The chapter discusses the meaning of democracy. It shows that although many scholars define democracy as “rule by the people,” they often disagree about who qualifies as the people, what it means for them to rule, and what exactly they are meant to rule over. To illustrate, the chapter addresses three common definitions of democracy: as rule by the poor majority, as political equality, and as the people’s choice between elites. It also clarifies the difference between defining democracy as an ideal and as a lived reality.