In a democracy, active opposition parties monitor and debate the work done by the ruling party (or ruling

parties in the case of a party coalition). This can increase the ruling party's accountability to the electorate.
Multi-party systems require political tolerance in words and actions by all individuals, including political
representatives.
Political tolerance means accepting and respecting the views of individuals and groups whose viewpoints differ
from one's own. People should be able to express their opinions and views freely as long as they do not
interfere with someone else's rights.
Democracy entails both, the right to differ as well as the acceptance of these differences by others.
Democracy implies respect for different views and the use of dialogue as a means to resolve conflict.

The third key feature is a democratic voting system

In a representative democracy, we elect representatives to pass legislation and govern the country instead of
having one person making all the decisions. This happens through regular elections in line with the country's
constitution democratic voting systems are characterized by the following:

1. there is universal suffrage which means that all adult citizens have an equal right to vote in a country's
elections
2. elections are held at regular known intervals
3. elections are free and fair
4. we apply majority rule which means that the political party or party coalition with the most votes gets to
govern

The fourth key is respect for the rule of law – which refers to the principle that public officials can only
exercise power and make decisions if authorised to do so by law. They are not allowed to act arbitrarily or
with an ulterior purpose, they must act in terms of laws that are clear, publicized, stable and evenly applied.
The process by which laws are enacted, administered and enforced must be transparent fair and efficient.
It also means that all decisions need to be made in accordance with the law, in short, nobody is exempt from
or above the law. Public officials cannot act arbitrarily and without being allowed to act by law. Why? Because
under the system citizens are protected from the arbitrary exercise of power.

Independent courts uphold the rule of law. Only independent courts can find people guilty of committing a
crime. Courts can also declare invalid the actions of public officials that are not authorized by law. A society in
which the rule of law is not protected would be unpredictable and the human rights of its citizens would not
be guaranteed. The correct application of the rule of law enables citizens to enjoy the benefits of democracy.

The fifth key feature of democracy is democratic governance. This concerns the way in which a
democratic government is organized and functions, what happens between elections is very important for a
vibrant democracy.
Democratic government is characterized by the separation of powers.
State power is divided into 3 branches: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Each branch checks the
power of the other two so that there is a balance of power between them. The legislature is responsible for
passing laws, while the executive is responsible for the administration and implementation of the law and other
policies. Together with this goes the independence of the judiciary in the interpretation and enforcement of
the law. This system of checks and balances is designed to prevent the abuse of power. Democratic governance
should also be guided by the principles and practices of
Transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency as prerequisites for accountability to the electorate

The last feature of a successful democracy that we would like to talk about is citizen participation. The
democratic system aims to empower the individual. Democracy offers ordinary people like you and me the
opportunity to participate freely in social and political life and to contribute to shaping our society and
country's future. Successful democracies need active citizens so it is about our role in and possible contribution
to democracy in practical terms it means that you can and should take part in elections by voting or even
joining a political party. Active citizens also monitor the government's performance and mobilize other ordinary
people on issues of importance.
 All of us can help to shape a successful democracy. When these six main features are present it indicates a
strong democracy. Through the application and upholding of these features, well-functioning democracies are
likely to provide the following fruits of democracy or characteristics of society:
 respect for human dignity
 freedom
 equality justice
 good governance peace and the opportunity to hold elected representatives accountable
 South Africa is one of the youngest democracies in the world. Their constitution provides the
framework for how democracy works in South Africa and don't forget democracy is about far more
than voting in elections. Successful democracies rely on active citizens that protect and support
democratic values.