The word democracy has multiple definitions.

This debate is not limited to just formal dictionaries. I have to note that Con has provided a definition for the word “definition” which limits the scope of the debate. As such Con should have notified me by PM or via the comments section of his request to limit the scope of the debate, particularly since there are other definitions, such as those provided by the World English Dictionary[1], particularly: Definition: 1. a formal and concise statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc; and 3. specification of the essential properties of something, or of the criteria which uniquely identify it Argument There are various definitions to the word democracy. [2] “There is no consensus on how to measure democracy, definitions of democracy are contested and there is an ongoing lively debate on the subject. Although the terms “freedom” and “democracy” are often used interchangeably, the two are not synonymous. ”[3] Democratic rankings break up the term “democracy” into various categories when trying to determine how democratic a regime is. [4] "Democracy [is] not majority rule: democracy [is] diffusion of power, representation of interests, recognition of minorities. " (John Calhoun, as paraphrased by Roper 1989, 63). Democracy is "the substitution of election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. " (G. B. Shaw, quoted in Danziger 1998, 155). A ‘democratic regime’ is "first and foremost a set of procedural rules for arriving at collective decisions in a way which accommodates and facilitates the fullest possible participation of interested parties. " (Bobbio 1987, 19). "Rule by the people where ‘the people’ includes all adult citizens not excluded by some generally agreed upon and reasonable disqualifying factor . . . . ‘Rule’ means that public policies are determined either directly by vote of the electorate or indirectly by officials freely elected at reasonably frequent intervals and by a process in which each voter who chooses to vote counts equally . . . and in which a plurality is determinative. " (Pennock, 1979, 9). [Note that initially modern democracies did not allow for the participation of a large portion of the population, yet were still considered democracies]. "Government by the people, where liberty, equality and fraternity are secured to the greatest possible degree and in which human capacities are developed to the utmost, by means including free and full discussion of common problems and interests. " (Pennock, 1979, 7). Formal dictionary definitions. Even when limited to just formal dictionary definitions, there are many definitions of democracy. In fact no two dictionaries have the same definition for democracy. Even a slight variation in wording means that the definition is different from one dictionary to another. If Democracy had only one definition, it would be written exactly the same in every dictionary. The Merriam Webster Dictionary presents five formal definitions of the word “democracy”: 1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. 2. A state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies. 3. A state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. 4. Political or social equality; democratic spirit. 5. The common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power. The FreeDictionary. com has another five definitions for democracy: 1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. 2. A political or social unit that has such a government. 3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power. 4. Majority rule. 5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. The Oxford English Dictionary defines democracy as: - a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives: o [count noun] a state governed under a system of democracy: o control of an organization or group by the majority of its members: o the practice or principles of social equality: Conclusion: Democracy has multiple definitions. There are many different definitions of democracy: (1) a system of government where decisions are taken by all eligible citizens; (2) a system of government in which majority rule is enforced by elected representatives; (3) a word used to describe a government which employs democracy in its decisions; (4) majority rule; and (5) the principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. Therefore there are multiple definitions of democracy, even within a formal context, and Con cannot prove otherwise. Vote Pro! [1] . http://tinyurl.com...; [2] . http://tinyurl.com...; [3] . http://tinyurl.com...; [4] Id.