Mob rule

Mob rule is the control of a political situation by those outside the conventional or lawful realm, typically involving violence and intimidation.

Bills of rights
In a constitutional republic with a bill of rights, there are theoretically protections against mob rule. Anthony de Jasay opined that the possibility of such a limited government lies beyond the scope of rational choice theory: A lady accepts to wear a chastity belt to reassure her lord during his prolonged absence from home. (A government may likewise adopt constitutional limits to gain the confidence of its subjects). However, the key to the belt's padlock is within reach, and thus the belt can occasion delay, but cannot stop Nature from ultimately having its way. A padlock whose key has been thrown away is a metaphor for a constitution that cannot legally be amended. . . Meanwhile, we must not forget that if there is no key, there is always the locksmith.

Peter Suber notes that supermajority votes are sometimes required to change laws. Some constitutions provide that constitutional amendments must be approved by both the legislature and by the people, or by both the federal legislature and the state legislatures, or in two consecutive elections or legislative sessions. There is nothing in the structure of a democratic government that prevents the majority from having its way in the long run. The majority of voters, especially if it is a large majority, can elect the President and, depending on gerrymandering, proportional representation, and other features of the system (some of which arguably diminish its democratic character), can usually elect a majority of legislators; these legislators can then appoint judges who will interpret the constitution in such a way as to allow the actions that the voters and their politicians wish to take. To the extent that the constitution does create a sufficiently independent judiciary to resist the majority's invasions on the rights of individuals, the system is undemocratic.

At any rate, both democracy and individual liberty become a sham to the extent that individuals' property rights have given way to government control over property. As society moves toward socialism, democracy and individual liberty give way to rule by an oligarchy that cannot be removed through democratic channels because private persons working independently of the government and its supporters can muster the resources to mount an effective opposition.