500
Have civil liberties, such as freedom of belief, speech, and assembly; Rule of law that provides for equal treatment of citizens and due process; Neutrality of the judiciary and other checks on the abuse of power; Open civil society that allows citizens to lead private lives and mass media to operate independently from the
government; Civilian control of the military that restricts the likelihood of the military seizing control of the government
What is are the characteristics of a democratic state?