CIAO DATE: 04/05

Intelligence Practice and Democratic Oversight - a Practitioner's View

Abstract

Democracy is founded on every citizen's right to take part in the management of public affairs. This requires the existence of representative institutions at all levels and, as a cornerstone, a parliament in which all components of society are represented and which has the requisite powers and means to express the will of the people by legislating and overseeing government action

A democratic state must ensure the enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights by its citizens. Hence, democracy goes hand in hand with an effective, honest and transparent government that is freely chosen and accountable for its management of public affairs. By democratic constitutional design, the executive branch is required to share its powers with the legislative and judicial branches. While this can lead to frustrations and inefficiencies, its virtue lies in the accountability that sharing provides.

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