Meaning and Definition of Democracy 1. Meaning of Democracy The word Democracy is derived from two Greek words: Demos + Kratos Demos = People Kratos = Power/Rule Therefore, the literal meaning of democracy is: “Rule by the people” or “Power of the people.” The idea is that ultimate political authority belongs to the people . People may exercise this authority directly or indirectly through elected representatives . ( SDE UOC ) Flow Chart: Meaning of Democracy DEMOCRACY │ ↓ Greek Origin │ ┌─────────┴─────────┐ ↓ ↓ DEMOS KRATOS People Power/Rule │ │ └─────────┬─────────┘ ↓ "Rule by the People" │ ↓ Political Power belongs ...