Democracy vs. Authoritarianism Democracies, like the U.S., operate on systems of checks and balances in which power is distributed among elected officials, independent courts and a free press.

When democracy is weakened in one part of the world, it sends shockwaves through the hopes of people everywhere who are still fighting to achieve it.

What is the biggest threat facing US democracy? Pluralities of Democrats and Republicans agree that it is political corruption, poll finds.

Jackson did not say what, specifically, concerned her about the state of democracy, though she has recently written a series of scathing dissents.