Final answer:
Democracy is a form of government where citizens hold political power and can directly or indirectly vote on governance. It includes equal access to power, individual rights, rule of law, and majority rule. Representative democracy involves elected officials, while direct democracy involves citizens voting on all decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democracy is often defined as the "rule of the people". It is a form of government where the citizens exercise political power by participating in the electoral process, either through direct voting or by electing representatives. An essential aspect of democracy is that all citizens have equal access to power and enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.
There are several key elements that define a democracy: 1) Citizens choose and replace the government through free and fair elections, 2) active participation of the people in politics and civic life, 3) protection of human rights and civil liberties for all, and 4) adherence to the rule of law which applies equally to all members of society.
In a representative democracy, like the United States, citizens do not govern directly but, instead, elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. However, democracy goes beyond just the majority rule and encompasses freedom of speech, the press, and assembly, while also forbidding unlawful imprisonment. Despite this freedom, democracies place laws and regulations that reflect the will of the majority to maintain order.
Direct democracy is a system where decisions are made directly by the people, often through a vote. However, most modern democracies are representative in nature, where elected officials govern in accordance with constitutional law.