Editing Polyarchy (section)

=== ''Democracy and its critics'' ===
In his 1989 book ''Democracy and Its Critics'', Dahl gives the following characteristics of a polyarchy (p.&nbsp;233):

*Control over governmental decisions about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials.
*Elected officials are chosen and peacefully removed in relatively frequent, fair and free elections in which coercion is quite limited.
*Practically all adults have the right to vote in these elections.
*Most adults also have the right to run for the public offices for which candidates run in these elections.
*Citizens have an effectively enforced right to freedom of expression, particularly political expression, including criticism of the officials, the conduct of the government, the prevailing political, economic, and social system, and the dominant ideology.
*They also have access to alternative sources of information that are not monopolized by the government or any other single group.
*Finally, they have an effectively enforced right to form and join autonomous associations, including political associations, such as political parties and interest groups, that attempt to influence the government by competing in elections and by other peaceful means.