What is Democracy? | Class 9 Civics Notes | CBSE 2025-26 Exam Prep
Overview of Democracy The chapter aims to clarify the meaning of democracy, its features, and why it is considered a better form of government. It starts with a simple definition and then elaborates on the terms involved to understand the minimum features of a democratic government, enabling one to distinguish it from non-democratic forms. The chapter also introduces a broader idea of democracy towards its end. 1. What is Democracy? Initial Simple Definition: A starting point for understanding democracy is that it is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people . This definition helps to differentiate democracies from clearly non-democratic governments like military rule (e.g., Myanmar, Pinochet in Chile) or monarchies (e.g., Saudi Arabia), where rulers are not chosen by the people. Limitations of the Simple Definition: The simple definition is not sufficient because many governments that are not truly democratic hold elections and call themselves democraci...
