What is a democracy?

Switzerland is a democracy. The word comes from Greek and means «rule of the people». In a democracy, power is not held by a king, a prince or a dictator. Power lies with the people. The opposite is, for example, a dictatorship, a principality or an absolutist state. There a single person or a small group decides, and the people have no say.

Elections are an important feature of democracy. The people elect a parliament. The elected politicians are the people's representatives. They make the laws in the name of the people. Elections take place regularly, at federal level every four years. In this way the people can decide again and again who should represent them. Anyone who does a bad job may not be re-elected.

Switzerland goes even further: it is a direct democracy. The people do not only elect, they also vote on specific issues. Travelling freely or a basic income, on the other hand, are not features of a democracy. They may or may not apply in a democracy. What matters is this: the people have a say.

Memory aid: «Demos» means people, «kratie» means rule: in a democracy the people rule.