What is Democracy?
Democracy is the name for a system of government “of or by the people.” Democracy has come to mean anything from town governments to nation states, but at its core it’s about giving citizens the power and ability to govern themselves. It’s a fine balance, and it requires compromise, cooperation and trust. It requires that politicians deliver on their promises, and that citizens participate in the governance of their communities and countries by voting, paying taxes and providing service. It requires that people have access to information and education so they can make informed choices about the policies and laws that affect them. It requires that governments and their institutions respect individual rights and freedoms, and that those institutions are rooted in a constitutional framework that provides checks and balances on their power. Democracy also requires a shared commitment to social progress, as well as the recognition that there is always room for improvement, especially in a democracy.
Democracy means a mix of principles and practices that vary from one country to another, reflecting each community’s unique political, economic and cultural life. But a few basic principles are essential to the democratic experience:
Majority rule with Individual Rights
Democracies ensure that decisions are made by the majority, but also that individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion are protected. They are based on the principle that each citizen is equal and has the right to vote, to stand for office, and to have their voice heard by those who represent them. They limit the powers of legislators and provide them with term limits, so that they are not in office for too long. They also guarantee that the courts and other legal bodies have the power to protect individual rights.
In modern times, democracy is increasingly challenged by forces that threaten to derail its progress and undermine its foundational principles. Some worry that democracy is in peril because of the spread of populist movements and the rise of authoritarian leaders who promise to restore traditional values. Others doubt that democracy is capable of navigating the rapid pace of technological, demographic and cultural change. And still others question whether democracy really works, given the high levels of dissatisfaction with politics and government worldwide.
This is a dynamic page that highlights key developments and issues in democracy. It’s updated regularly to reflect the latest research and news from around the world.
About Democracy
There are many different ways to define democracy, but the most commonly used definition is that a democracy is a political system in which the people choose their representatives to make policy and formulate law on their behalf. This system of government is called representative democracy and it is the most common form of democracy today, from towns of 50,000 to nations of 50 million. Representative democracy relies on elections that are open to all and conducted by independent bodies, so that the people can be confident that their elected officials will listen to them and respond to their wishes.
Democracy is the name for a system of government “of or by the people.” Democracy has come to mean anything from town governments to nation states, but at its core it’s about giving citizens the power and ability to govern themselves. It’s a fine balance, and it requires compromise, cooperation and trust. It requires that politicians deliver on their promises, and that citizens participate in the governance of their communities and countries by voting, paying taxes and providing service. It requires that people have access to information and education so they can make informed choices about the policies and laws that affect them. It requires that governments and their institutions respect individual rights and freedoms, and that those institutions are rooted in a constitutional framework that provides checks and balances on their power. Democracy also requires a shared commitment to social progress, as well as the recognition that there is always room for improvement, especially in a democracy. Democracy means a mix of principles and practices that vary from one country to another, reflecting each community’s unique political, economic and cultural life. But a few basic principles are essential to the democratic experience: Majority rule with Individual Rights Democracies ensure that decisions are made by the majority, but also that individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion are protected. They are based on the principle that each citizen is equal and has the right to vote, to stand for office, and to have their voice heard by those who represent them. They limit the powers of legislators and provide them with term limits, so that they are not in office for too long. They also guarantee that the courts and other legal bodies have the power to protect individual rights. In modern times, democracy is increasingly challenged by forces that threaten to derail its progress and undermine its foundational principles. Some worry that democracy is in peril because of the spread of populist movements and the rise of authoritarian leaders who promise to restore traditional values. Others doubt that democracy is capable of navigating the rapid pace of technological, demographic and cultural change. And still others question whether democracy really works, given the high levels of dissatisfaction with politics and government worldwide. This is a dynamic page that highlights key developments and issues in democracy. It’s updated regularly to reflect the latest research and news from around the world. About Democracy There are many different ways to define democracy, but the most commonly used definition is that a democracy is a political system in which the people choose their representatives to make policy and formulate law on their behalf. This system of government is called representative democracy and it is the most common form of democracy today, from towns of 50,000 to nations of 50 million. Representative democracy relies on elections that are open to all and conducted by independent bodies, so that the people can be confident that their elected officials will listen to them and respond to their wishes.