Many countries have democratic governments now. Democracy means government by the people. They do this by electing their representatives to the government. All adult citizens of a country have the right to vote in a democracy. This vote is extremely important because it determines the kind of government that comes in power.The role of the citizens becomes extremely important in a democracy. They have to be aware of their rights and know what they should expect from their elected representatives. The citizens should be aware of the problems of their region as well as of the whole country. Only then can they understand whether the government is taking the right steps for their welfare or not. For this reason it is important to acquire knowledge about current events and policy making through newspapers, radio and television as well as public meetings.
Democracy also means that all citizens are free to express their opinion in public. They can freely criticize the government, if they feel that it is not discharging its duties properly. They can even oppose its policies, but peacefully, without resorting to violence or breaking the laws. The government on the other hand is expected to give due consideration to the views of the people speaking out against it. It cannot take steps to prevent them because that would be undemocratic.
