democracy
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democracy
A form of state and government in which power and government come from the people, who choose their representatives through free elections.
Die Meinungsfreiheit ist ein Grundpfeiler der Demokratie.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy.
The word family includes the adjective 'demokratisch' (democratic, e.g. a democratic election) and the words for people 'der Demokrat' (male democrat) and 'die Demokratin' (female democrat).
Die Regierung muss demokratische Prinzipien respektieren.
The government must respect democratic principles.
'Demokratie' (democracy) is an international word that comes from Greek. It is made up of 'démos' (people) and 'kratía' (rule), so it literally means 'rule by the people'.
In der Antike entstand die Idee der Demokratie in Athen.
In antiquity, the idea of democracy emerged in Athens.
In a political context, 'Demokratie' (democracy) is often used with verbs such as 'stärken' (to strengthen), 'verteidigen' (to defend), 'schützen' (to protect), or 'gefährden' (to endanger).
Bürger müssen ihre Demokratie aktiv verteidigen.
Citizens must actively defend their democracy.
You can recognize the meaning by the scope. If it is about a state or a political system, the form of government is meant. If it is about a club, school, or company, the organizational principle is meant.
Deutschland ist eine parlamentarische Demokratie.
Germany is a parliamentary democracy.
republic
'die Demokratie' and 'die Republik' both describe forms of a state, but they do not mean the same thing. In a democracy, the people decide on politics directly or through elected representatives. A republic mainly means that there is no monarch and that the head of state is elected. Learners may confuse the words because many countries are both: democratic and a republic. Still, 'Demokratie' is more about the question: Who has political power? 'Republik' is more about the question: Is there a king or an elected head of state?
In einer Demokratie dürfen die Bürger ihre Vertreter frei wählen.
In a democracy, citizens may freely elect their representatives.
Deutschland ist eine Republik, weil es keinen König und keine Königin als Staatsoberhaupt hat.
Germany is a republic because it does not have a king or queen as head of state.