Democracy is a political philosophy in which the government is made up of elected representatives chosen by the people. The United States, for example, practices democracy.

According to the United States International Information Programs, democracy is often a misunderstood concept. In general, the terms democracy and freedom are often used in place of each other. The two, however, are not synonymous. Democracy is based on the principles of freedom, but is also entails a series of procedures that have been refined during the course of history.

Democracy is divided into two general categories – representative and direct. Representative democracy is the more common form of democracy. Essentially, citizens of a representative democracy elect officials who make political decisions, craft laws, and administer programs for the community as a whole. This form of democracy works best with larger organizations or countries.

Direct democracy allows all citizens to make public decisions without the use of appointed officials. This system is more applicable to smaller bodies of people because it requires a great deal of structure to keep voting and other political activities organized. Ancient Athens successfully practiced direct democracy (the world’s first democracy) with approximately 6,000 citizens. In order for direct democracy to work effectively, all the members of the democracy must be able to meet in one place, such as a town hall or event center.

According to the USIIP, there are 11 key Pillars of Democracy. These pillars support the overall objective of democracy and its careful interlay into the social fabric of its citizens.

The Pillars of Democracy
Sovereignty of the people
Government based upon consent of the governed
Majority rule
Minority rights
Guarantee of basic human rights
Free and fair elections
Equality before the law
Due process of law
Constitutional limits on government
Social, economic, and political pluralism
Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise

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