Democracy is a political system in which power is exercised by the people as a whole, either directly or through elected representatives. Key principles of democracy typically include free and fair elections, the rule of law, protection of individual rights and freedoms (such as freedom of speech, assembly, and the press), and the accountability of government to the people. Democratic systems can take various forms, such as parliamentary democracies, presidential democracies, and direct democracies, each with its own specific structures and processes for decision-making and governance. The concept of democracy is often associated with values such as equality, participation, and the consent of the governed. The spread and consolidation of democracy have been major themes in political sociology, with researchers studying the factors that contribute to the establishment and maintenance of democratic institutions around the world.