Questions and Answers
What is direct democracy?
What is representative democracy?
What is one advantage of direct democracy?
The people's voice is clearly heard.
What is a disadvantage of direct democracy?
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What is one advantage of representative democracy?
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What is a disadvantage of representative democracy?
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What does accountability mean in a democratic context?
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What is social representation?
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What does constituency representation involve?
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What is party representation?
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Study Notes
Direct Democracy
- People directly make key decisions, often through referendums.
- Represents the purest form of democracy, emphasizing the citizens' voices.
Representative Democracy
- Citizens elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf.
- Enables informed judgment in political matters.
Advantages of Direct Democracy
- Ensures the public's voice is prominent in policy-making.
- Eliminates delays and deadlock in the political system.
- Enhances legitimacy as decisions are made directly by the populace.
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
- Risks majority dominance; the winning side may disregard minority opinions.
- Emotional appeals from charismatic leaders can sway public opinion.
- Complexity of certain issues may render public decisions ineffective.
Advantages of Representative Democracy
- Elected officials are likely to possess better judgment and expertise.
- Representatives can act rationally and are less influenced by emotions.
- Offers the potential to safeguard minority interests through advocacy.
- Facilitates accountability of elected officials to the public.
Disadvantages of Representative Democracy
- Representatives may misinterpret or distort public demands to fit their agenda.
- Flaws exist in the electoral mandate since voters must accept or reject entire packages without clarity on individual components.
Accountability
- Elected officials are responsible for their policies, actions, and conduct towards the electorate.
Social Representation
- The composition of a representative body should mirror the demographics of the population it serves.
Constituency Representation
- Focus on representing the interests of specific geographic areas or communities.
- Includes addressing grievances from individual constituents facing injustices.
Party Representation
- Representatives align with and advocate for the tenets of their political party's manifesto.
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Description
Test your understanding of direct and representative democracy through this engaging quiz. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of each system, and learn how citizens participate in governance. Perfect for students of political science or anyone interested in the mechanics of democracy.
