10 Questions
Which type of democracy is characterized by balancing citizen participation with representative expertise?
Hybrid Democracy
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Participatory Democracy?
It is a fast and efficient decision-making process
What is a key advantage of Hybrid Democracy?
It balances citizen participation with representative expertise
Which example of Participatory Democracy is specifically focused on budgeting?
Porto Alegre's participatory budgeting
What is a common criticism of Deliberative Democracy?
It may not be representative of the broader population
What is the primary advantage of Representative Democracy?
More efficient decision-making process
Which type of democracy is most vulnerable to manipulation by special interest groups?
Direct Democracy
Which type of democracy is best suited for addressing complex issues?
Representative Democracy
What is the main difference between Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy?
The level of citizen participation
What is a common disadvantage of Direct Democracy?
Can be time-consuming
Study Notes
Types of Democracy
Direct Democracy
- Involves citizens making decisions directly through votes on laws and policies
- Examples: Ancient Athens, Swiss cantons, and some US states (e.g. California's proposition system)
- Advantages: Increased citizen participation, more direct representation of people's will
- Disadvantages: Can be time-consuming, may not be suitable for complex issues, vulnerable to manipulation by special interest groups
Representative Democracy
- Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
- Examples: Most modern democracies, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
- Advantages: More efficient, allows for specialized knowledge and expertise, can address complex issues
- Disadvantages: May not accurately represent citizens' views, can lead to disconnection between citizens and representatives
Hybrid Democracy
- Combines elements of direct and representative democracy
- Examples: Some US states (e.g. Oregon's initiative and referendum process), European Union
- Advantages: Balances citizen participation with representative expertise, allows for direct input on specific issues
- Disadvantages: Can be complex, may lead to conflicting decision-making processes
Participatory Democracy
- Emphasizes citizen participation and engagement in decision-making processes
- Examples: Porto Alegre's participatory budgeting, some community land trusts
- Advantages: Increases citizen empowerment, promotes more equitable decision-making
- Disadvantages: Can be time-consuming, may not be scalable to larger populations
Deliberative Democracy
- Focuses on fostering informed, reflective, and respectful citizen deliberation
- Examples: Citizen juries, deliberative polls, and some community-based initiatives
- Advantages: Encourages critical thinking, promotes more informed decision-making, can increase civic engagement
- Disadvantages: May not be representative of the broader population, can be resource-intensive
Explore the different forms of democracy, including direct, representative, hybrid, participatory, and deliberative democracy. Learn about their advantages and disadvantages, and how they are used in various countries and systems.
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