ABSTRACT
The Constitution establishes a representative democracy because all citizens have the right to vote for representatives at the local, state, and national levels. A democracy, unlike a monarchy or an aristocracy, is a system of government in which the people rule. A fundamental tenet of democratic government is the political equality of all citizens. Because the people are rarely unanimous, democratic rule is commonly understood as rule by the majority of citizens, or majority rule. The framers of the US Constitution designed a system of government that would minimize the tension between democracy and liberty. The US Constitution guarantees a range of civil liberties, including the freedom of speech and assembly, the right to vote, the right to equal protection under the law, and procedural guarantees in criminal and civil trials. The Bill of Rights guarantees the majority of civil liberties. The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of speech, association, and assembly and the freedom of the press.
