Other forms: polyarchies
A polyarchy is a government in which many citizens have some amount of power and control over their elected leaders. Most political scientists consider the U.S. to be a polyarchy.
American political scientist Robert Dahl coined polyarchy, or "rule of the many," from poly-, "many," and -archy, "rule." In Dahl's definition of the term, a polyarchy is a government in the process of becoming democratic, rather than a full-fledged democracy. Dahl saw the ideal democratic government as being controlled by all of its citizens — a polyarchy, on the other hand, is controlled by a "plurality," or large group of people.