"All state power emanates from the people"
Article 20, paragraph 2 of the Basic Law states that this is what "democracy" literally means: "rule by the people". At its best, a democracy should take into account the interests and wishes of all citizens of a state as equally as possible - an ideal that is not achievable in the real world. The US political scientist Robert Dahl identified two fundamental dimensions of real democracies: firstly, there is a lively competition for power in them, in which different parties make different offers to the population. Secondly, it is "inclusive" - all citizens are allowed to participate. In addition to the principle of popular sovereignty, liberal democracies can be recognised by characteristics such as the separation of powers, the rule of law, a constitution that also imposes rights and duties on the state, respect for human rights and fundamental rights, free media and pluralism, i.e. the participation of different social groups in opinion-forming.