Principles of Democracy - League of Women Voters of Wake County

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14 Principles of Democracy

Democracy is a form of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

The principles of democracy serve as the bedrock for ensuring that citizens' rights and freedoms are protected while promoting equality, justice, and fair governance.

Here are 14 principles that serve as a foundation for a democratic society.
Adapted from the Civil Liberties Union for Europe

1. Participation of Citizens

Democracy empowers the people to have a voice in shaping the course of their government and future. In direct democracies, this means citizens vote directly on the laws they live under. In a representative democracy, it means they have the opportunity to choose their representatives and freely express their opinions and desires. In either case, citizen participation is the foundation that makes democracy strong. Participation isn't just about voting on election day, although that's its most notable form.

Equally important are public debate, town meetings, and peaceful protests, among other activities. Each form of participation helps keep people informed and ready to vote. Citizens’ groups and civil society organizations play a crucial role in ensuring people can participate in these activities and should be supported to maximize participation.

2. Equality

All individuals must be treated equally in a democracy. This means they are not discriminated against based of their ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. It also means that people have equal access to the free enjoyment of their rights freely, such as equal access to the voting booth. When it comes time to vote, it means that every vote counts the same – your vote is just as valuable and counts just as much as the wealthiest or most powerful person in your country. That is the most basic element of equality in a democracy.

3. Accountability

People entrust powers to those they elect, and they expect them to use those powers to benefit their communities. Politicians are accountable to the people, must act in accordance with their will, and have a duty not to abuse their power for personal gain or to enrich friends. When authoritarian governments take control of newspapers and news channels, and when they hinder and intimidate civil society groups, it becomes all too easy to hide corruption and abuses of power out of the public eye. This makes it harder for people to hold the government accountable on election day.

4. Transparency

To make informed choices at the ballot box, voters need to know the facts. They must understand whether their government is making good decisions, if its policies are effective, whether it is following the rules, or if it is stealing public money. Transparency means government actions are open to the public, including the results and outcomes. Government information should, with few exceptions, be accessible to everyone upon request. Journalists and the public should be able to ask their politicians questions, and groups that promote transparency should be free to operate. Transparency is for Government, Privacy is for People.

5. Political Tolerance

Although majority rule is central of democracy, this does not mean that the minority is overlooked. In a true democracy, the rights of all citizens are equal and must be respected regardless of who is in power. Even if their views do not win on election day, they still have the right to continue sharing those views with other citizens and the government. This is healthy, if not essential. Democracy thrives on openness and richness of thought; by suppressing the rights and freedoms of the minority, the majority hinders itself.

6. Multi-Party System

Citizens must have a choice on election day. This means that more than one political party can freely participate in an election campaign and be an option for voters. When opposition parties do win, power is transferred of power and public debate about how to lead the country continues. If there is only a single party, it is most likely a dictatorship, though some countries have managed to build democratic systems under single-party rule of a single party.

7. Control Over the Abuse of Power

Democracy can only survive if everyone participates — citizens through their support on voting day and throughout the year, and politicians by following the rules and working to improve everyone's lives. Abuse of power occurs when a government acts as if it's above the law, when politicians believe different rules apply to them, when the government favors only certain parts of society at the expense of others, or when public funds are misused by corrupt leaders and their allies. We often see this in the world’s “democracies,” and it's becoming more common in Europe as well. There are ways to protect democracy from these abuses, but no method can guarantee complete security. For instance, spreading power across different branches of government helps keep them accountable. Protecting free and fair elections is also essential. This includes safeguarding independent media so citizens can access reliable information before voting and ensuring election laws are fair to maintain the integrity of the process.

8. Freedom of Economy

In a democracy, individuals should be free to choose their own paths in life. As long as they follow the rules, it’s not the government’s place to dictate what they should study, what job they should take, or what they should produce. Economic freedom is essential for building strong communities and a thriving national economy.

9. Bill of Rights

Another way to protect people from government abuse of power is through a bill of rights. This is a list of the rights and freedoms people have, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. As a bill, the document is part of the law, and many countries have enshrined it in their constitution. So when someone believes their rights are being violated by the government, they can turn to the courts for help.

10. Human Rights

Many of the rights protected by a bill of rights are what are called human rights. These are rights people are supposed to have regardless of the country they live in, but democracy in particular is meant to protect and promote these rights. Human rights like freedom of expression, free association, and freedom of assembly are also cornerstones of democracy and, in fact, enable its proper functioning.

11. Free and Fair Elections

Change should be viewed as a natural and healthy part of democracy. Since the government exists to serve the people and public opinion constantly shifts on all sorts of issues, it is natural for election results to vary over time. Therefore, it is essential that these elections occur freely and fairly. This includes providing people with clear and accurate information before voting and encouraging open discussion and debate. It also means that on election day, everyone has equal access to the polls, each vote carries the same weight, and all votes are properly tallied. Additionally, elections should not be held irregularly or called whenever it suits the government.

12. Free Courts

Even in a perfectly functioning democracy, disputes will happen. In these cases, it’s crucial that both sides have equal access to an independent body capable of resolving the dispute. In democracies, this is the judicial system. Judges resemble referees—they are an independent body expected to apply the rules equally to everyone. A football game would be unfair if the referee was chosen by one of the teams, and democracy becomes similarly flawed when the government stacks the courts with friends or ignores judicial decisions.

13. Accepting Election Results

When elections don’t favor those in power, they must accept the outcome and step down. The peaceful transfer of power is a cornerstone of the democratic process. Losers of elections must accept defeat. While they can and should continue to share their ideas and participate in public debate openly, they must acknowledge that their positions currently lack majority support.

14. Rule of Law

Democratic societies operate under the rule of law. This essentially means that a nation’s laws apply equally to everyone, and everyone, especially the government, must follow the rules. It means that the rights, freedoms, and democratic processes described above are respected and fostered. It also means that laws are enforced fairly and consistently, with an independent body, like the courts, resolving disputes that do come up.

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