Aristocracy vs. Democracy

A hereditary ruling class; nobility.

Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.

Government by a ruling class.

A political or social unit that has such a government.

A state or country having this form of government.

The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.

Government by the citizens deemed to be best qualified to lead.

Majority rule.

A state having such a government.

The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

A group or class considered superior to others.

(uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).

The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.

A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.

Government by such a class, or a state with such a government

(countable) A state with a democratic system of government.

A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others

(uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

Government by the best citizens.

Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

A ruling body composed of the best citizens.

Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.

A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy.

Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.

The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect.

The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.

A privileged class holding hereditary titles

The political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

The most powerful members of a society

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group