Which best describes democracy?

• A. Power is inherited and passed down through family lines.
• B. Power is derived from the people, directly or indirectly.
• C. A system ruled by a single sovereign.
• D. A government controlled by a small elite.

Answer: (B)

Democracy centers on authority that originates with the people and is exercised either directly by citizens or through elected representatives. In a democracy, government legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, typically expressed in free elections where people choose leaders and have a say in laws and policies. That’s why power described as derived from the people, directly or indirectly, is the best description. The other scenarios describe different systems: power inherited through family lines = rule by heredity; a system ruled by a single sovereign = autocracy or monarchy; government controlled by a small elite = oligarchy.