Democracy is one of the most cherished features of our nation. But we have many misconceptions about what it is, how much of it we have, how it works and what place it occupies in history. Perhaps more than at any time in recent American history, democracy is now a subject of debate, as populist movements abroad and at home prompt questions about the rule of the many. The United States has just finished one of the most divisive campaigns in recent history, and there is no sign yet that consensus is on the way. While we ponder this election, there are certain facts about democracies at large that are worth considering.