Wybory powszechne jako instrument kontroli demokratycznej

Abstract

General elections are an essential element of democratic procedures for the control of political authorities. The function of ensuring control over those in power through elections refers to the idea of evoking voters’ reflection on the evaluation of governments and the possible establishment of an opposition as a result, which will perform a control function. Elections, as a mechanism of control over those in power, may lead to the withdrawal of a government’s mandate (negative control) or to its renewal (positive control). The scope of the election control function is relatively diverse and depends on political culture, political regulations, the level of civic competence or the structure of the party system (as a source of political alternatives).