A Presentation on Democracy and Constitution Development in Nepal

1. Democracy and Constitution
Development in Nepal

2. Presentation
Team
 Sejal Bhandari
 Smriti Bashyal
 Siddhant Pandey
 Sandhya Gubhaju
 Saurav Pokhrel

3. Democracy is “government of, by and for
the people”
~ Abraham Lincoln

4.  Derived from the Greek words: demo (people) and kratia (power).
 It is a type of political system in which power lies in the hands of
people such as choosing their representatives (i.e. govt )through
periodic elections.
 e.g. Nepal, India
What is Democracy?

5.  Regular, free and fair elections
 Transparency and absence of corruption
 Rule of law
 Peace and security
 Responsive and accountable government
 Citizen participation
 Political Freedom
 Equality of citizenship
Features of Democracy

6.  Pre-1990 Monarchy
 Democracy Movement (1990)
 Constitutional Changes(1990-2008)
 Maoist Insurgency(1996-2006)
 Comprehensive Peace Agreement(2006)
 Constitutional Monarchy to Federal Democratic
Republic (2008)
 Constitution of Nepal(2015)
Development of
Democracy in Nepal

7. Map of Federal Democratic Republic of
Nepal

8. Types of
Democracy
 Also known as Participation
democracy
 Citizens make decisions
directly without the
intervention of elected
representatives.
 E.g. Switzerland, California
 Also known as Representative democracy
 It is a system of government in which all
eligible citizens vote to elect people called
representatives who make laws for the
people and the final authority is in the hands
of the citizens to choose leaders and make
laws
 E.g: Nepal, India, German, Canada
Direct democracy Indirect democracy

9. Feature Direct
Democracy
Indirect
Democracy
Decision Making Citizens Representatives
Citizen Role Vote on policies Elect representatives
Frequency of decision making Frequent votes Periodic elections
Benefits Engagement,
responsiveness,
accountability
Efficiency, informed
decisions, diverse
representation
Challenges Complexity , expense
misinformation,
tyranny of the majority
Reduced
engagement,
representation gaps,
special interests

10.  Responsible and accountable government
 Inclusive representation
 Freedom to common people
 Equal and fair justice
 Sense of cooperation and fraternal feeling
Advantages of
Democracy

11.  Personal interest over national interest
 Lack of educated and experienced voters
 Corruption
 Delay in decision making process
 Family/Dynastic politics
 Chances of unqualified person as leader
Disadvantages
of Democracy

12. A constitution is a fundamental set of principles or
established precedents according to which a state or other
organization is governed.
A constitution is a fundamental and foundational legal
document that establishes the framework for the
governance of a nation or organization. It typically outlines
the structure of government, defines the distribution of
powers among different branches, and enunciates the
rights and responsibilities of citizens. Serving as a social
contract, a constitution embodies the collective will of the
people, providing a set of guiding principles and rules that
govern the relationship between the state and citizens.
What is
Constitution ?

13.  Federal Structure
 Inclusive Representation
 Secularism
 Fundamental Rights
 Constitutional Amendments
Features of
Constitution

14.  Clarity and Precision
 Protection of Fundamental Rights
 Separation of Powers
 Rule of Law
 Inclusivity and Diversity
Essential for a
Good
Constitution

15. The historical development of constitutionalism in Nepal dates
back to ancient times. Nepal has a rich history of diverse
political systems, including monarchies, autocracies, and
various form of governance.
 The beginnings of constitutionalism(2009-2017)
 The first constitution(2016)
 The era of Panchayat system(2017-2047)
 The restoration of constitutional democracy(2047)
 The People’s Movement and its aftermath(2063-2065)
Historical Development
of Constitution of
Nepal

16. Background:
 Post-2006 People’s Movement.
 Transitional phase towards democracy.
 Adopted on January 15, 2007.
Key Elements:
 Interim Government Formation
 Rights and Liberties Emphasized
 Transition from Monarchy to Republic
 State Restructuring
 Formation of Constituent Assembly
Interim Constitution
2063 Significance:
 Transitional framework toward federal democracy.
 Paved the way for drafting a permanent constitution.
 Focused on inclusivity and representation.

17. Background:
 Promulgated on September 20, 2015.
 Result of the Constituent Assembly’s work.
 Established Nepal as a federal democratic republic.
Key Elements:
 Federal Structure
 Fundamental Rights and Duties
 Separation of Powers
 Independent Judiciary
 Provisions for Social Justice
Significance:
 Institutionalized federalism and inclusive governance.
 Strengthened fundamental rights and democratic principles.
 Emphasized social justice and equal representation.
Constitution of Nepal

18.  Political Instability
 Ethnic and Regional Diversity
 Demand for Inclusion and Social Justice
 Peace Process and Conflict Resolution
 External Influences
Causes of Frequent change of
constitution in Nepal

19. 2063
 Crucial in Nepal’s transition towards democracy.
 Paved the way for a permanent constitution.
2072:
 Institutionalized Nepal’s federal democratic republic.
 Represents a significant milestone in Nepal’s constitutional history.
Conclusion

20. “नेपाली हामी रह ौँला कहाौँ नेपालै नरहे”
~ माधव प्रसाद घिघमरे

21. “The Constitution of Monaco
is the shortest constitution in
the world with only 3,814
words in it.”
Did You Know?