Liberal Democracy

Liberal democracy is a political system characterized by several core principles:

-Popular sovereignty: Government derives its legitimacy and authority from
     an implicit social contract among consenting citizens who elect their leaders
     through democratic procedures;

-The rule of law: All citizens should be treated equal under the law, no
     person is above the law, and all citizens have a civic responsibility to follow
     and uphold the law;

-Limited government: All government power and democratic authority are
     restrained by a division of power and systems of checks and balances
     provided by a constitution;

-Public-private distinction: There is a "wall of separation" between the
legitimate jurisdiction of the political state (public sphere) and that of the
community, church, family, and/or individual (private sphere) that generally
   restrains public authority (other than the protection of basic individual
rights) for the preservation of private autonomy;

-Self-determination: If citizens become convinced that their government does
not represent their interests, they have the right to revise or withdraw consent
  from their social contract