What form of democracy is characterized by majority rule while protecting the rights of minorities?

Liberal democracy is characterized by majority rule while simultaneously protecting the rights of minorities. This form of democracy emphasizes individual freedoms and civil rights, ensuring that even those who do not belong to the majority are afforded protections and rights under the law. This creates a framework where the majority can make decisions, but those decisions cannot infringe upon the fundamental rights and liberties of minority groups. The institutions in a liberal democracy, such as an independent judiciary and a constitution, play a crucial role in upholding these protections, promoting not just popular sovereignty but also the safeguarding of dissenting voices.

Direct democracy, while empowering citizens to vote directly on legislation or policies, does not inherently include mechanisms to protect minority rights. Representative democracy relies on elected officials to make decisions on behalf of the populace but might still struggle with the majority suppressing minority rights without the frameworks in place that liberal democracy provides. Social democracy typically focuses more on economic and social rights rather than the balance between majority rule and minority protections.