Explain the difference between a direct and an indirect democracy.

In the former, individuals are elected to vote for citizens, but in the latter, citizens vote themselves on every governmental matter.

In the former, every citizen has a vote in the government, but in the latter, citizens elect individuals to vote for them.

In a direct democracy, voting is limited to one vote per household.

In a direct democracy, a king or queen must be the supreme ruler.

1 answer

A direct democracy is a system where citizens have direct participation and decision-making power in the government. In this type of democracy, citizens vote on every governmental matter and have equal voting power. They have the ability to propose and vote on bills, policies, and laws themselves. This allows for a greater level of citizen involvement and direct control over the decision-making process.

On the other hand, an indirect democracy, also known as a representative democracy or a republic, is a system where citizens elect individuals to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf. These elected representatives, such as members of parliament or congress, are responsible for making decisions and passing laws. The citizens have the ability to vote on the representatives who will best represent their interests, but they do not directly vote on governmental matters themselves.

In a direct democracy, the power rests with the citizens who have the authority to make important decisions collectively. They have the ability to directly influence the political process and have their opinions reflected in policy-making. In contrast, in an indirect democracy, the power lies with the elected representatives who make decisions on behalf of the citizens.

It is important to note that direct democracy is often limited to small communities or local levels, given the difficulty of having every citizen directly vote on all matters in larger governments. Indirect democracies, on the other hand, allow for territorial representation and are more commonly utilized in larger nations.