Role of Opposition in a Democracy
English Essay on "Role of Opposition in a Democracy"
No Opposition, no democracy’. This proposition epigrammatically sums up the importance of the Opposition in democracy. Without the Opposition, democracy remains incomplete; and, of course, one of the conditions for the success of democracy is that the Opposition plays and is allowed to play its role in a befitting manner.
The foremost role of the Opposition in democracy is to serve as a check on the government. This role is of crucial significance. In democracy, the Constitution or the fundamental law of a country is supreme, while the powers of the government are limited. The Constitution clearly defines these power and if the government oversteps these powers, the whole democratic edifice shakes. Therefore, it is in the interest of democracy that the government remains within the ambit of the powers s specified by the Constitution.
It is here that the Opposition is called upon to play role. It is the duty as well as the right of the opposition to see to it that the government does not act arbitrarily, that it adheres to the Constitution and that it does not overstep its mandate. The government is always liable to misuse its authority, to make a departure from the path of democracy and to become despotic. Hence, it needs a strong and responsible Opposition to remind it of its constitutional limits and the mandate from time to time. It is due to this important function of the Opposition that it has been called the watch-dog of the government.
The discharge this responsibility in a befitting manner, the Opposition has to remain vigilant both inside and outside the legislature. Inside the House, it should censure the government if it pursues policies which are either illegal or unconstitutional or at variance with the norms of democracy. The Cabinet must be made responsible for its acts of omission and commission.
Outside the legislature, though the Press and peaceful public rallies, the Opposition should subject the governmental policies to a healthy criticism so that greater public awareness of these policies is created. In short, at no stage should the Opposition allow the government to act arbitrarily or despotically.
Mere keeping a check on the government so as to make it abide by law and Constitution, though very important, is not enough. The government should be not only responsible but also efficient, not only an upholder of the supremacy of the Constitution but also responsive to public needs. Hence, another function of the Opposition in democracy is to ensure good governance. This point needs further elaboration.
Though in democracy it is the right of the majority party to govern, it is at the same time its duty to govern in the best interest of the people. It is the right as well as the duty of the Opposition to ensure that the government’s right to rule is subservient to its duty to rule in the best interest of the people. To perform this function, the Opposition scrutinises legislative proposals, administrative actions and governmental policies. If a legislative proposal is meant to be an abridgement of the fundamental rights of the people, the Opposition opposes the same and exerts pressure on the government to revise the same. Likewise, if the governmental policy on any issue of national importance is weak or ambiguous or does not reflect the aspirations of the nation, the Opposition may petition the government to follow a strong and clear-cut policy. The government needs a constant reminder that the people are the real masters and that it has been voted to power to serve the people. Without such a reminder, the government is likely to become inefficient and corrupt. But if there is a strong and vigilant Opposition to keep the government on its toes, the government will act in a responsible way.
The presence of a strong Opposition is also necessary for political stability. In parliamentary democracy, in particular, the government, elected for a fixed tenure, may change any time. The government may collapse owing to a rift in the ruling party or differences among the Treasury members. The government may become unpopular and may be force to quit or the government may be outvoted by the Opposition. In such cases, a political vacuum is created which may lead to political instability. However, if there is a strong Opposition, it will fill the vacuum and hence avert political instability. The Opposition promotes democratic norms. In fact, the very presence of the Opposition is a sign of the presence of democratic form of government. In dictatorship, no Opposition to the regime is tolerated. There being no difference between the government and the state, the opposition to the government is regarded as an opposition to the state. Hence, in dictatorship there is only one party - the ruling party. No other party is all owed to exit.
The Opposition promotes democratic norms in at least to ways. In the first place, it believes in debates and discussions as against violence and agitations. If it is not satisfied with any of the government’s measures or policies, it may ask for a debate on that measure or policy. It may also create public opinion against the government’s measures and indirectly prevail upon the government to drop these measures. However, in never takes resort to violent or unconstitutional means and tries to settle its differences with the government in a peaceful, constitutional manner.
In the second place, the Opposition tries to change the government in a democratic way. Instead of using street power to secure the fall of the government, the Opposition tries to effect change in the government through no-confidence motion against Cabinet. In t1his way, change in the government takes place in a peaceful manner. Unfortunately, in Pakistan the role of the Opposition has not been up to the mark. Instead of acting as the watchdog of the government, the Opposition tries to topple it. Hence, it is always on the look-out for ways and means to bring down the government. There is no such thing as an objective criticism of the government’s policies. Nor is there any attempt to make the government respond to the needs and grievances of the people. Rather every effort is directed toward securing the fall of the government. Political intrigues against the government are resorted to. Treasury members are lured into changing their loyalties. Members are promised ministerial slots and other benefits in exchange for their support against the government. Even Prime Minister ship is offered to many at the same time.
Such tactics of the Opposition have weakened parliamentary democracy. Our legislatures have become a battlefield where everything is fair if it could contribute to the political death of the rivals. Toleration, which is the soul of democracy, is hardly to be seen inside or outside the House.
The foremost role of the Opposition in democracy is to serve as a check on the government. This role is of crucial significance. In democracy, the Constitution or the fundamental law of a country is supreme, while the powers of the government are limited. The Constitution clearly defines these power and if the government oversteps these powers, the whole democratic edifice shakes. Therefore, it is in the interest of democracy that the government remains within the ambit of the powers s specified by the Constitution.
It is here that the Opposition is called upon to play role. It is the duty as well as the right of the opposition to see to it that the government does not act arbitrarily, that it adheres to the Constitution and that it does not overstep its mandate. The government is always liable to misuse its authority, to make a departure from the path of democracy and to become despotic. Hence, it needs a strong and responsible Opposition to remind it of its constitutional limits and the mandate from time to time. It is due to this important function of the Opposition that it has been called the watch-dog of the government.
The discharge this responsibility in a befitting manner, the Opposition has to remain vigilant both inside and outside the legislature. Inside the House, it should censure the government if it pursues policies which are either illegal or unconstitutional or at variance with the norms of democracy. The Cabinet must be made responsible for its acts of omission and commission.
Outside the legislature, though the Press and peaceful public rallies, the Opposition should subject the governmental policies to a healthy criticism so that greater public awareness of these policies is created. In short, at no stage should the Opposition allow the government to act arbitrarily or despotically.
Mere keeping a check on the government so as to make it abide by law and Constitution, though very important, is not enough. The government should be not only responsible but also efficient, not only an upholder of the supremacy of the Constitution but also responsive to public needs. Hence, another function of the Opposition in democracy is to ensure good governance. This point needs further elaboration.
Though in democracy it is the right of the majority party to govern, it is at the same time its duty to govern in the best interest of the people. It is the right as well as the duty of the Opposition to ensure that the government’s right to rule is subservient to its duty to rule in the best interest of the people. To perform this function, the Opposition scrutinises legislative proposals, administrative actions and governmental policies. If a legislative proposal is meant to be an abridgement of the fundamental rights of the people, the Opposition opposes the same and exerts pressure on the government to revise the same. Likewise, if the governmental policy on any issue of national importance is weak or ambiguous or does not reflect the aspirations of the nation, the Opposition may petition the government to follow a strong and clear-cut policy. The government needs a constant reminder that the people are the real masters and that it has been voted to power to serve the people. Without such a reminder, the government is likely to become inefficient and corrupt. But if there is a strong and vigilant Opposition to keep the government on its toes, the government will act in a responsible way.
The presence of a strong Opposition is also necessary for political stability. In parliamentary democracy, in particular, the government, elected for a fixed tenure, may change any time. The government may collapse owing to a rift in the ruling party or differences among the Treasury members. The government may become unpopular and may be force to quit or the government may be outvoted by the Opposition. In such cases, a political vacuum is created which may lead to political instability. However, if there is a strong Opposition, it will fill the vacuum and hence avert political instability. The Opposition promotes democratic norms. In fact, the very presence of the Opposition is a sign of the presence of democratic form of government. In dictatorship, no Opposition to the regime is tolerated. There being no difference between the government and the state, the opposition to the government is regarded as an opposition to the state. Hence, in dictatorship there is only one party - the ruling party. No other party is all owed to exit.
The Opposition promotes democratic norms in at least to ways. In the first place, it believes in debates and discussions as against violence and agitations. If it is not satisfied with any of the government’s measures or policies, it may ask for a debate on that measure or policy. It may also create public opinion against the government’s measures and indirectly prevail upon the government to drop these measures. However, in never takes resort to violent or unconstitutional means and tries to settle its differences with the government in a peaceful, constitutional manner.
In the second place, the Opposition tries to change the government in a democratic way. Instead of using street power to secure the fall of the government, the Opposition tries to effect change in the government through no-confidence motion against Cabinet. In t1his way, change in the government takes place in a peaceful manner. Unfortunately, in Pakistan the role of the Opposition has not been up to the mark. Instead of acting as the watchdog of the government, the Opposition tries to topple it. Hence, it is always on the look-out for ways and means to bring down the government. There is no such thing as an objective criticism of the government’s policies. Nor is there any attempt to make the government respond to the needs and grievances of the people. Rather every effort is directed toward securing the fall of the government. Political intrigues against the government are resorted to. Treasury members are lured into changing their loyalties. Members are promised ministerial slots and other benefits in exchange for their support against the government. Even Prime Minister ship is offered to many at the same time.
Such tactics of the Opposition have weakened parliamentary democracy. Our legislatures have become a battlefield where everything is fair if it could contribute to the political death of the rivals. Toleration, which is the soul of democracy, is hardly to be seen inside or outside the House.
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