Democracy — Law Dictionary

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

That form of government in which the people rula But the multitude caunot actually rule: an unorganic democracy, therefore, one that is not founded upon a number of institutions each endowed with a degree of self-government, naturally becomes a oneman government. The basis of the democracy is equality, as that of the aristocj-acy is privilege; but equality of itself Is no guarantee for liberty, nor does equality constitutes liberty. Absolute democracies existed in antiquity and the middle ages: they have never endured for any length of time. On their character, Aristotle's Politics may be read to the greatest advantage. Lieber, in his Civil Liberty, dwells at length on the fact that mere equality, without institutions of various kinds, Is adverse to self-government; and history shows that absolute democracy is anything rather than a convertible term for liberty. See Absolutism; Gov-

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens; as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy or oligarchy. According to the theory of a pure democracy, every citizen should participate directly in the business of governing, and the legislative assembly should comprise the whole pcople. But the ultimate lodgment of the sovereignty being the distinguishing feature, the introduction of the representative system does not remove a government from this type. However, a government of the latter kind is sometimes specifically described as a "representative democracy."

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

government, is that form of government in which the sovereign power is exercised by the people in a body, as was the practice in some of the states of Ancient Greece; the term representative democracy has been given