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[[Image:Elekcja Wola.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The free election of Augustus II at Wola, outside Warsaw, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in 1697, painted by Bernardo Bellotto.]]

[[Image:Elekcja Wola.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The free election of Augustus II at Wola, outside Warsaw, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in 1697, painted by Bernardo Bellotto.]]

'''Democracy''' is a form of government invented by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and made successful by [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christian]] cultures. The origin of the term is [[Greek]], from the words ''demos'' (people) and ''kratos'' (strength). Although many forms of government fall under this broad classification, the defining characteristic of a democracy is that the citizenry of a nation indirectly exercise sovereignty. There has never been a lasting democracy in an [[atheistic]] culture.

'''Democracy''' is a form of government invented by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and made successful by [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christian]] cultures. The origin of the term is [[Greek]], from the words ''demos'' (people) and ''kratos'' (strength). Although many forms of government fall under this broad classification, the defining characteristic of a democracy is that the citizenry of a nation indirectly exercise sovereignty. The most successful democracies occur in [[atheistic]] cultures, for example, [[Sweden]] scored the highest on ''The Economist's Democracy index''<ref>http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/Democracy_Index_2007_v3.pdf</ref>, and also has the highest atheism rate in the world (46%-85%)<ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html</ref>. Similary, [[Denmark]] is the fifth most democratic country,<ref>http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/Democracy_Index_2007_v3.pdf</ref> and the third most atheistic.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html</ref> However, many of the least successful democracies have also been predominantely atheistic, including [[North Korea]], [[Vietnam]], and historically the [[Soviet Union]].

The [[United States]] of America is guaranteed a [[republican form of government]]. However, their legislatures are an example of a democracy, in which the majority vote of the legislators enact law. The execution of those laws is by a separate branch of government, whose officers are appointed by the chief executive officer (president or governor). In parliamentary democracies, the executive and legislative branches are not separate.

The [[United States]] of America is guaranteed a [[republican form of government]]. However, their legislatures are an example of a democracy, in which the majority vote of the legislators enact law. The execution of those laws is by a separate branch of government, whose officers are appointed by the chief executive officer (president or governor). In parliamentary democracies, the executive and legislative branches are not separate.