Democracy

Unlike Theocracy and Monarchy, Democratic system is based on people's voice. The elected representatives of people rule the nation state. Generally the Democracy has its own varied classification although the concept remains same, people's government.
 Howerver my topic of interest confines on the  young democracy of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Democracies are mostly revolutionary yet Bhutan's journey on the newest form of governance has its peculiar relentless evolution, since the founding of Bhutanese Nation state in the medival times, religious era.
Perhaps Bhutan officially embarked on the path of Democracy in 2008 after a century long under kingship.  Prior to the birth of democracy, Bhutan underwent peridiocal transition of polity sytems beginning religious community to elosicratic society to regionalism under different  regional governors (dzongpoens and penlops) until the centralization of power in one hand, the establishment of monarchy in 17th December 1907. The first two monarchs had crucial efforst in strengthening the nation's security with firm foundation of kingship.

However by  1953, the commencement of National Assembly during the reign of 3rd Druk Gyalpo saw the initial step towards democracy.
Further the concept of democracy got into deeper context with the drafting of constitution of Kingdom of Bhutan by late 1990s. His Majesty 4th King visioned to handover the power back to people, infact his farsighted visions in trasformimg the nation into democracy during undisputed period gained Bhutan's popularity around the world. He voluntarily abdicated from golden throne in favour of his crown prince, meanwhile Bhutan became Parliamentary democracy.
 The crowning of fifth hereditary monarch took place during historic era, coinciding 100th year of monarchy and beginning of democracy. Hence Bhutan adopted Constitutional Democratic Monarchy as the newest form of government.

No where in the world monarch resigns volunaritly, infact no constitution of any countries may have age limit for monarchs as Bhutan does. The constitution of Bhutan mandates kings reign untill the age of 65. Infact the constitutional mandates are based on unanimous decisions after a nationwide consultations with people of Bhutan with His Majesties the Kings.

For the first time in 2008, Bhutan went to poll for electing people's representatives across the nation. Bhutan had first elected Prime minister, cabinet ministers and members of Parliament for both the houses, National Assembly and National Council fulfilling the requirement bicameral system. The two political parties, Bhutan Harmonious Party and People's Democratic Party battled. DPT became the first elected government with majority of 45 seats and PDP with remaining 2 seats became the opposition party. However the latter became the ruling party in the second parliamentary election in 2013.
Bhutan is yet to see the 3rd round of election in 2018.
 In shaping and nurturing Bhutan's democratic system, the constructional bodies such as Anti Corruption Commission, Election Commission, Royal Audit Authority and Royal Civil Service Commission  became functional as autonomous branches. More over media plays invaluable role in democracy as forth estate of government in collaboration with other three branches of government: Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.

 Besides  Bhutan's step on democracy, it  experiences no breakdown of legitimacy, yet it revives with continued cultural and religious values.

****Palden Drukpa Gyelo****
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