Democracy puts most of the political power in the hands of the people. In the U.S. many of these freedoms are specifically outlined in the Bill of Rights. The idea of democracy originated in ancient Greece, more than 2,000 years ago. In a direct democracy, everyone participates in making all policy decisions. But this isn't very practical.
Direct democracy is nearly impossible.
People vote to elect representatives who make policy for them. By the way, it's worth noting that the United States is technically a Republic. By definition, a democracy is direct government ruled by the majority. Click here for more on democracies vs. republics. Checks and Balances One of the major strengths of democracy is accountability.