Core democratic values

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Core Democratic Values are the ideals and qualities fundamental to democratic society and liberty. Basic values of Democracy emphasize personal liberty, human rights, and equality.

1 Fundamental beliefs
2 Civil liberties and their relation to Core Democratic Values
3 Constitutional principles relating to Core Democratic Values
4 External links
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Fundamental beliefs

Life: A person has the right to live free from oppression, tyranny, and must be guaranteed the access to fundamental human rights.

Liberty: This includes personal freedom, political freedom, economic freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.

Personal Freedom: The right to think and act without government control.
Political Freedom: The right to participate in political process.
Economic Freedom: The right to buy, sell, and trade private property, and the right to employment without the interference of the government.
The Pursuit of Happiness: The right to pursue personal interests, as long as your pursuits do not violate the rights of others.

Justice: All people must be treated fairly and receive equal representation and unbiased judgement under the law.

Equality: Everyone must have the right to universal Political, Legal, Social and Economic equality. Everyone has the right to the same treatment regardless of race, sex, religion, heritage, or economic status.

Diversity: The differences in culture, dress, language, heritage, gender, and religion are not just tolerated, but celebrated as a strength.

Truth: People should trust and demand an honest and ethical government whose sole responsibility is to benefit the people.

Popular Sovereignty: The power and justification of government must come from the consensual agreement of the people to be governed.

Patriotism: The people or citizens show a love and devotion for their country and the values. They can show this by words or through actions. ^[1]

[edit] Civil liberties and their relation to Core Democratic Values

Central to the correlation of liberty and the Core Values of Democracy is the understanding that the political or personal obligations and values of one group or individual cannot be forced upon another. The right to personal liberty and freedom is essential to Democracy, and the rights of individual thought and action in the public and private sphere is a necessary component of civil liberty. When the individual is free to act, to think and to believe, and when the government cannot legitimately invade ones political freedom, the person enjoys liberty according to the values of Democracy. ^[2]

[edit] Constitutional principles relating to Core Democratic Values

Rule of Law: Both the people and the government must obey all laws.

Separation of Powers: The executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government should be separate institutions so no one branch gains an advantage or monopoly on government.

Representative Government: The people have the right to elect others to represent them in the government.

Checks and Balances: The powers of the three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial, should be balanced. No one branch should be allowed to dominate other branches, and each branch should have powers to check the actions of the other branches.

Individual Rights: Each individual has the fundamental right to life, liberty, economic freedom and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are outlined in the Bill of Rights and the government should protect these rights and not place undue restrictions upon them.