Democracy in the Galactic Republic
Throughout her years of public service, Padmé showed time after time how much faith she had in democracy, refusing to accept other possibilities such as dictatorship.
First, to make a necessary clarification. Like the United States of America, the Galactic Republic is exactly that, a republic. A democracy is literally mob rule, since it gives it's citizens complete control over the government; a republic 'protects' its citizens by allowing choice (like voting) but only within the constraints of the law, giving whoever is the elected representatives actual control of the country. If necessary those laws can be changed or eliminated, but only through the type of arguements Padmé encounters in the senate. However, many have come to term what is technically a republic as a 'democracy' or a 'democratic republic'. This is what Padmé refers to, and I continue to use the term here.
Padmé considers a democracy to be the best form of government in existence, though she admits "the trouble is that people don't always agree. In fact, they hardly ever do." She says that to force people into agreement by any means "sounds and awful lot like a dictatorship," which she is against.
When speaking with Anakin regarding her career she said "the more history I studied, the more I realized how much good politicians could do." If anything we could say that was her life's goal. She also told him that "popular rule is not democracy...it gives people what they want, not what they need." To her, democracy was a type of government that allowed those that wanted to make a difference, not just obtain power or prestige, actually change the course of that galaxy, and to her that was a worthwhile dream.
Her devotion to this form of government remains true throughout her life. When, having been captured by the Geonosians and threatened with her own and her friends' death, she refuses to give in. Count Dooku tempted her by reminding her that the Republic was full of corruption, but she remained calm and replied "the ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing." She also tells him that "if what you say is true, you should stay in the Republic and help Chancellor Palpatine put things right."
She goes on to tell Dooku "I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guild, and the others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business, it's business becoming government! I will not forsake all that I have honored and worked for, and betray the Republic."
Padmé's position is apparent, and it can be summed up using the words of her successor, Queen Jamilla. "The day we stop believing democracy can work, is the day we lose it." Padmé had faith in the system and spent years of her life in an attempt to free the Republic from much of its corruption. People respected her for her strong stand, which was constant and unwavering.
Whether or not a republic is truely the best type of government depends on who you talk to, and there are certainly many good and bad things about all forms of goverment. The point here is that regardless of what others may think of it, Padmé believed the Republic's form of government to be most beneficial one, and it's her fervor and not necessarily her opinions that we can all admire.
The basis of my description of republics vs. democracy is from the 1828 edition of Noah Webster's dictionary, which here in America was the defining factor at that time when our own republic was young. The quotes I have used in this article are from the AotC novelization by R.A. Salvatore. I realize that there are many conflicting opinions about different forms of government, in fact my own conflict with Padmé's, but it's the Star Wars galaxy and not the real world I'm discussing here. This article, like everything I write, is based upon my own understanding of what I've read.