Free and fair elections allow people living in a representative democracy to determine the political makeup and future policy direction of their nation's government.   Free and fair elections increase the likelihood of a peaceful

Government accountability means that public officials -- elected and un-elected -- have an obligation to explain their decisions and actions to the citizens. Government accountability is achieved through the use of a variety of mechanisms -- political, legal, and administrative -- designed to prevent corruption and ensure that public officials remain answerable and accessible to the people they serve. In the absence of such mechanisms, corruption may thrive.

On the surface, the principles of majority rule and the protection of individual and minority rights would seem contradictory. In fact, however, these principles are twin pillars holding up the very foundation of what we mean by democratic government.