(This is an archived extract from the book Patterns of Power: Edition 2)
It seems reasonable to expect politicians to try to increase the acceptability of political governance, on the basis that they would gain more job satisfaction and would be more likely to retain their power. Unfortunately, there are very many instances where they are found wanting. It is necessary, therefore, to have some way of penalising poor performance or failures to put the interests of the people first. Sanctions are needed: either to dismiss incompetent politicians or, in the event of actual dishonesty or corruption, to have recourse to the law.
In practice, governments often see the dismissal of unsatisfactory politicians as necessary for their own survival. They might be de-selected in a democratic system (6.3.2.1) and, in some authoritarian systems (6.3.1.5), it is possible for a ruling council or a "selectorate" to replace them.
Freedom of speech (6.8.3.2) plays an important role in enabling people to communicate to governments when politicians are failing, so that the party organisations are able to take the necessary disciplinary action.
© PatternsofPower.org, 2014