How did democracy place limits on the power of sovereign rulers?

Democracy limits the power of sovereign rulers by shifting the locus of authority from an individual or small group to the people, ensuring that governance is conducted through established norms rather than arbitrary will. This transition is primarily achieved through the following mechanisms:123

• Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law: Democratic systems often employ a binding written constitution that subjects all officials, regardless of rank, to the law. This ensures that the exercise of power is legally regulated and prevents rulers from acting above the law.24
• Separation of Powers: By dividing government authority into distinct legislative, executive, and judicial branches, democracy creates a system of checks and balances. This structure forces branches to share power and empowers them to prevent one another from overstepping their authority.51
• Independent Judiciary: An independent judiciary provides a critical check by exercising judicial review, which allows courts to declare government policies or laws unconstitutional.51
• Protection of Rights: To prevent "majority tyranny," democratic frameworks incorporate bills of rights that protect individual liberties and minority interests from being infringed upon by the state.14