Ruling based on popular decisions (9)
I believe the answer is:
democracy
'ruling' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for democracy that I've seen before include "The least worst political system?" , "expression of popular will?" , "form of government" , "Government of/by/for all the people" .)