Democracy isn’t a verb, but it should be. A healthy liberal democracy requires action – it is fueled by active citizen participation. The first half of the word “democracy” comes from the Greek word “demos” or “people.” Active engaged citizens are vital to the proper functioning of a liberal democracy.
Liberal democracy remains the best governing system for protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring that our government serves the interests of the people, but only 20% of the global population live in a free country, according to Freedom House.
Healthy liberal democracies empower their citizens, protecting and preserving the most fundamental freedoms including speech, worship, assembly, association, and the ability to freely choose their own leaders, to name a few. The rule of law ensures that all people are equal before the law.
With these freedoms come important responsibilities for all American citizens. People must uphold and respect the laws of the nation. Citizens must participate in civic life, such as voting in elections and serving on juries. They must practice the values of democracy, including engaging civilly with those espousing different views, respecting the rights of people from different backgrounds and traditions, and protecting the freedoms of fellow citizens, regardless of who they are.
Understanding these freedoms and responsibilities requires meaningful civic education, which, in turn, leads to meaningful citizen engagement and a more effective, democratic system of government.
Democracy is a verb. Each of us must embrace our responsibilities as citizens, utilizing our agency to act with democratic principles – and demand the same from our leaders.
Follow the George W Bush Institute’s Democracy is a verb series
Our focus in this series is strengthening democratic citizenship. And here we must put particular emphasis on the values and views of the young.
Quote from President Bush on October 19, 2017 at “Spirit of Liberty: At Home, In The World”
“Our identity as a nation – unlike many other nations – is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. Being an American involves the embrace of high ideals and civic responsibility. We become the heirs of Thomas Jefferson by accepting the ideal of human dignity found in the Declaration of Independence. We become the heirs of James Madison by understanding the genius and values of the U.S. Constitution. We become the heirs of Martin Luther King, Jr., by recognizing one another not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
“This means that people of every race, religion, and ethnicity can be fully and equally American. It means that bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed. (Applause.)
“And it means that the very identity of our nation depends on the passing of civic ideals to the next generation.
“We need a renewed emphasis on civic learning in schools. And our young people need positive role models. Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children. The only way to pass along civic values is to first live up to them.”
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