The defining principles of modern democracy that emerged from the Enlightenment include popular sovereignty, individual rights, and the separation of powers. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu emphasized that government should derive its authority from the consent of the governed, affirming the idea of popular sovereignty. Individual rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to participate in governance, became central to democratic theory. Additionally, the separation of powers, proposed by Montesquieu, sought to prevent tyranny by distributing governmental authority among different branches. These principles created a foundation for contemporary democratic systems that value accountability, representation, and the protection of civil liberties.