What holds us together

The most beautiful form of power organisation: democracy. Free, diverse and fragile. According to the Democracy Index, only 6.4% of the world’s population live in “complete democracies”. With our exhibit in the foyer of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament in Mainz, we convey how the separation of powers and fundamental rights keep this special system, so worth protecting, in balance.

The reality:
Visitors explore the institutions and protagonists of our democratic system at the interactive table. The four powers – judiciary, executive, legislature and the media – float in the centre of the playing field. Visitors can unbalance the system by changing the conditions – for example by restricting the freedom of the press. They learn how crucial independent institutions are for a functioning democracy and how negative the consequences can be if the system becomes unbalanced. Additionally, information on all institutions can be accessed. The content is available in three languages, German, English and French.