The following below are the basic features of protective democracy:
• Protective democracy believes in popular sovereignty. But since people can't directly take part in the processes of the state, they do it through their representatives.
• Both the popular sovereignty and the representative form of the government are very much legitimate.
• It is the basic duty of the state to secure the rights & liberties of citizens and whether this is properly performed or not people keep the strong vigilance over the functions of the state.
• The authority is very much accountable to the People and to form its elections are held on a regular basis. There are even other ways of establishing accountability
• A very significant way of protecting the rights, liberties and distribution of privileges is the division of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is done in all liberal democracies.
• There is a prevalence of the constitutionalism. Both the ruler & the ruled are controlled by the principles laid down in the Constitution.
• The Constitution is the source of power for all and is the guarantor of the rights and liberties. There are even measures to prevent the violation of rights and liberties.
• Organisations associations groups have quite enough freedom, and they always act as the friends of citizens and fight against any violation of rights or encroachment on liberty.
• Competition in all the spheres is a feature of the protective democracy.
• A clear distinction among the state and civil society is strictlymaintained.