Can you explain how the political system of democracy works and how it differs from a dictatorship?

Very simple. Democracy allows, or attempts to allow, people to govern themselves and decide how they will live. Theoretically no one is above the law in a democracy. With a Dictatorship people are told what to do and how to live, and they have no say in the matter. It is possible for a dictatorship to be benevolent and a democracy to be unjust, but people will often choose democracy over dictatorship, if they have a choice.