Final answer:
In a democracy, the guiding principle is that public policy is shaped by majority rule, where representatives elected by the majority make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The guiding principle in a democracy is often encapsulated by the idea of majority rule, where the opinion of the majority influences government decisions more than that of the minority. This principle is reflected when citizens elect representatives who make decisions and enact laws on behalf of the people, thereby not governing directly. Therefore, the correct answer to the question, Which of the following is the guiding principle in a democracy? is d) Public policy is shaped by majority rule.
Laws indeed determine what the government can and cannot do, forming the legal framework within which democracy operates. However, it is through the application of majority rule that these laws are enacted and representatives are chosen. Answer choices b) and c) describe systems that are not democratic, such as theocracy and oligarchy, respectively. Democracies also champion universally recognized freedoms and liberties, operate under the rule of law, and ensure the rights to organize political parties and hold free and fair elections.