Democracy is a form of government in which the citizens directly or indirectly influence the policies of their government through voting. A democratic government only becomes permanent when the citizens first experience greater economic freedom.

Direct democracy, classically termed pure democracy, comprises a form of democracy where in sovereignty is lodged in the assembly of all citizens who choose to participate.

Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people.

Consensus democracy is the application of consensus decision making to the process of legislation in a democracy.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

"We preach the virtues of democracy abroad. We must practice its duties here at home. Voting is the first duty of democracy." -Lyndon B. Johnson

"A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election." -Bill Vaughan

"To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and their oneness." -Mohandas K. Gandhi

"Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time." -E. B. White

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." -Winston Churchill

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." -Winston Churchillhttp://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_democracy.html