Legal Literacy - This article discusses the definition, development, and prohibitions of democracy universally and specifically in Indonesia.

Democracy: A System of Government Based on the Power of the People

Democracy, a concept that refers to a system of government in which supreme power rests in the hands of the people, is at the heart of political and social discussions. In the Greek sense, democracy comes from the word "demos" which means people, and "kratos/kratein" which refers to power or to rule. This concept can be identified in various forms, such as constitutional democracy, parliamentary democracy, liberal democracy, and guided democracy.

Miriam Budiardjo explains that democracy reflects the concept of "people rule" or government by the people. In various forms of democracy, constitutional democracy stands out as the idea that a democratic government should have limitations on power regulated by the constitution. This concept is translated as "government based on the constitution," where limitations on governmental power are explained in the constitution, both written and unwritten.

Democracy: Discussing, Defining, and Exploring Meaning

According to Liphart Aren, democracy is not only government by the people but also government for the people, which follows the preferences of the people. Robert A. Dahl states that democracy is a polyarchy or government by many. With so many interpretations, democracy remains an interesting topic that is never finished being discussed in various levels of society.

Democracy is also measured through several core principles, including effective participation, equality of vote, clear understanding, control over the agenda, and involvement of all adults. All citizens should have equal rights in decision-making that can affect their lives.