Answer: What is democracy?

The word ‘democracy’ comes from a Greek word which means ‘rule by the people.’ It’s used to describe a system of government where power is held by the citizens. They can impact important decisions, either directly or through the people they elect.

Democracy is based on freedom and equality between all people. It’s often described as the ‘rule of the majority’, as important decisions are based on the votes of the people and the most popular opinions among voters. This can either be:

Through direct democracy. Everyone gets the chance to vote on the outcome of a decision. An example is the Brexit referendum in 2016.

Through representative democracy. People vote to elect officials to make decisions to reflect the wishes of the people, such as the US Congress and UK Parliament.

Democracies aim to protect the best interests of the people, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, religion or political opinion.  

What other systems are used?

Today, there are around 75 countries in the world that have democracies of some kind. However, some countries have different systems of government:

Oligarchy. While democracies give power to the many, oligarchies give power to the few. It’s a system where a small number of people hold power, usually thanks to their wealth, social status, education or business interests. Power is often passed from one group to the next without the majority of the population voting. Some present day examples include Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Autocracy. In autocracies, a single person possesses absolute power to rule over the country. This ‘autocrat’ is often above the laws that apply to everyone else. For example, the North Korean dictatorship is currently the longest enduring autocratic regime post World War II.

Constitutional monarchy. A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a singular person (a monarch - usually a king or queen) has agreed to share power with a constitutionally organised form of government. Monarchs usually achieve their position through hereditary succession, meaning they are born into it through their family. Common examples include Britain, Belgium and Spain.

What are the benefits of democracy?

Winston Churchill once famously said, ‘democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.’ Although not perfect, democracy aims to bring the most benefits to the most number of people. These include:

Protecting the interests of citizens. People get the chance to vote on the key issues affecting their country or can elect representatives to make these decisions. In the USA, the federal government allows members of each state to elect an official representative for their state to protect their interests at a higher government level.

Promoting equality. One principle of democracy is that all people are equal in the eyes of the law, and every person gets a vote. For example, Canada has a universal franchise decree in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which explicitly allows every citizen of Canada the right to vote in any Canadian election.

Preventing abuse of power. In democracies, people in authority are usually elected by people who vote them in. They are therefore responsible for carrying out the will of those who elected them. If they misuse their position, they won’t be re-elected.

Creating stability. Democracies have rules and laws that provide stability and protect human rights (see our guide on Understanding human rights to find out more). Democratic governments have time to make changes that are in the interests of everyone.

What are the problems with democracy?

Democracy isn’t always perfect, and it has been criticised for a number of different reasons. Some of the most common complaints about democracy include:

Not everyone exercises their right to vote. In some countries, like Australia, voting is mandatory by law for certain elections - but this is not the case in other democratic countries. Although everyone living in a democracy has the right to vote (at a certain age), not everyone actually does it, which means that in the end, not every voice gets heard. For example, only 55% of voting-age citizens cast their vote in the 2016 US presidential election.

Kung tayo'y matanda na Sana'y di tayo magbago At kailan ma'y, nasaan ma'y Ito ang pangarap ko Makuha mo pa kayang Ako'y hagkan at yakapin ooh Hanggang sa pagtanda natin Nagtatanong lang sa 'yo Ako pa kaya'y ibigin mo Kung maputi na ang buhok ko Pagdating ng araw Ang 'yong buhok Ay puputi na rin Sabay tayong mangangarap Sa nakaraan natin Ang nakalipas ay ibabalik natin ooh Ipapaalala ko sa 'yo Ang aking pangako Na ang pag-ibig ko'y laging sa 'yo Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko Nana nana nana nananaAng nakalipas ay ibabalik natin ooh Ipapaalala ko sa 'yo Ang aking pangako Na ang pag-ibig ko'y laging sa 'yo Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko Pagdating ng araw Ang 'yong buhok ay puputi na rin Sabay tayong mangangarap Sa nakaraan natin Ang nakalipas ay ibabalik natin ohh Ipapaalala ko sayo Ang aking pangako Na ang pag ibig ko'y laging sayo Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko.