In his book “The Second Treatise of Civil Government”, John Locke (1967) condones liberal democracy, a form of representative democracy where the ability of elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law and moderated by a constitution which emphasizes the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals and minorities (also called constitutional democracy and constitutional liberalism), and which places constraints on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised.
These rights and freedoms include the rights to due process, private ownership of property, privacy, and equality before the law, and freedoms of speech, assembly and religion. In liberal democracies these rights (also known as ‘’liberal rights’’) may sometimes be constitutionally guaranteed, or are otherwise created by statutory law or case law, which may in turn empower various civil institutions to administer or enforce these rights.
Liberal democracies also tend to be characterized by tolerance and pluralism; widely differing social and political views, even those viewed as extreme or fringe, are permitted to co-exist and compete for political power on a democratic basis. Liberal democracies periodically hold elections where groups with differing political views have the opportunity to achieve political power.
Qualities of liberal democracies include:
- A constitution that limits the authority of the government and protects many civil rights
- Universal suffrage, granting all adult citizens the right to vote regardless of race, gender or property ownership (See also elective rights)
- Freedom of religion and of expression, including speech
- Freedom of the press and access to alternative information sources
- Freedom of association and assembly
- Equality before the law and due process under the rule of law
- The right to private property and privacy
- An independent judiciary, with opportunities for appeal
- A system of checks and balances between branches of government. (Locke, 1967)..................
