Political Systems
Dean
It's common to argue that our political system needs reform. Frankly, a weakness (although it has its strengths as well) of the American system, especially its Constitutional structure, makes major changes extremely difficult. Well I do love our system of government, warts and all. But I've often thought that the most creatively and yet sensibly designed system of national government I've seen is Australia's. The Wikipedia entry is short and easy to understand.
Basically the folks down under have a system that combines some of the better aspects of both the British parliamentary system and the American system, combined with what's called "instant runoff" vote counting here.
Smart people those Aussies.
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- Political Systems
Yes, yes, Constitutional Monarchy aside, which is mere formalism in most cases these days, as it certainly is in Australia. The Queen's power is entirely symbolic. As the American Heritage defines a Republic: "A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them."
That's a fine description of most democracies, whether their form is of Constitutional Monarchy, traditional Republic, etc. About the only split remaining today is that there are democratic republics (such as the United States) and thoroughly undemocratic republics (China, Iran). I leave it to pick which type you'd like to live under.