what are the major characteristics of a democracy and of free elections?
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According to American political scientist Larry Diamond, democracy consists of four key elements: a political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life; protection of the human rights of all citizens; ...
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['Permanency: The civil service is a permanent government establishment and employees enjoy security of tenure. ... ', 'Neutrality: ... ', 'Impartiality: ... ', 'Anonymity: ... ', 'Expertise: ... ', 'Bureaucracy: ... ', 'Merit System:']
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['Democracy. We often hear the United States referred to as a democracy. ... ', 'Republic. In theory, a republic is a political system in which the government remains mostly subject to those governed. ... ', 'Monarchy. ... ', 'Communism. ... ', 'Dictatorship.']
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['An electoral competition creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.', 'Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.', 'Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.']
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Civil society is, for its part, characterized by citizens' spontaneity and activeness, participation and doing, public utility and autonomy, voluntariness and optionality, laymanship and professionalism, flexibility and independence, communality and locality, ethics and solidarity.
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Democracy is a political system and free enterprise is an economic system. Both are based on the concept of individual freedom. The free market, however, government also plays a role in the American economy.
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Nonpartisan democracy (also no-party democracy) is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic elections take place without reference to political parties.
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The system has four characteristics: economic freedom, voluntary exchange, private property, and the profit motive. The free enterprise system may also be referenced as capitalism or the free market system.
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['Written constitution.', 'Rigid constitution.', 'Popular sovereignty.', 'Bicameral legislature.', 'Separation of powers.', 'Checks and balances.', 'Judicial Review.', 'Presidential system.']
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Advantages of representative democracy, especially as opposed to direct democracy, include that: the people cannot be expected to have the time or interest to make important and regular decisions. representatives can educate the public on political issues.
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['Democracy.', 'Republic.', 'Monarchy.', 'Communism.', 'Dictatorship.']
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['Democracy.', 'The rule of law.', 'Individual liberty.', 'Mutual respect.', 'Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.']
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Civil rights are an essential component of democracy. They're guarantees of equal social opportunities and protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other characteristics. Examples are the rights to vote, to a fair trial, to government services, and to a public education.
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Representative democracy is a form of democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives as opposed to a direct democracy, a form of democracy in which people vote on policy initiatives directly.
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Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly. This differs from the majority of currently established democracies, which are representative democracies.
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['Democracy. A government where the majority makes the decisions by voting.', 'Republic. A government where people choose other people to make decisions for us.', 'Communism. A government where people are all "equal".', 'Autocracy. A government where one person makes all the rules.', 'Oligarchy. ... ', 'Theocracy. ... ', 'Fascism.']
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This factor is often missing from a non-democratic government. Thus, the most basic outcome of democracy is that, it produces a government that is accountable to the needs of citizens. And also, democracy is responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.