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meaning “the people”; and kratos , meaning “power” or “rule.” Thus democracy is rule by the people. It is a form of government in which power ultimately resides with all citizens, rather than with an individ- ual (as, for example, in an absolute monarchy), a small group (as in an oligarchy), or a single political party (as in a Communist state). In a democracy, the people exercise their power through

Voters display their ink-stained fingers, proof that they have just participated in local elec- tions in Mumbai, India.

participation in the political process. Democracies offer citi- zens the chance to vote, or to run for public office, in regularly held elections. Of course, elections alone do not a democracy make. Most dictatorships hold elections. However, they use unfair and undemocratic means to ensure the results they want. Perhaps the most straightforward way to rig an election is through elec- toral fraud—for example, by destroying ballots cast for an opponent. Another common tool is the use of police or military forces to intimidate voters and harass opposition candidates. In some countries the barriers to democracy are structural. In Cuba, for example, citizens vote for members of the legisla- ture—the National Assembly—which in turn elects the coun- try’s president and vice president. However, candidates for the

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Democracy: The People’s Government