Democracy has several key characteristics: 1) Citizen control - ultimate control of government is held by citizens who elect representatives; 2) Majority rule and protection of individual liberties - democracy allows for majority rule but also protects certain individual rights; 3) Protection of basic human rights - a core function of democratic governments is to protect fundamental human rights.

1. DEMOCRACY - CHARACTERISTICS

2. Citizen Control
• This means that all branches and division of government are
ultimately under the control of the country's citizens. The
citizens may not directly control every office, but every office
ultimately answers to the citizens, elected representatives of
the citizens or individuals appointed by and under the control
of citizen's representatives.

3. Majority Rule and Individual Liberties
• While democracy rests on the basic principle of majority
rule, it also protects certain individual rights and liberties and
prevents too much power from concentrating in any one
individual or group of people.

4. Human Rights
• One of the core functions of a democratic
society, and ideally any modern
government, is to protect certain
basic, fundamental human rights.

5. Free and Fair Elections
• In a democracy, elections are free, fair and
open to all citizens.

6. Citizen Participation
• In a modern democracy, in exchange for the
protection of their freedoms and civil rights, citizens
should see public participation and public service as
duties.

7. Tolerance and Compromise
• America.gov quotes Mahatma Gandhi of India when he says
"Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the
growth of a true democratic spirit." Democracies practice
tolerance, compromise and cooperation.

8. HOMEWORK
Find out information about 5
democratic countries and the year
they started with this system.