Elder Mark Peterson summarized the principles involved in this:
The scripture says that every man could speak according to his own mind, “whether it were for or against Amlici … having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another. And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter,” [Alma 2:5] and their arguments were laid before the judges of the land.
Those who were against Amlici, being in the majority, were grateful that the voice of the people could be expressed and that the decisions would be made through the system of judges.
But this did not please Amlici. He refused to abide by the free choice of the people. His followers grouped together and consecrated Amlici to be king over the land. He armed his followers and immediately ordered them to begin a war against the rest of the people. (Alma and Abinadi [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983], 59)