Democracy /(dē̇*mŏk"rȧ*sy̆)/

pl. Democracies ((dē̇*mŏk"rȧ*sĭz))

1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.
2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.
3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.
4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called. [U.S.]