ABSTRACT
The Democratic Audit has derived a checklist of 30 questions-or ‘democratic criteria’— which form the basis of the Audit.
Elections
The regular election of public officials in a competitive process constitutes the key instrument of popular control in a representative democracy. Elections demonstrate that political power derives from the people, and is held in trust from them; but it also requires the prospect of losing office to ensure that those elected fulfil that trust, that they keep in systematic touch with their electorate, and that they maintain the standards of public office. For elections to be an effective mechanism of political control and accountability, however, they must extend to the main legislative and executive offices of state, and be free from control and manipulation by those supposedly subject to them. These issues of the reach and independence of the electoral system are covered by questions 1 and 2.
