Define 'democracy'

'Democracy' was referred to by Abraham Lincoln as 'government of the people, by the people, for the people'. By this, he meant that a 'democracy' is a system of government that allows most citizens to be able to participate in political activity. This means that the 'people', referring to wider society, are able to vote, form pressure groups and be not only aware of current political affairs but also active by allowing our political views to be known - everybody has the opportunity to be politically active. This leads into the idea of 'government by the people', as not only are citizens able to vote, but they themselves are able to make important decisions (such as via referendums, an example of direct democracy), or by ensuring that the government's decisions are extremely sensitive to public opinion.Finally, 'government for the people' refers to the notion that democracy should entail governing in the broad interests of the citizens of a state and not just in the self-interest of the rulers. This means that democracy should take into account the interests and needs of all sections of society. This can be achieved through the use of elected representatives (such as MPs) who act on the behalf of their constituents.