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Liberal Democracy

Definition

Liberal democracy is a form of democratic rule that maintains a balance between the principle of limited government - limited power - and the ideal of popular consent - the ability of citizens to participate directly in state governance. As a result, liberal democracy enables citizens to participate directly in the governance of their society and state.

Forms of Liberal Democracy

A liberal democracy can take on a variety of constitutional forms, including monarchy or republic. It may operate under a parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential system. Liberal democracies typically have universal suffrage.

Characteristics

It places a premium on power separation, an independent judiciary, and a system of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of government. Liberal democratic characteristics are founded on a system of regular and competitive elections based on universal suffrage and political equality. These characteristics are:

  1. Multi-party systems with at least two persistent.
  2. Viable political parties.