The personnel of these divisions may overlap. In theory, the root principle of democracy is equality. This last cannot be recognized as a constitutional form of government at all. In democracies, for the most part, practical considerations limit the candidature though not eligibility for office. In oligarchies, where virtue is a factor, the name of aristocracy is popularly misapplied to them.
Constitutional rule is really a fusion of democracy and oligarchy.
It approximates to aristocracy. Hence, according to the point of view, it is sometimes called one sometimes the other. Of tyranny, or despotism, we noted two semi-regal kinds, the oriental and the elective or aesymnetic. Besides these there is the tyranny absolute. Similarly democracies proceed by offering the poor inducements to take their corresponding share in public life.