekklesia. This was a building where any one of the 40,000 individuals who was legally permitted to vote could go and exercise their democratic right to do so. In Athens, this building rested on the hillside just outside the city, and would be used four times a year. Although 40,000 people were eligible to go vote, it is estimated that only around 6000 people would do so. Key decisions would be voted on, including war and foreign policy.The Boule was a council of 500 individuals who acted as political representatives of those who could vote. These individuals would serve on the council for one year only. When a decision had been voted on, they had the power to decide how it would be executed. For example, it could make key army decisions such as how many horses would be drafted in, and how many ships could be built. Selection for this position was very unlike the democracy that the world knows today. These people would be chosen at random by lottery. However, some historians argue that money and power managed to sway decisions in some cases when it came to the selection process.The Dikasteria were the courts of Athens. These courts would consist of around 500 jurors, who were all over the age of 30, and male. These individuals would be selected at random, and would be paid for their services. However, the pay for these positions were low, as the ancient Greeks relied on donations rather than taxation. As a result of this, it was only usually retirees who agreed to fulfill this role. These individuals would take a multifaceted role focusing on crime and other legal matters. They acted as the police, the prosecution, the judges, and the defense, as there were no set structures for these roles in Greek democracy.Democracy worked well for the Greeks in practice. One of the most infamous exercises of democratic rights was when the citizens could choose to banish an individual for making poor political decisions. These individuals would vote at the Ekklesias using pieces of slate. If a majority decided that the person should be banished, they would be banished for around 10 years. Under democracy, the Greeks managed to resist Persian onslaughts of war. It was also under democracy that the Parthenon was built. This building was then used to act as a platform for great philosophers and educators to develop and spread their ideas, including Sophocles, and Euripides.Democracy was not to last in ancient Greece. Throughout the periods of democracy, there were critics who wanted to return to an oligarchy. When ancient Greeks were weakened by war in 431 to 404 BC, the individuals who campaigned for oligarchy gathered support, and were able to gradually reintroduce it in place of democracy. In 322, Alexander the Great effectively terminated self-government. The death throes of democracy could be seen throughout ancient Greece for a little while longer, before the Romans invaded and eradicated it altogether.The 200 year period of democracy in Greece marks a radical change in politics temporarily. For the first time people were able to vote on the basis that was more representative than oligarchies that existed before. After the end of Greek democracy, came several periods of oligarchies, dictatorships, feudalism, and monarchy rule. It would be over 1000 years before true democracy could be established in Europe again. It is thanks to the ancient Greeks that the world can enjoy democracy.Democracy was built on the constitutional reform package of a man who was in no way democratic. Solon, a poet, developed a package in 600 BC. This was then built on by Cleisthenes. (MORE)
In High School
High School American Government Topics
The study of American government during high school covers a variety of different topics. Learning about the government is an important part of the high school experience. Stu…dents benefit from learning about the government's history in America, and much of the knowledge can arm students and make them more apt to vote and be a part of our country's government and decisions. Continue reading to learn about some of the high school American government topics that are commonly covered during a typical high school government class.Learning about the United States Constitution, how it was written, enacted, and what is contained inside of it is a common topic covered in any American government class. Students learn the basic principles of our Constitution, its history, inception date, the Amendments contained within, and how it makes our country the federal republic that it is today. Topics such as democracy and the relationship with governmental powers and the nation they serve are also commonly covered.Another topic commonly covered in high school American government classes concerns learning what the three main branches of the United States government is comprised of. Lectures, videos, and group discussions can be made on the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government. A comparison of all three along with the shared interests and common goal they all serve are normally part of the curriculum.The subject of people's rights within the government, along with those that the government serves, is a high school American government topic covered during the class. Students are schooled on subjects such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, citizenship, and public office. Topics such as military involvement, paying taxes, civil rights, and service learning are all commonly covered in class.State and local government is generally part of an American Government high school class curriculum. Students will learn about the different laws that separate certain states from one another and how some states are more liberal in America than others. They will also get the laws broken down into local governmental form, where the laws can differ even more widely depending on which part of the state you live in. They will also learn what powers the United States Constitution gives to local and state governments as a separate entity from the country as a whole.Finally, public policy is another topic covered in American government classes. Students will learn all about how county commissions can determine tax abatements, how states set up guidelines for convicting felons, and how embassies are directed in foreign countries. Students will also possibly look at the role of media in terms of how it affects or influences public policy, and how policy can differ depending on where you live in the country.These are some of the high school American government topics that are commonly part of the class curriculum. Introducing students to how their government works is an important part of making them responsible citizens. It educates them about the founding of our nation's government. Many sub-topics can spring up in this type of class, and the opinions of students is often greatly encouraged, reflective of the democratic society those in America live in today.Teddy bears were made famous by former United States President Theodore Roosevelt. When the media learned that he refused to shoot a small bear cub, they ran a story about it, which caught the eye of toy manufacturers. They began to make the small, cuddly bears and named them "Teddy" after the President in the late 1800s. (MORE)
In Spain
Understanding the Government of Spain
The beautiful beaches and vibrant culture of Spain makes it a huge draw to those visiting Europe. It is always a good idea to know as much as possible about a country before v…isiting it, and this is true of Spain as well. A good working knowledge of the government of Spain will guard you against accidentally making remarks that some may find offensive, and will keep you from getting into trouble yourself while there. Familiarize yourself with the Spanish government here, and then prepare to be dazzled by the country itself.Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain as it is officially known in long form, is a constitutional monarchy. In this system, Spain has a hereditary monarch who serves as official head of state, as well as several diplomatically-elected heads of government who take charge of policy making and other official business. The Spanish government includes executive, legislative, and judicial branches. While the king is the official head of the executive branch, the true power belongs to the president of the government, whose position is akin to that of prime minister.The Spanish government in its current form can trace its roots to 1492. Prior to that year, the Iberian Peninsula consisted in a handful of independent kingdoms, which had been under Muslim rule for nearly seven centuries. In 1492, Christian enclaves from the north made their way south and conquered those ruling Grenada, after which they forged a unification of several Spanish kingdoms in what is considered the birth of modern-day Spain. The system of constitutional monarchy became a reality in Spain in 1978 with the approval of the Spanish Constitution after centuries of tumultuous politics.Spain has 14 major political parties. Of these, the two most dominant in the early 2000s have been the People's Party and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. Other parties include Amaiur, the Basque Nationalist Party, the Canarian Coalition, which is actually a coalition of five parties, the Convergence and Union, the Democratic Union of Catalonia, the Entesa Catalonia de Progress, the Galician Nationalist Bloc, the Initiative for Catalonia Greens, the Yes to the Future or Geroa Bai, which is a coalition of four parties, the Republican Left of Catalonia, the Union of People of Navarra, the Union, Progress and Democracy, and United Left, which is a coalition of several smaller parties.Spain is part of the Schengen Agreement. This means that foreign travelers whose country has also joined the agreement face fewer restrictions when coming into and exiting the country. Exercise caution, however, that you do not overstay your visa while in Spain, lest you face immediate exportation or being held several days in a detention center in Spain.The government of Spain has an interesting and varied history and present to match the country's own. Knowing the system of government as you set out to visit will help you to enjoy the intricacies of Spain even more than you would otherwise. In the constitutional monarchy of Spain, you will find great warmth and vivacity awaiting you. Prepare yourself with knowledge and set out to explore it.Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain as it is officially known in long form, is a constitutional monarchy. In this system, Spain has a hereditary monarch who serves as official head of state, as well as several diplomatically-elected heads of government who take charge of policy making and other official business. The Spanish government includes executive, legislative, and judicial branches. (MORE)
In Ancient
The Dynasties in Ancient China
The government of ancient China spent most of its history ruled by dynasties. Being ruled by a dynasty is different from being ruled under most other forms of government. A dy…nasty is a family that has ruled over something for successive generations. The differences between western and eastern Kingship made the cultures dramatically different. Below is a successive list of the ancient Chinese dynasties.Before 2000 B.C., the Xia (or Hsia) dynasty ruled China. Of course, the political boundaries of China were not the same as they are now. The Xia dynasty lasted for five hundred years before shifting to the next family.The dynasty of Shang lasted around just as long as the dynasty before it. The dynasty lasted from the fall of the Xia to around 1000 B.C. China's capital city at the time would have been near two existing cities today, Zhengzhou and Anyang.This dynasty is a bit more complicated to understand than its predecessors. It was not cut and dried in terms of the years of its power like Xia and Shang. This dynasty did last from the end of the Shang until around 220 B.C. but not without a lot of changes in-between. The dynasty was considered split between the western and eastern Zhou. Confucius lived during this period of time.The Qin or Ch'in dynasty lasted less than 20 years, but it left its mark through the legacy of the life of Qin Shihuangdi. This man was better known as an emperor because he was the first person to unify China.Although Confucius had been dead for years by the year 206 B.C., it wasn't until this dynasty that his teachings became an established belief system in China. This dynasty crossed over from B.C. to A.D. and continued to last for another 200 years.After the Han dynasty, China's history gets a lot more unstable. This next dynasty period is often known as the six dynasties because power changed so quickly during the next 300 years or so. It was during this time, in a divided China, that Buddhism spread into the country.After the six dynasties, there came another tumultuous 300 years, with rulers changing nearly every generation. During the Tang dynasty, there was a brief period of time where, for the first time, an empress ruled China without following the rule of her emperor husband.During this period of time, a dynasty could be expected to last 100 to 200 years before changing again. These three dynasties happened between the 11th and 17th centuries. A lot of time passed here, including the Mongol empire's reign.This was the last dynasty before western civilization forever left its mark on China. From 1644 through 1912, this dynasty reigned, and since then, Beijing has been the capital of China. After the long era of dynasties came the first democracy of China, which lasted until communism took over China's government in 1949.China has a long and extensive history. China is the oldest existing culture today and has a lot of history to offer the rest of the world. The time of the dynasties in China lasted nearly 4,000 years, which is impressive to say the least. Luckily for history buffs, the history of ancient China is so well documented that anyone can learn details about each of its government periods and their impact on Chinese culture.During the Tang dynasty, there was a brief period of time where, for the first time, an empress ruled China without following the rule of her emperor husband. (MORE)
In Secularism
10 Countries That Have Secular Governments
Although each country has its own unique system of government, a large number of nations follow the American model of separation between church and state. There are many good …examples of how governing bodies create laws that protect their citizens from religious oppression. In some cases, even former religious states have eradicated faith-based rule in favor of secular government.The separation between government and religion is one of the United States' founding principles. The Pilgrims fled England to escape religious persecution. Over the centuries, many other ethnic groups followed their example. Commonly known as The Establishment Clause, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states explicitly that Congress must never establish a state religion. The clause also mandates that the federal government must not prevent its citizens from freely exercising their religion. The Canadian Constitution contains a distinct provision guaranteeing its citizens freedom from state-imposed religion. The aptly named Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes the freedom of religion. This prevents the government from creating its own form of religion. It also prevents the state from banning certain denominations or sects.According to BBC writer, Henri Astier, French secularism stretches all the way back to the French Revolution. Before the revolution, France was a deeply Catholic country. There was also a sharp contrast between the rich and the poor. After France's violent, bloody revolution, ordinary citizens overthrew both the monarch and Rome's influence. France's current secular policy, known as laicite, was adopted in 1905.Although Vatican City is located in the heart of the nation, Italy has been a secular country since 1985. According to the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, traces of Italy's religious past continue to make an appearance in daily life. As recently as 2010, an Italian mother argued in court that Italian public schools should not display crucifixes. The European Court of Human Rights agreed with her that the practice violated the Italian separation of church and state.Originally founded as a penal colony, Australia is a large country that includes the separation of church and state in its chief governing document. Section 116 of the Australian Constitution states that the commonwealth of Australia is prohibited from creating a state religion. It also ensures that all citizens have the right to believe whatever religion they choose without government interference. The Australian government also prohibits the practice of forcing public officials to pass any kind of religious test to qualify for office.According to Elizabeth Zehe of Georgetown University, secularism has deep roots in China. Long before Communism, the Chinese weren't particularly religious. Although Chinese society has produced some profoundly spiritual thinkers, such as Confucius, belief in a supernatural being is far different from embracing inner peace and seeking to connect to the natural world. Zehe writes that modern Chinese are somewhat ambivalent about religion. Whereas Communism eradicated religion in other nations, it did little to change daily spiritual life for the secular Chinese people. Like most modern countries with governments modeled after those of Western nations, South Africa has a secular constitution. As a former member of the British empire, it was once part of the collection of countries that paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II and the Church of England. In modern times, South Africa has no official state religion. The country has a diverse mix of cultures, including native Africans, descendants of Dutch settlers, and people with Anglo-Saxon ancestry.Russia has endured many rulers and regimes over its long history. After the Bolshevik Revolution that resulted in the murders of Czar Nicholas II and his family in 1917, Russia became a Communist state. For most of the 20th century, the Russian government, for some time known as the Soviet Union, actively oppressed religious expression. After the fall of Russian Communism in the early 1990s, Russia became a republic in 1991. Although the country once again recognizes religious freedom, the government remains separate from any type of belief system.According to a 2010 Gallup Poll, Japan is one of the most atheistic countries in the world. Japan's Constitution was revised at the end of World War II, when the American government forced Japanese leaders to adopt a separation between government and religion. Stanford University's Lynn Parisi writes that the document was practically drafted by the American officials that occupied Japan at the close of the war. The applicable section can be found in Article 20 of Japan's Constitution, which dates back to 1947.According to Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Catholicism was the official state religion in Brazil until 1889. It took the country an additional two years to form a republic and draft a constitution that eradicated all traces of religion from its government. Nevertheless, the church retained a great deal of influence over politics. As the country's Protestant population grew in the 1970s, the church lost a great deal of its former influence.Just because a country embraces secular government doesn't mean it eschews religion. In fact, most secular nations guarantee their citizens the right to practice whatever religion they desire. In the United States, for example, Americans are allowed to adhere to any manner of belief system. For over 200 years, the American Constitution has demonstrated that secular government prevents oppression and abuse of power.Some Americans might be surprised to discover that England does not separate its politics from its religion. Unlike the majority of its Western allies, England doesn't have a secular government. According to journalist Michael McGough of the Los Angeles Times, the Church of England is the official church of the English government. In fact, some of the church's bishops occupy seats in England's parliament. (MORE)
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In History
How Information Stored in Government Databases is Used
Government databases are all-too-often thought of as sources of information leaks that can result in harm to the country, or containing data that, as it was being collected, s…omehow violated the privacy rights of this country's citizens. Historically, the U.S. government has always collected data. In past decades however, thanks to advances in computing technology and the Internet, more data is being collected at an even faster pace. Much if this data is used by a great many people besides those in the Government and is easily accessed. Some of it is, of course, not meant to be easily accessed.Every government agency needs to collect data on its constituency and, consequently, needs to store it. Every agency or department therefore has a number of such systems, with each one serving a particular purpose. These same agencies and departments will often access centralized data management systems used for storing multipurpose data, such as those containing demographic data. There are even data management systems that contain information telling what types of information are to be found in other data management systems. Exactly when the first database system was put in place for use by a government agency is not known, but it was most likely in the late 1960-70s, when relational data management systems came into being.Much of the data the U.S. government collects and stores is eventually used in passing legislation. Demographic data, for example, helps make it possible to predict what some of the country's needs will be during the next generation. Most government-sponsored programs rely heavily on stored data for decision-making and planning purposes. An increasing amount of historical data is being stored away to support future research efforts, such as information that is continually being gathered about the Civil War. A great deal of technical data is stored in Department of Defense databases. The Department of Homeland Security is constantly processing intelligence data, some new and some old, but all of which still needs to be accessed. The FBI and CIA have their own special data management systems that are used to store data that is generally not accessible to everyone.There are quite a number of such databases. Many of these contain information of general interest, while many also contain information that is highly useful to businesses, institutions, students, as well as the man on the street. Access to these data management systems is free. There are for example systems devoted to educational resources, environmental studies, legislation, health and medicine, science, and social science. There are other categories as well, and within each category, you will find numerous databases devoted to different topics.The government maintains a number of data management systems that are good sources of information. You can start a search by going to the Federal Citizen Information Center, the FedWorld Information Network, or the United States goverment website. FedStats is another place to start if you need statistical data. Any one of these sites will have the tools you need to access the type of data you're seeking. Most also have links to other websites, both Federal and non-Federal, where additional free information is available.The Government Printing Office has not gone out of business. The Office still published books and pamphlets on a regular basis, but most of the information that is collected is now digitized and stored. The system for doing so is called FDSys, the Government Printing Office's Federal Digital System. Years ago, you had to order a document and have it mailed, or you culd visit one of a small number the Printing Office's bookstores. Today, most of the information has been digitized. Thus, it can be had on demand, and it can also be acquired online and downloaded. The FDSys website has a search engine for more convenient browsing.Although people can get excited at times, fearing that the government is collecting too much personal information, the vast majority of that collected is highly useful to a large number of people. The information stored in government data management systems is probably woefully underutilized. If you every have the opportunity to visit a Government Printing Office bookstore, you'll find lots of dry reading material that would be of little interest to you, some reading material you would find useful, and an occasional gem that would prompt you to search for even more data. Much of the data the U.S. government collects and stores is eventually used in passing legislation. Demographic data, for example, helps make it possible to predict what some of the country's needs will be during the next generation. Most government-sponsored programs rely heavily on stored data for decision-making and planning purposes. (MORE)
Answered
Are most governments a democracy?
Today, yes. There are only a handful of states that rest under dictatorial control (eg. North Korea and Cuba). It is strategically unwise to be anti-democratic because as the …70s showed us, the most powerful country in the world is willing to go to war to enforce its own ideology of freedom and democracy. (MORE)
Answered
What is the difference between government and democracy?
Government is the process by which the affairs of large groups of people are organized. Democracy is one form of government.
Answered
Why is the municipal government the best at democracy?
the municipal government is the best at democracy because of its closer link and knowledge of the people. the municipal government can easily cater to the citizens needs… because it has so little people to care for. to top it off, municipal politicians are elected by the people according to different sections of a city; a candidate is elected per section. last but not least, citizens can more easily and freely participate in the municipal governments' plans and ideas. (MORE)
