Liberal Democracy in Canada

Running head: LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
Liberal Democracy
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Course Number: POL 111
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1LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN CANADA
The word “Democracy” literally implies a government that is ruled by the people. It
had originally originated 2400 years ago in ancient Greece. The principal purposes why the
people of the nation opt for a democracy is because they desire the promotion and protection
of their rights, their interests as well as their welfare. There modern form of democracy has
three principle forms, democracy, constitutionalism and liberalism. The following essay is
aimed at discussing the Liberal Democracy as a whole in Canada. The principles of Liberal
Democracy has been discussed at first followed by the Parliamentary System of Government
in Canada and how the Political framework of Canada reflects the Liberal form of
Democracy.
Liberal Democracy implies a form of government. It is a form of democracy which
involves the ability of the elected representatives who has the power to exercise their decision
making power(Dickerson, Flanagan & O’Neill). According to Galston, they are generally
modified by a constitution whose prime responsibility is to safeguard the freedoms and the
rights of the individuals and the protection of their liberal rights. However, the term “liberal”
in the word Liberal Democracy does not imply that the government uses a democracy which
is enforced to follow the ideology of political liberalism (Bell). The principles of Liberal
Democracy are as follows:
 The individuals enjoy the freedom of individual expression. They have the right to
express themselves orally as well as through words.
 Liberal democracy allows the individuals right of information, freedom from slavery,
freedom of education and right to an independent judiciary as well (Mukand, Sarun
and Rodrik).
 The individuals have the freedom of religion. They can exercise or practise any form
of religion that they want to, or can practise none. It is entirely their own discretion.

2LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN CANADA
 They have the power to enjoy political freedom. Liberal Democracy allows the
citizens equal right, to choose and elect the body that they desire to be governed. They
even can remove them from power.
 Freedom of press or electronic media are also enjoyed by the citizens of a liberal
democracy.
 The individuals have the right to enjoy privacy. They have a sphere of life which is
entirely private and is free from the intervention of the government.
 Finally the citizens have the right to equality and they can easily have the freedom to
associate themselves in any kind of public and private gathering, without any
interference from any external force.
As stated by Barnes and Virgint, the states of Canada, European Union, Japan, the United
States, India, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia enjoy the liberal form of democracy.
The liberal democracies have an inherited structure which includes universal suffrage,
granting all the adult citizens the right to vote and elect regardless of race, gender or the kind
of ownership that they possess.
As stated by Malcolmson et al., the Preamble to the Constitution Act of 1867 states
that the Canadian Constitution is almost alike the Constitution of the United Kingdom and it
shares almost the same kind of principles as that of the British Government. The
parliamentary system of Canada is the legislative form of government which involves three
parts – The Monarch, the Senators and the Members of the Parliament (Thomas). The
Monarch is represented and elected by the Governor General. The executive form of the
Government in Canada involves the Monarch or the Governor General, the Prime Minister as
well as the Cabinet Finally the judiciary branch of the government involves the federal
department which include the National Defence, Justice and the Finance Department
(Dobuzinskis). These three branches, the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches