Those who find other's influence useful have designed a means for collecting the views of those others when making a decision. When one collects the views of most who are affected by that decision , we call that means democratic, respecting the majority and giving it the privilege of making the decision.

The critical variables in a democracy are defining those who are to participate in a decision, and designing a process that allows this participation. Democracy demands that all affected by the decision are given the opportunity to participate. Democracy also demands that the process of participation result in an unambiguous collective result that all agree to honor.