WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY?
The fundamental values of constitutional democracy reflect a paramount concern with human dignity and the worth and value of each individual. A. BASIC RIGHTS. Protection of certain basic or fundamental rights is the primary goal of government. These rights may be limited to life, liberty, and property, or they may be extended to include such economic and social rights as employment, health care and education. Documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights enumerate and explain these rights. B. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND EXPRESSION. A constitutional democracy includes among its highest purposes the protection of freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. These freedoms have value both for the healthy functioning and preservation of constitutional democracy and for the full development of the human personality. C.PRIVACY AND CIVIL SOCIETY. Constitutional democ
