Democratic is the adjective form of Democracy, a term that comes from the Greek “demokratia” meaning “rule” or “power” of the people. Often people think that democracy is a direct rule of the people a la ancient Athens, and a Republic is indirect such as in the United States, in fact both terms are could almost be considered calques in the both describe governments whose authority comes its citizens. Modern Greek uses “demokratia” to mean both—Greece, as the Hellenic Republic is in Greek the Elleniki Demokratia.

The term was first used in ancient Greece to describe the government style of various city-states (poleis) such as Athens in which the citizens (generally native, freeborn men) were allowed, regardless of social class to vote and participate in the government of the city.

Today most “western” nations pride themselves on some sort of “democratic” government in allowing their citizens the right to vote elected leaders and to some extent on law and policy. Most are not direct—with leaders either elected/appointed by winning parties in some sort of parliament or assembly, or have monarchs who while more figureheads than actually in charge the people have no say in their role. And then of course there is the American system where no matter if more people go out and vote for one person if that majority are not distributed amongst the right states then the other person comes to power no mater how odious, asinine, useless, talent-less, criminal, cruel and unqualified.