Final answer:
Democracy is a form of government where citizens hold political power and actively participate in politics and civic life. It is characterized by free and fair elections, the protection of human rights, and the rule of law.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democracy can be defined as the "rule of the people"; it is a form of government where the citizens hold political power and exercise that power by voting directly or by voting through their elected representatives. In a democracy, citizens choose and replace the government through free and fair elections. There is active participation of the citizens in politics and civic life. Additionally, democracies protect human rights and civil liberties for all citizens, and there is a rule of law in which the laws and procedures of government and society apply equally and fairly to all citizens.