> in a democracy you are not lorded over by party functionaires

Every democracy in the world is ruled by party politics, left right, blue green these are parties not policies. Politicians all go to the same private school thats heavily financed by their party.

The term checks and balances is a very American thing no other democracy has it and America is not even a democracy its a republic. For example the only check and balance on the UK parliament is the unelected house of lords who get their place because they are born into an oligarchy, besides that the only other check is the crown.