Autocracy vs. Democracy

Autocracynoun

(uncountable) A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.

Autocracynoun

(countable) An instance of this government.

Autocracynoun

Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy.

Autocracynoun

Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing in a single person, as of an autocrat.

Autocracynoun

Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state); autonomy.

Autocracynoun

The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital principle.

Autocracynoun

a political system governed by a single individual

Autocracynoun

a political theory favoring unlimited authority by a single individual

Autocracy

Autocracy is a system of government in which supreme power over a state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor regularized mechanisms of popular control (except perhaps for the implicit threat of coup d'état or other forms of rebellion).In earlier times, the term autocrat was coined as a favorable description of a ruler, having some connection to the concept of as well as an indication of grandeur and power. This use of the term continued into modern times, as the Russian Emperor was styled as late as the early 20th century.

Democracynoun

(uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).

Democracynoun

A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.

Democracynoun

(uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

Democracynoun

Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

Democracynoun

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.

Democracynoun

Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.

Democracynoun

The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.

Democracynoun

the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

Democracynoun

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Democracynoun

the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

Democracy

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') refers to a form of government in which the people either have the authority to choose their governing legislators, or the authority to decide on legislation. Who is considered part of the people and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different speeds in different countries, but more and more of the inhabitants of countries have generally been included.