Law & Civics
What is Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government in which power comes from the people, usually through free and fair elections. Citizens choose their leaders and hold them accountable, with rights and the rule of law protecting everyone.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains democracy.
Key things to understand
- 1'Rule by the people' — directly (voting on issues) or, more commonly, by electing representatives.
- 2Free and fair elections, where leaders can be voted out, are the core mechanism.
- 3It depends on rights like free speech, a free press, and equality before the law.
- 4Separation of powers keeps any one branch from dominating.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between direct and representative democracy?
- In direct democracy citizens vote on laws themselves; in representative democracy they elect officials to do so on their behalf.
- Why are free elections important?
- They let citizens peacefully choose and replace leaders, keeping power accountable to the people.
- What is separation of powers?
- Dividing government into branches that make, enforce, and interpret laws so each checks the others.