Definition: Democracy
Democracy simply is “a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting” ,according to Merriam- Webster. However, that simple definition is just the building platform for the many ideas that other philosophers and political thinkers have built on democracy. It is hard to find one sole definition that satisfies each idea of all the philosophers, but there are some common characteristics among most definitions. These include the following: majority rule while maintaining minority rights, individual liberty , and fair elections.
Majority rule is commonly used in democracies to make decisions. Majority rule protects the views of the common majority. Pericles, the …show more content…
These representatives make the laws and decisions of the government. Many may argue that a representative democracy is not a democracy but it is as long as citizens are able to vote and there are limitations to the power by the representatives.
A representative democracy is a democracy because of voting. A democracy is a government in which eligible citizens can vote. Because citizens elect the officials, it is a democracy. A representative democracy is also a democracy because it limits the powers of the representatives. The representatives do not have absolute rule which prevents the democracy from becoming a totalitarian government.
Representative democracies are important to keeping a largely populated country functional. Each citizen still has his or her voice heard from voting. The representatives who are well educated on the functions of the government can make important government decisions for the population to benefit the country while citizens can focus on their families and other personal matters. Limits to the powers of the representatives also helps to keep the government about the people instead of the personal interests of one person or one