Democràtic

Democràtic is an adjective in Catalan that relates to democracy or to political systems in which sovereignty resides in the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives. It is used to describe processes, institutions, or values characteristic of democratic governance.

Etymology: the term derives from Greek demos (people) and kratos (rule), entering Catalan via the broader Latin and Romance tradition as democràcia (democracy) and democràtic. The feminine form is democràtica and the plural forms are democràtics or democràtiques, depending on gender.

Features commonly associated with the democràtic idea include free and competitive elections, universal or broad suffrage, the rule of law, separation of powers, accountability of authorities, and protection of civil rights. A democratic framework also emphasizes pluralism, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and active citizen participation, with an aim toward peaceful changes of leadership and policy through legitimate channels.

Usage and nuance: democràtic describes regimes, institutions, laws, or practices that seek to reflect democratic principles. It is often contrasted with non-democratic or anti-democratic systems such as autocràtics or totalitaris. The term can denote aspirational goals as well as evaluative judgments, where real-world implementation may be assessed as democràcia formal (procedural) or democràcia real (substantive).

Common collocations include sistema democràtic, estat democràtic, procés democràtic and valors democràtics, reflecting its broad application in political discourse in Catalan-speaking contexts.