Final answer:
A basic principle of democracy is to protect minority groups from being oppressed by the majority, upholding the rights of all citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the basic principles of democracy is protecting minority groups against oppression by a majority. This principle ensures that even in a system where the majority rules, the rights of minority groups are safeguarded to prevent a 'tyranny of the majority.' Democratic governments are built on the foundation that all citizens, regardless of their number in society, have certain unalienable rights that cannot be infringed upon.