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'''Democracy''' is the government of the people, by the people and for the people (as [[Abraham Lincoln]] defined it). It was invented by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and has spread widely in western nations since the [[American Revolution]] and the [[French Revolution]] in the late 18th century.

Democracy is a political form of government carried out either directly by the people (direct democracy) or by means of elected representatives of the people, as if the people and the elected person were one, linear line of decisions. (representative democracy). The term comes from the Greek: δημοκρατία - (dēmokratía) "rule of the people",[1] which was coined from δῆμος (dêmos) "people" and κράτος (krátos) "power", in the middle of the fifth-fourth century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens following a popular uprising in 508 BC.[2]  Even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of 'democracy',[3]  there are two principles that defines the word democracy.They include: equality and freedom.[4][dubious – discuss] These principles are reflected in all citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to power.[5] and the freedom of its citizens is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are generally protected by a constitution.[6][7]

 

Democracy means the people rule and can do anything they want by majority rule.  In the U.S. "super majorities" (over 50%) are required for many decisions, such as ratifying a treaty or passing a constitutional amendment.  [[Republicanism]] means there is a system of rule of law, or [[inalienable rights]], which no majority can vote out.

 

The origin of the term is Greek, from the words ''demos'' (people) and ''kratos'' (strength).

The defining characteristic of a democracy is that the citizenry of a nation are sovereign. Constitutional monarchies become democratic (as in Britain, Japan and Scandinavia) by narrowing the power of the monarch to ceremonial roles and letting an elected government rule.

 

The United States Constitution guarantees a [[republican form of government]]. With elected executives (governor/president) and legislatures.  In parliamentary democracies, the executive and legislative branches are not separate.  In them parties form winning coalitions and the coalition controls both the government and the parliament.

In ancient [[Athens]], male citizens (not women, children or slaves) were allowed to vote in the Assembly which made the laws of the city-state. Citizens did not elect representatives--they acted themselves.  This form survives in "town meetings" in small New England villages.

== Debate over the merits of democracy ==

== Debate over the merits of democracy ==