Democracy
Democracy originated in ancient Greece. The Greek words demo kratia mean rule or power (kratia) of the common people (demos). For the Greeks, to live in a democracy was to live in a political community (polis, or city-state) characterized by popular rule. Ultimate sovereignty or empowerment was intended to be shared equally among all freeborn citizens of a community. Viewed this way, democracy had—and continues to have—two core meanings. First, it refers to a kind of power or authority exercised equally by all the people of a political community. Second, it refers to a form of government or a particular kind of rule, in contrast to other forms of government such as monarchy, aristocracy, dictatorship, or oligarchy.
Democracy is most often viewed as a form of government based on the principle of majority rule. Majority rule is simply a principle of voting, however; popular sovereignty designates that all citizens may participate equally in authorizing public decisions. Ultimately, the justification for democratic rule or government depends on arguing for the validity of popular power.
The democratic notion of popular power comes largely from the government of the city-state of Athens during the fifth century B.C.E. In Athens, all freeborn members of the community regularly participated in public assemblies that deliberated on fundamental questions of war and peace, the distribution of political goods, and the initiation of public projects.
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