Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, meaning that it is held by the whole population or all eligible members of a state, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. The word itself is derived from Greek, combining "demos" (meaning "people") and "kratos" (meaning "rule"). Several core principles define its operation and can be implemented in different forms, typically through elected representatives, controlled by an organization or group, by the majority of its members. Everyone, including government officials and leaders, is subject to and accountable under the law. The elected leaders are responsible to the public for their actions and decisions. The government's actions must be open to scrutiny, with information made publicly available, and Citizens must have the right to choose their leaders in elections that are free of coercion, intimidation, or fraud. The electoral process is where Citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions and govern on their behalf. It must be administered fairly by independent bodies, as democracies are founded on the protection of individual rights, including freedom of speech, expression, and assembly. Power is typically divided among different branches of government—such as the executive, legislative, and judicial—to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. The people directly elect the president, who leads the executive branch that is separate from the legislature.
Democracy provides a high degree of personal freedoms. It protects fundamental human rights, while the systems offer peaceful mechanisms for transferring power, contributing to political stability, and ensuring that leaders are accountable to the people and can be removed through regular elections.
While critics argue that relying on ordinary citizens to choose leaders may lead to poor policy choices that reflect voter ignorance or irrationality for example The cycle of elections can sometimes cause politicians to focus on short-term gains rather than addressing long-term, complex issues as well as The potential for a majority to infringe on the rights and interests of a minority is a long-standing critique of democracy with the risk that wealthy special interest groups can exert disproportionate influence through lobbying and campaign finance.