INTRODUCTION

A democracy is a government structure where the people have the right to elect their
representatives. The basic characteristics of democracy are the rule of law, political
freedom, and the right to life.

Two types of Democracy

1. Direct democracy

The people directly discuss and decide on government legislation. Here, citizens can directly
participate in making decisions. This is practical for small communities.

2.Representative democracy

The people select a representative who then discusses and decides on the legislature. Here
the citizens elect people to make political decisions for them, form laws and create
programs focused on the good of the public. So, these two types of democracies are being
practiced around the world. Before understanding the characteristics of Democracy, it is
important to have a look upon its origin. There are also many terms that refer to the same
concept, such as Freedom and Democracy .For people who are confused between the terms
Freedom and Democracy, it is important to understand the difference between these terms.

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

Democracy

Democracy, derived from the Greek term "demos" or "people," is a system of

government that gives power to the people. Democracy can be exercised in by
citizens or through elected agents. First established by the Greeks, democracy
didn't reappear on a global scale until after the 17th century. According to the U.S.
Department of State, the democratic style of government -- adopted by the United
States in 1776 -- has six basic characteristics: established popular sovereignty,
majority rule, individual rights, free and open elections, citizen involvement and
open compromise.

Government

the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the
members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states;
direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration:

Rights
an entitlement to something, whether to concepts like justice and due process, or to owners
hip of property or some
interest in property, real or personal. These rights include various freedoms, protection agai
nst interference with enjoyment of
life and property, civil rights enjoyed by citizens such as voting and access to the courts, nat
ural rights accepted by civilized
societies, human rights to protect people throughout the world from terror, torture, barbari
c practices and deprivation of civil
rights and profit from their labour, and such American constitutional guarantees as the right 
to freedoms of speech, press

Politics

Politics is the process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course
of common, or collective, action—even as they disagree on the intended goals of that
action

Elections

a formal expression of opinion or choice made by an individual or body of

individuals, especially in an election.

MAIN DISCUSSION
Majority Rule and Individual Rights

Democracy follows the decision-making approach of majority rule. It focuses

on individual rights within the same. All levels of the government within democracies are
accessible to the people and are responsive as well. The legislature is responsible for passing
the laws by the majority. In Democracy, decentralize the central government at different
local and regional levels in which governments at all the levels are responsible and
accessible to the people. The executive takes the decisions by majority rule as well. Next,
the Supreme Court makes its rulings and judgments by the majority. While the majority
takes decisions, it also includes the views and the wishes of the minorities. Decisions are
made by consensus, accommodating both the majority as well as the opposition.

Political and Civil Liberty

The primary objective of democracies is to protect the human rights of every citizen. These
include freedom of speech, equality, freedom to choose their religion
freedom to participate and organize cultural, economic, and political events in the society

Free and Fair Elections

All adult citizens have the right to vote for their representatives. The election process is free
and fair and is held at regular intervals. In a democracy, elections should be held at regular
intervals. They should follow a well-accepted and trusted procedure. It is the process
through which the citizens elect their leaders (representatives) for the next 4 to 5 years.
Every state within a democracy provides efficient and independent (of any tampering)
machinery for each election cycle. Voting has to be accessible to the citizens of the legal
voting age.

Key Features of Democratic Elections

 Opposition parties and candidates need to enjoy the freedom of assembly, speech,
and movement
 Elections need to be periodic in a democracy
 Democratic elections should be inclusive, and voter should be large enough to
include all the adult population
 Voters in democracy cast their ballots in secret for neutralizing the chances of
intimidation
 Democracy needs to have a loyal opposition

Equality

The principle of equality is the key to ensuring that no two people are equal. In democracy,
everyone is equal before the law and in terms of opportunities.

Equality of Opportunities

Equal opportunities refer to the fact that every individual should be free and have a fair
chance to compete for what they want to. Furthermore, they should be selected based on
their qualifications as well as their abilities. In a democracy, each person should be able to
have the opportunity to grow and develop in a society. They should also be able to
contribute in a way that helps the community become better.

Equality in Political Participation

As it is popularly said, “Democracy is for the people, by the people, and of the people”. It
allows equal and free participation in political elections for all. For this purpose, the
Universal Adult Franchise is granted to all individuals. Every citizen has the right to contest
in a political system. It guarantees the right to vote for every adult who is the age of 18 or
above (in India), irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, and sex. All votes have the same
value. Moreover, anyone with the right qualifications and abilities can compete in elections
and hold a public office if elected.

Political and Civic Equality

A democracy gives equal political rights to every citizen of the nation. Everyone is free from
discrimination. The political, as well as civic equality among everyone,  is regarded as a
fundamental right.
d) Equality before the Law:
“Every citizen is equal in the eyes of the law.” There is no discrimination by the law. This
applies to both the governed and the governor.
e) Economic Equality:
Constitutional democracy believes that every citizen has access to equal opportunities which
can help them improve their wellbeing. This democracy also aims to reduce and eliminate
the differences between wealth by introducing social welfare programs and progressive
taxation.

Laws

A set of regulations governs a democracy. Everyone is regarded equally under the law, and
the laws hold the same for everyone.
The government is operational under the set of laws, i.e. the Constitution. The law is
supreme.
Equality under the law
Also known as equality before the law, legal equality, equality in the eyes of the law, and
legal egalitarianism is the fundamental principle that each individual is treated equally in the
eyes of the law and everyone subjects to the same laws of justice.

Freedom and Fundamental Rights

Within a democracy, each individual enjoys the freedom and fundamental rights.
These rights include the protection of all rights by the courts. Democracy consists of an
independent judicial system that is concentrated on protecting the rights and freedom of
the citizens of the nation.
Freedom includes the right to freedom of expression and speech, freedom of peaceful
assembly, freedom of the press, freedom from arbitrary arrests, freedom to form
associations, and freedom to enjoy family life.

Transparency of a Government

A government formed through democracy should be transparent and open.

It should be responsive to the demands of the people. Moreover, it should act according to
the wishes of the people and always aim for the best for the country and its citizens. The
government is still accountable for its acts.
The parliament is a mirror of the public’s opinion.
The parliament first approves any policy that the government tries to implement. The
parliament consists of the representatives selected by the citizens. Right to Criticize
In a democracy, people have the right to criticize any policy in the government.
The fundamental rights include the right to change the government as well as to oppose it.
These are the features of democracy.

Basic Rights
The protection of fundamental rights is the primary objective of a government in a
constitutional democracy.
These rights are not just limited to property, life, and liberty. They can be extended to social
and economic reasons, such as healthcare, education, and employment.

Civil society and privacy

A constitution should recognize as well as protect the privacy of an individual, comprising of

personal, family, religion and any other associated aspects and activities.
There should not be any unfair and unreasonable intrusions by the government.

Openness

Democracies are based on free ideas and transparency, as well as the availability of
information through a free press.
They are also based on the freedom to express in all fields of human efforts.
Majority Rule and Minority Rights
In Democracy, citizens make their preferred political decisions by majority rule, which is
further coupled with individual human rights protecting the rights of minorities and
dissenters.
In a democracy, the rights of minorities cannot be ruled out by majority vote; as such rights
are not based upon the goodwill of the ruling party or the majority vote.
Religious Freedom and Tolerance
Democracy allows all the citizens to opt for their conscience when it comes to their religious
faith. Religious freedom comprises-
• Freedom to Worship Alone
• Freedom to Worship with others in private or in public
• Freedom to not worship at all
• Freedom to participate in religious teaching, practice, and observance
• Freedom to not participate in any religious activities
While opting for their preferred ethical choices, citizens should never have any fear of
persecution from the government or any other group of society.

Citizen Responsibilities

One of the key characteristics of Democracy includes active, peaceful and deliberate
participation of people in their nation or the community.
As per the analysis of Diane Ravitch, a historian of education, an educational policy analyst,
Democracy is not static; it is evolutionary. It needs tolerance, compromises, and co-
operation among all citizens. Freedom in a democracy does not mean freedom from
responsibilities, but inherently freedom also incorporates the responsibility.
Having the willingness to believe that ‘people that are different from you also have similar
rights as you have’ is also one of the most important characteristics of Democracy.
All in all, rights and responsibilities are closely associated with democracy.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there are several other characteristics and values of a
democracy. Availability of all necessary rights, equality, popular
sovereignty, responsible government, laws, and the decentralization of
powers are the principles without which democracy fails. Democracy is the
idea of liberalism having political, economic, as well as social liberalism as
the hallmark of democracy. All people of a democracy are sovereign.
REFERENCE
May 10, 2020 By Hitesh Bhasin https://www.marketing91.com/characteristics-of-
democracy/
Wapner, Paul. 1996. Environmental Activism and World Civic Politics. State University of
New York Press. p.41.

Heller, Joseph. 1955. Catch-22. New York: Simon and Schuster. p.102.