Question

Give Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy.

Answer 1

Hint: Democracy produces an accountable, responsive and legitimate government to ensure that people should choose their leaders and put a check on them.

Complete Step by Step answer: Democracy can be classified into two specific categories - Direct and Representative. In a direct democracy, citizens can directly participate in making a public decision without the intermediary of elected officials. Whereas, in a representative democracy, citizens cannot directly participate in public decision making. Most of the nation today follows representative democracy, where citizens elect officials to formulate laws, administer programs and make political decisions.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President defined democracy as the “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”. In other words, it means that the Government of a state should take into account the welfare of its people and in such a form of government, the supreme power is vested in the hands of the people, which they can exercise directly or through the elected or appointed officials under a free electoral system.

Note: Democracy is always superior to any other form of government because it enhances the dignity of the individual by giving every person equal treatment. It further provides room to correct its own mistake and resolve conflicts amicably.