Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which characteristic distinguishes direct democracy from other forms of government?
Which characteristic distinguishes direct democracy from other forms of government?
- A single ruler or small group of individuals holds absolute power.
- Citizens participate directly in making laws and policies. (correct)
- Elected officials manage all decision-making processes.
- Political parties control the selection of leaders.
What is a primary limitation of implementing direct democracy in countries with large populations?
What is a primary limitation of implementing direct democracy in countries with large populations?
- Greater likelihood of achieving consensus across various societal viewpoints.
- Increased efficiency in policy implementation and governance.
- Enhanced transparency and accountability due to close interactions between leaders and citizens.
- The difficulty in organizing and managing votes across a vast electorate. (correct)
In what way does technology support the functionality of modern direct democracy?
In what way does technology support the functionality of modern direct democracy?
- By removing citizen input, streamlining decision-making to experts.
- By centralizing policy discussions under government-controlled online platforms.
- Through enforcing strict limitations on the types of policies that can be discussed online.
- Via facilitating online voting and digital discussions, thus broadening participation. (correct)
How does direct democracy benefit from an educated populace?
How does direct democracy benefit from an educated populace?
What is a referendum, as it applies to direct democracy?
What is a referendum, as it applies to direct democracy?
What is one reason that decision-making might be slower in a system of direct democracy compared to a representative democracy?
What is one reason that decision-making might be slower in a system of direct democracy compared to a representative democracy?
What role did citizen assemblies play in the direct democracy of Ancient Athens?
What role did citizen assemblies play in the direct democracy of Ancient Athens?
Which of the following is a potential risk associated with direct democracy?
Which of the following is a potential risk associated with direct democracy?
How might blockchain technology enhance the security of direct democracy?
How might blockchain technology enhance the security of direct democracy?
Why is preventing voter fatigue a critical concern in direct democracy?
Why is preventing voter fatigue a critical concern in direct democracy?
Why is civic engagement considered an advantage of direct democracy?
Why is civic engagement considered an advantage of direct democracy?
Which scenario exemplifies a blend of direct and representative democracy?
Which scenario exemplifies a blend of direct and representative democracy?
What makes direct democracy effective in diminishing corruption?
What makes direct democracy effective in diminishing corruption?
How might misinformation critically undermine direct democracy?
How might misinformation critically undermine direct democracy?
In direct democracy, what is the significance of citizens proposing laws through ballot initiatives?
In direct democracy, what is the significance of citizens proposing laws through ballot initiatives?
What is a major difference between direct and representative democracy regarding citizen participation?
What is a major difference between direct and representative democracy regarding citizen participation?
What is a current challenge that direct democracy faces in ensuring fair and accurate voting?
What is a current challenge that direct democracy faces in ensuring fair and accurate voting?
Why might implementing direct democracy be challenging in overly diverse populations?
Why might implementing direct democracy be challenging in overly diverse populations?
Compared to representative democracy, what is one benefit unique to direct democracy?
Compared to representative democracy, what is one benefit unique to direct democracy?
What makes the integration of blockchain technology a potentially powerful tool for refining direct democracy?
What makes the integration of blockchain technology a potentially powerful tool for refining direct democracy?
Flashcards
What is Direct Democracy?
What is Direct Democracy?
A system where citizens directly participate in decision-making, voting on laws and policies themselves.
Direct vs. Representative Democracy
Direct vs. Representative Democracy
In direct democracy, citizens vote directly; in representative democracy, they elect officials to vote on their behalf.
Examples of Direct Democracy
Examples of Direct Democracy
Switzerland (referendums), California (ballot initiatives), and Ancient Athens (citizen assemblies).
Advantages of Direct Democracy
Advantages of Direct Democracy
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Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
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Technology's role in Direct Democracy
Technology's role in Direct Democracy
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Coexistence of Democracies?
Coexistence of Democracies?
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Origin of Direct Democracy
Origin of Direct Democracy
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Challenges in Large Populations
Challenges in Large Populations
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Role of Education
Role of Education
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Study Notes
- Direct democracy involves citizens directly participating in decision-making, rather than electing representatives.
- Citizens vote on laws, policies, and other important issues.
Direct vs. Representative Democracy
- In direct democracy, citizens vote on policies and laws themselves.
- In representative democracy, citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.
- Representative democracy is more practical for large populations.
- Direct democracy works best in smaller communities.
Examples of Direct Democracy
- Switzerland uses direct democracy through referendums and citizen-initiated votes.
- U.S. states like California allow citizens to propose laws through ballot initiatives.
- Ancient Athens practiced direct democracy in the form of citizen assemblies.
Advantages of Direct Democracy
- Decisions reflect the will of the people.
- Increases political participation and civic engagement.
- Reduces corruption by limiting the power of politicians.
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
- Difficult to implement in large, diverse populations.
- Requires an informed and engaged citizenry.
- Decision-making can be slow and inefficient.
Role of Technology
- Technology enables online voting, digital petitions, and real-time discussions.
- Direct democracy is made more feasible in large societies through technology.
- Blockchain and secure voting systems help prevent fraud and increase transparency.
Coexistence with Representative Democracy
- Many governments use a mix of both systems.
- Switzerland has both elected representatives and direct citizen participation through referendums.
Historical Origin
- Direct democracy originated in Ancient Greece, particularly in Athens.
- Citizens voted on laws in public assemblies.
- This system influenced modern democratic practices.
Challenges in Large Populations
- Logistical difficulties in organizing votes.
- Risk of voter fatigue due to frequent decision-making.
- Influence of misinformation and populism.
Role of Education
- Education is essential for ensuring that citizens make informed decisions.
- A well-educated population can critically analyze policies.
- Education avoids manipulation by interest groups or misinformation.
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