Constitutional democracy

A system of government in which political authority derives from the people while constitutional rules limit government power and protect rights.

Constitution: A body of fundamental rules that establishes public institutions and limits or organizes their powers. It supplies the higher rules that bind officials and define the democratic system.
Democracy: A system of collective decision-making in which political authority ultimately rests with the people. Constitutional democracy combines popular political authority with enforceable limits.
Absolute monarchy: A form of monarchy in which the ruler holds extensive political authority without effective constitutional limits. It contrasts with government constrained by constitutional rules and popular authorization.
Bill of Rights: A constitutional or statutory declaration that lists protected rights and freedoms. It makes particular rights explicit and gives courts and officials standards to enforce.
Minority rights: Legal and political protections that secure the interests and freedoms of groups lacking majority power. Constitutional guarantees can shield minorities from discriminatory majority decisions.
Separation of powers: The division of governmental authority among distinct branches to prevent its concentration. Divided authority makes it harder for one institution to dominate constitutional government.
Popular sovereignty: The principle that the people are the ultimate source of legitimate political authority. It grounds democratic government even when constitutions restrict particular majority decisions.
Authoritarianism: A system of government that concentrates power and restricts meaningful political competition and freedoms. It lacks the combination of accountable popular rule and enforceable rights protections.
Independent judiciary: A court system able to decide cases without improper control by political actors. Judicial independence helps courts apply constitutional limits even against powerful officials.
Democratic backsliding: The gradual weakening of democratic institutions, political competition, and civil liberties by elected or other governments. It describes how constitutional democracy can deteriorate without an abrupt coup.

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