Tyranny of the majority

Tyranny of the majority occurs when a democratic majority uses its political power to violate the rights or interests of minorities or individuals.

Majoritarianism: A political principle that gives decisive authority to the preferences of the majority. Unrestricted majoritarianism can let electoral victories override minority rights.
Aristotle: An ancient Greek philosopher whose works address politics, ethics, logic, and natural science. His classification of democracy included rule by the poor in their own interest.
Pluralism (political theory): A theory that sees political power as dispersed among competing groups and associations. It challenges the idea that a single majority can consistently dominate political life.
Federalism: A system that divides governing authority between a central government and regional governments. Divided authority can limit the reach of a national majority and protect regional differences.
Constitutionalism: The principle that government authority is limited by binding constitutional rules. Constitutional limits can prevent majorities from exercising unlimited power.
Polybius: A Greek historian who analyzed the rise of Rome and forms of government. His account of political cycles describes democracy degenerating into mob rule.
Consensus democracy: A democratic model that emphasizes broad agreement, power-sharing, and protections for diverse groups. It seeks to avoid winner-takes-all decisions that can endanger minorities.
Separation of powers: A constitutional arrangement that assigns government powers to distinct branches. Independent branches can check policies driven by temporary majorities.
Minority rights: Legal and political protections that safeguard groups with less power from discrimination or exclusion. Their protection is the central test of whether majority rule remains legitimate.
Alexis de Tocqueville: A French political thinker whose nineteenth-century writings examined democracy in the United States. He popularized the phrase and warned that public opinion could suppress dissent.

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