The Rise of Democracy Research Paper

You will read through the history of your country to find any experience it has had with democracy. You will write a short essay describing democracy and how and when it was created or destroyed in your nation.

Introduction

A______/7 Define democracy completely, in your own words and in complete, grammatically correct sentences. (Use your notes for the definition, not a dictionary.)

B______/3 What does a constitution do, and why is it important in a democracy?

Body of the Essay

C______/5 What kind of government did your nation have before its first independent constitution?

D______/5 What did the people do to get their independence and their first constitution? Was there a revolutionary war? What leaders were involved?

E______/15 When did your country first create a constitution? Did this constitution successfully create a fully democratic government? How so or how not? Did the governments during the twenty or so years after the first constitution follow its rules? Since the first constitution, name any individuals or groups that took power and ruled undemocratically? What made their rule undemocratic? Identify any time periods when the country was ruled by democratic governments that followed a constitution. In what years were constitutions written and re-written?

F______/5 Who would you say is a democratic hero or heroine of this nation? Why?

G______/10 Is their current government democratic? When was their current constitution written? In the executive branch, do they have a king, a president or a prime minister? How long does he or she serve, and how is he or she chosen? What do they call their legislature(s)? How many members does it have, how long do they serve, and how are they chosen? What is their highest court? How many justices does it have, how long do they serve, and how are they chosen?

H______/5 When were their most recent elections? What leader or political party won?

Mechanics

______/10 MLA format must be used. The paper MUST be typed, double-spaced in a 12 point font. (No silly fonts.) There should be a title. It should be written in conventional paragraphs using correct grammar and spelling.

Extra Credit

Ø What political parties are/were there in the government?

Ø Does everyone vote and have rights under their government? When did women get the right to vote? When did all races of people get the right to vote?

Total Grade ______/65 (42 passes)