Students should be able to describe democratic structures for decision-making at local and national government levels.
Exercise 65A Examining democracy around the world Key Skills
Success criteria
I can explain diff erences in the democracies in diff erent countries.
Bhutan is a small kingdom in the Himalayas. In 2005, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced that Bhutan would become a democracy and that his son would become king. In 2008, the fi rst elections were held. Many people in Bhutan were nervous about democracy because there had been problems with democracy in other countries in the region. Democratic elections have been held in Bhutan since. However, the constitution remains vague about the king’s powers and there is no independent judiciary as the king appoints judges. There is some independent media as there are three private newspapers in the capital.
Australian elections take place every three years and voting is compulsory. The turnout has not fallen below 90% since compulsory voting was introduced. People can vote by postal vote, at overseas voting centres, in hospitals or in nursing homes. People who do not vote are fi ned $20 unless they provide a valid reason for not voting such as illness, being involved in a car crash or natural disasters. Those who do not pay the fi ne are referred to court.
Voter turnout: Australia vs Ireland Year Australia Ireland 2011