American democracy is on the ballot. We can't look away.

As America approaches the November elections, from Long Island to communities across our nation, we face a question far greater than which political party controls Congress:

What kind of country are we becoming, and what kind of country will we leave our children?

As a proud Puerto Rican, a former police officer, and the first Latino to serve as deputy speaker of the New York State Assembly, I have devoted my life to defending civil rights and confronting discrimination. Today, I find myself deeply troubled by the direction of our nation.

Across America, reports of aggressive immigration enforcement, family separations, detention abuses and violations of due process raise alarming questions about the conduct and accountability of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

I spent 20 years in law enforcement. I believe in upholding the law. But I also know that a badge is not a license to abandon humanity, and no government agency stands above the Constitution.

History teaches us that democracies rarely disappear overnight. They are dismantled piece by piece, often while citizens are assured that extraordinary measures are necessary.

The warning signs are familiar: attacks on the free press, efforts to undermine independent courts, the concentration of executive power, and attempts to manipulate electoral systems.

For many immigrant families who fled authoritarian governments, these are not merely lessons from history. They provide painful memories of what happens when those entrusted with power begin placing themselves above the law.

Our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to prevent that abuse of power. Congress, the courts, a free press and above all the American people hold the sacred responsibility to defend it.

That is why these midterms carry such extraordinary consequences. Control of Congress will guide the future of immigration policy, civil liberties, government accountability and the constitutional checks and balances that protect our freedoms.

On Long Island, these national struggles reach into our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and homes.

We should never face a choice between public safety and constitutional freedom. America must stand for both.

And here at home on Long Island, we must also recognize that this moment demands something greater than political rivalries and personal ambitions.

Our political parties must resist the temptation to engage in political headhunting, settle old scores or allow internal divisions to distract us from the huge challenges confronting us. What good is winning a political feud if, in the process, we lose the very democracy that gives us the freedom to disagree?

There will always be time for political differences. But this is a moment for unity, responsibility and putting country above personal ambition.

The American dream always promised something greater than economic opportunity. It offers the promise of liberty, dignity, equal justice and a better future for our children.

That promise belongs to every American, regardless of birthplace, the language we speak, the party we support. We all have a responsibility to ponder the issues, hold those in power accountable, and participate in the democratic process.

Democracy is not simply an inheritance handed down from one generation to the next. It is a sacred responsibility that every generation must defend.

On Nov. 3, we have an opportunity to honor that responsibility.

Our children are watching. History is watching. And generations yet unborn will live with the consequences of the choices we make on Election Day.

Let us be remembered as the generation that stood up for the Constitution, defended human dignity — and refused to take American democracy for granted.

This guest essay reflects the views of Assembly Deputy Speaker Philip R. Ramos (D-Bay Shore), who represents New York's 6th District.