Liberal democracy is a form of representative democracy where the ability of elected representatives to exercise decision-maki

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Liberal democracy (also called constitutional liberalism) is a form of  where the ability of elected representatives to exercise   is subject to the  and moderated by a  which emphasizes the protection of the  and  of individuals and , and which places constraints on the extent to which the  can be exercised. Liberal democracy fuses two distinct and sometimes contradictory elements: liberalism, which focuses on individual freedom, and democracy, which is majority rule.

In this setting, rights and freedoms include the rights to , private  of , , and  before the law, and freedoms of ,  and . In liberal democracies these rights (also known as ‘liberal rights’) may sometimes be constitutionally guaranteed, or are otherwise created by  or , which may in turn empower various civil institutions to administer or enforce these rights. Liberal democracies also tend to be characterized by  and ; widely differing social and political views, even those viewed as extreme or fringe, are permitted to co-exist and compete for political power on a democratic basis.

In recent decades 'democracy' was used as a synonym for (western)  systems in . Similarly,  for almost a century in the West, democracy has meant liberal democracy -- that political system as characterized above,  not only by free and fair elections, but also by the rule of law, a separation of powers, and the protection of basic liberties of speech, assembly, religion, and property. The qualifier 'liberal' in this context refers strictly speaking to  and individual rights. In fact, this latter bundle of freedoms -- what might be termed constitutional liberalism -- is theoretically different and historically distinct from democracy. To this extent, Constitutional liberalism is not about the procedures for selecting government, but rather government's goals. It refers to the tradition, deep in Western history, that seeks to protect an individual's autonomy and dignity against coercion, whatever the source -- state, church, or society. The term marries two closely connected ideas. It is liberal because it draws on the philosophical strain, beginning with the Greeks, that emphasizes . It is constitutional because it rests on the tradition, beginning with the Romans, of the rule of law. This constitutional liberalism was further developed in Western Europe and the United States as a defense of the individual's right to life and property, and freedom of religion and speech. To secure these rights, it emphasized checks on the power of each branch of government, equality under the law, impartial courts and tribunals, and separation of church and state. A further facet of constitutional liberalism is that human beings have certain natural (or ‘inalienable’, according to Wilmot Perkins (Jamaica’s talk show host)) rights and that governments must accept a basic law, limiting its own powers, that secures them.

In  ‘liberal’ democracy, however, “it is the root definition of liberal that is meant, and not its modern sense.” A liberal democracy then means that a people rule themselves through periodic elections of their highest leaders in which nearly all adults can participate, for which offices they are eligible, and under the rule of law which guarantees them certain human rights. In common usage, democracy is often understood to be the same as liberal democracy. The minimal characteristics of democracy (listed above) are not generally considered to make a democracy 'liberal'. In practice, the term now denotes a collection of defining criteria, some of which are unrelated to each other. They are sometimes presented as a list of demands, to be fulfilled during a  process.

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But in addition to these ‘demands’ “there are qualities of liberal democracies that include:”

  • A  that limits the authority of the government and protects many civil rights
  • , granting all citizens the right to vote regardless of race, gender or property ownership
  • , including speech, assembly and protest
  •  and access to alternative information sources
  •  
  • Equality before the law and  under the  
  • The right to private property and privacy
  •  citizens informed of their rights and civic responsibilities
  • ...

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