Democracy

How it is used

A central word in political science and news. Textbooks distinguish direct democracy, where citizens decide issues themselves, from representative democracy, where they elect people to decide for them. Writers speak of strengthening or defending democracy. The word comes from Greek demos (people) and kratos (power).

Example sentences

1. In a representative democracy, citizens elect others to make laws on their behalf.

2. The seminar looks at how young democracies build trust in their institutions.

Common collocations

• representative democracy
• direct democracy
• parliamentary democracy
• strengthen democracy
• democratic values

Related terms

• electionAn organized process in which people vote to choose a person or group for an official position, such as members of parliament, a president or a mayor.
• rule of lawThe principle that everyone, including the government and its officials, must obey the law, and that laws are applied fairly by independent courts.
• republicA state in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and the head of state is not a king or queen but usually an elected president.
• authoritarianDescribing a system or ruler that concentrates power in a few hands, limits political freedoms and does not allow real competition or opposition.
• sovereigntyThe highest authority of a state to govern itself and make its own laws without outside control; also the idea of where final political authority lies, for example with the people.

More terms: Political Systems

• politics
• state
• monarchy
• parliamentary system
• presidential system
• federalism