Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise that power directly or through elected representatives. The core principles of democracy include:
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Popular Sovereignty: The authority of the government is derived from the consent of the governed.
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Political Equality: All citizens have equal rights and opportunities to participate in the political process, including voting and running for office.
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Pluralism: Acknowledgment and acceptance of a diversity of opinions, beliefs, and identities within society.
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Rule of Law: The law applies equally to all individuals, and no one is above the law.
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Protection of Human Rights: Democracies typically protect the rights of individuals and minorities against the majority's will.
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Free and Fair Elections: Regular, transparent elections where citizens can choose their representatives.
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Accountability and Transparency: Elected officials are accountable to the public, and government actions should be transparent.
Democracy can take various forms, including direct democracy, where citizens vote on policies directly, and representative democracy, where they elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.