What term literally means "the people rule"?

The term that literally means "the people rule" is democracy. The word originates from the Greek "demos," meaning "people," and "kratos," meaning "power" or "rule." Thus, democracy embodies the concept of governance by the people, where citizens have a role in decision-making, often through elected representatives or direct participation in the governmental process.

This understanding differentiates democracy from other forms of governance. Anarchy refers to a state of society without government or authority, which does not involve people ruling in a structured way. A republic is a form of government where representatives are elected to represent the interests of the citizenry, but the term itself does not directly translate to "the people rule." Autocracy describes a system that is ruled by a single person with absolute power, where the populace has little to no say in governmental affairs.