Direct democracy , which is also called pure democracy , is a democracy in which the decisions are not taken by representatives. All decisions are voted on by the people. ^[1] When a budget or law needs to be passed, then the idea goes to the people. Governments of modern countries rarely make laws this way.

Costs and benefits of direct democracy [ change | change source ]

Interest groups would have to change the minds of all people, not just a few representatives. Taxes could not be raised without the permission of the people. The few would not rule the many and the government would not pay representatives salaries. In indirect , or representative democracy , citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf. This is what most modern countries have today. Direct democracy makes decisions by majority rule . Representative democracy was made with the idea that representatives would be responsible for the majority's interests while protecting minority rights . People like James Madison believed that direct democracy was bad for minority groups .

History [ change | change source ]

Classical Athens was a direct democracy. All citizens voted on major decisions of government. But, to be a citizen, you had to be a free, land-owning, native-born man.

Switzerland has aspects of direct democracy. "Evidence suggests that attendance at assemblies... has always been limited to roughly twenty per cent of the citizenry". ^[2] The practice is only used in two cantons , Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus .

The Federal government of the United States does not use direct democracy but the individual states sometimes make laws by referendum . Some New England town s govern themselves by a town meeting.

Related pages [ change | change source ]

• Democracy
• Representative democracy

References [ change | change source ]

1. ↑ "Democracy Conference" . Innertemple.org.uk . Retrieved 2010-08-22 .
2. ↑ Lucardie, Paul 2014. Democratic extremism in theory and practice: All Power to the People , p. 56