What is democracy?

What is democracy?

1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.

   • people choose their leaders
   • people decide who will represent them in parliament
   • choosing between competing parties in regular, free and fair elections
   • people are the highest form of political authority
   • administered by a neutral, fair, and professional body that treats all political parties and candidates equally
   • Voters must be able to vote in secret, free of intimidation and violence
   • Laws and policies require majority support in parliament

2. The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.

3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens.

4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.