The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy

The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy
The word Democracy is is defined as a form of government in which the people hold the power and display this power when they elect politicians to
make their decisions. A direct Democracy is the most purely democratic form of government because the people actually rule. This means people can
physically voice what they want and not have their words lost because thousands of voices are being represented by one man. When people directly
vote for what they want, their opinions are best voiced this way. A weakness of thegovernment is the people who are more active in the government
will have a greater say than those who are not as active. A group could be extremely altered by change and not fulfill the needs of the people because
they are likely ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One advantage a Republican form of government had is only having one person makes it easier to suggest ideas then having a group of people who
all want different things, one man can choose his ideas and change very little. Also, the person who represents the people would most likely be
extremely qualified for the position. A weakness of a Republican form of government people may not get the exact results they want and may lack the
passion they want for a person representing them. The Republican government was used by the United States following the creation of the Constitution,
which was written by the the founding fathers from 1787 to 1788. Choosing a more Republican approach makes more likely to avoid a tyrannic and or
a mobocracy rule. American citizens can be properly represented in government by choosing representatives that they believe fit their ideals the best. It
does not let majority groups get greater representation than minority groups in government. The republican form of government has advantages in the
way that if voters do not know the situations, it will not crumble because the elected representatives will make the decisions that they think will work
the best for people they
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The Importance Of Direct Democracy
As citizens of the United States, Americans have the responsibility of understanding their abilities in regards to contribution to political decisions.
Especially in recent years, Americans have come to realize the true significance of direct democracy or a lack thereof. Although on a federal level direct
democracy is lacking, on the state level, including Californian government, direct democracy can have a significant impact on the lives of citizens.
What identifies direct democracy as an important tool and a source of power for citizens is the direct power they have over legislation and/or politics
– hence, direct democracy; the citizens do not need approval and recognition by politicians, nor do they need to be led by them to succeed. The only
ingredient required for success is the support of the masses, which is generally more plausible with an access to large sums of money. In general, there
are three primary methods used in the execution of direct democracy: referendum, recall, and initiative.
When citizens are unhappy over a piece of legislation that has already been ratified, it can be petitioned, and if successful, ultimately lead to a popular
vote for the law – this is what is known as a referendum. Referendum can come about in two prime ways – legislative referendum and popular
referendum. Legislative referendum is where a legislature allows the people to vote on a bill as opposed to the legislature voting on it, whereas
popular referendum is an attempt to

Comparing Direct Democracy And Representative Democracy
There are numerous comparison and differences between direct and representative democracy.Representative democracy has someone who represents
you and speaks for you. Direct democracy is when you vote on every single thing. Both democracies vote on legislation that affects them. A direct
democracy is a form of democracy where people vote on every single thing and a representative democracy is a form of democracy where people elect
officials that represent a group of people. Representative democracy is better than direct democracy because the representative's people elect to know
more about politics than the common people do, so the common people can't make formal decisions. The United States uses representative democracy,
which when representatives vote on the important stuff while representing the people. People elect officials based on if their beliefs and ideas match
with each other.The people still have an opinion, but they just have someone else speaking for them and making sure that their opinions are heard.
Ideally, the laws and policies enacted by the elected representatives should closely reflect the will of the majority of the people. Instead of requiring a
vote by the people every time an issue comes up, the representatives can vote on behalf of their district to simplify the process. Representative
democracy focuses more on ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are No Representatives to voice out people's opinion because each person is allowed to voice out their opinions by themselves.People vote on
everything that affects them and other like laws, basically everything that involves the government. Direct democracy is the opposite of the more
common representative democracy. Ensures a greater degree of openness and transparency between the people and their government.Direct democracy
focuses on people voting on what affects people, but both focus on voting on what affects

Direct Democracy
In spite of the fact that the legislature is mandated to create and pass laws on behalf of the state, elements of direct democracy have always acted as
constraints. The most famous forms of direct democracy include referendum and initiative (Damore, Bowler, and Nicholson 368). Initiatives are often
used to defend the interest of specific groups of citizens. The implication is that instead of the legislature deciding on issues, the citizens are left with
the responsibility of determining the fate of certain policies. Initiatives need a particular number of citizens to agree to a petition so that the public can
be allowed to vote on the matter in question. It means that if people feel that a certain policy championed by the legislature is not... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Interestingly, the voters were in charge ofvoting for the judges in an election. This mode of judicial election has its benefits in that the public would
choose someone they felt was fit to hold the post. The fact that the ballot included a "none of the above" option made the exercise more reliable.
However, the system has its downside in that the electorate may be swayed politically in voting for a nonpolitical position. The system is inferior to
the Merit Plan used by the majority of states in the U.S. According to the system, the candidates are evaluated for their suitability to become judges.
The fact that the system is based on the performance of candidates means that it is a good fit for a nonpartisan branch of government (Price 12). The
state of Nevada has attempted to adopt the merit–based system, but during all the elections, the voters have rejected the recommendations. Similarly, the
state tried several times to establish a court of appeal, but the voters continuously rejected the move. Recently, in 2014, an amendment meant to
establish the court was passed giving way to its formation ("State of

Compare And Contrast Direct Democracy Vs Representative...
Representative Democracy is better for the United States than a Direct Democracy.
Democracies are based on the citizen's ability to judge things such as laws, propositions, bonds, budgets, representatives, and candidates. The type of
democracy helps determine what the citizens are judging. In a direct democracy citizens would be judging the candidates and issues themselves and in a
representative democracy, the citizens are judging the representatives and their ability to stay true to the citizens wants and needs. The founding
fathers were so sure in their decision to make a representative democracy that they deliberately made ratifying the constitution very difficult. It takes a
very large majority of Senate and the House to get a proposal sent to the people for a vote that would make the change and then the people have to
approve the change with at least 75% voting in favor in order to ratify the constitution. There are many reasons why a direct ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Everyone has to be willing to do their share far beyond the polling place on Election Day. Citizens must work together to develop proposals for laws
and policies in order to put them out to a general population vote. A great deal of tension can amount from the lack of participation especially from the
new "Me" generation.
The current generation of young voters feel that the old way of doing things is out dated. They feel that "Representative democracy was needed when
remote constituents could not be consulted. With the internet the public can now decide directly on all major issues. The representative system is
outdated, and it is ready to be replaced by true democracy." (Citation #2) Even in this modern day and age with such great access to information, many
believe that their vote is not enough to make a difference so why bother to vote or even read the information available to

Direct Democracy Vs. Representative Democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which the utmost influence is consigned in the individuals and implemented directly by them or by their
designated representatives under a free voting arrangement. According to my research direct democracy also known as pure democracy is when all the
individuals come together and make decisions by voting. They are the one who decide the regulation and guidelines through which the people will
oversee. In contrast a representative democracy is when the population designate leaders who makes judgements on their behalf. There are many
differences between a direct and a representative democracy and some of them are that in a direct democracy the public have authority and are
responsible for decision making

Cons Of Direct Democracy Essay
The word democracy derived in or around 508 B.C. by the Greek demos mean people and kratos mean to rule. Forming these two words together
means rule of the people Athens known as the birthplace of democracy. Poleis ancient Greece independent city states, the most well–known Poleis
would be Sparta. You had kings that served as the headGovernment while the citizens oversaw the kings. Philosophers from all over the Greek world
gathered to develop their theories. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle believed the fundamental principle of the democratic form is liberty. There was
criticism and pushback from The Athenian voting twice against democratic constitution. Peloponnesian War in 411 BCE was one main reason
criticisms was placed on democracy. Within ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
June, 6 1978 California put a cap on property tax rates, by doing so it prompted a taxpayer revolt thru ought the country. Nevada 1990 civil society
had resolved to minimize the controversy of abortion. Pro–choice organization demanded and fought to have the law passed making it the 5th time
citizen lawmaking was used: Since the inception of citizens' law making in 1912. There are pros and cons of Direct Democracy. While promoting
transparency between citizens and the government simply unrivaled by other form of Government. Society progression relies more on people.
Advanced government accountability by we the people voicing concerns in direct fashion. It cuts out the middle man making impossible for the
government not get the message directly due to it coming straight from the citizens. Direct democracy promotes civil obedience by allowing citizens
to voice their comments and concerns. If America didn't form direct democracy it could be a chaotic society leading to unrest citizens, and
disobedience. Downside to direct democracy would be harder to make

Democracy: Direct Democracy
We are going to take an in–depth look at how direct democracy works in Florida, and in particular what it means for initiatives, referendums, and
recalls. We will then look at some of the state's important laws that were enacted through the initiative process as well as some of the problems with
the system as it stands today. The state passed a 'Florida Supermajority Requirement Amendment' or better known as 'Amendment 3' in November of
2006 requiring that all constitutional amendments went from a majority (50% = 1) to a supermajority (60%) vote requirement for passage. Ironically
this amendment was approved by a 57.8% vote. The effect that has had and will continue to have on Florida's politics will be looked at as well,
highlighting the good... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is a fairly easy process to understand, but not as easy to qualify for the ballot. You must register with the state as a political party, and then prove via
the number of signatures, 8% of the total number of statewide votes cast in the previous Presidential election, from 13 of the 25 Congressional
districts. The Supervisor of Elections has to verify the signatures, and send it to the State Supreme Court for legality issues. If approved, you then have
to get more signatures, to qualify for the next general election ballot. (League of Women Voters) Theinitiative is then put on the next general election
ballot for the general public to vote yes or no on it. Sixty percent must approve the initiative to make it through to being an Amendment to the
Constitution. The legislature still has the responsibility to implement the new Amendment which can take time, or be held up if the legislators have
their own political agenda that might vary from the will of the people. They can delay or ignore an approved initiative for quite some time if they so
desire. The problem with this system is that only initiatives that are well funded by special interest groups have any real chance of being put onto the
ballot. With the passage of Amendment 3, the supermajority (60%),

Summary Of Direct Democracy For Billionaires
EXPLANATION OF THE KEY TERM Direct democracy is people making laws and regulations in person without representation. An example of a
direct democracy is a town meeting where the people in the community can freely speak their concerns about their community. During this meeting
everyone works together and vote on what actions should be taken (Direct Democracy).
MAJOR ARTICLE SUMMARY The article,"Direct Democracy, for Billionaires" is about the a political system that they implemented in California.
After being in fear that many of their elected politicians are corrupted California tried to stop it. They created their own type of direct democracy. In
their system they created, the people of California submit ballots and signed petitions instead

The Pros And Cons Of A California Government: Direct...
California Government is a direct democracy that has affected the political development positively and negatively
.
Direct democracy often called "pure democracy," is a form of government that allows the citizens to vote directly on laws and policies. (Ginsberg,
Benjamin, & Theodore, "we the people," 2005) The initiative, referendum, and recall are the three powers in direct democracy that allow the citizens to
propose or repeal legislation or remove officials from office and a tool of special interest. ("Initiative, Referendum, Recall information article" & lecture)
The initiative is a citizen can propose constitutional amendments on the ballot without legislature's involvement. (Vechten, "California Politicos", 2015
& lecture) The initiative ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Vechten, "California Politicos", 2015) The winner will use public authority to reform policies that reflect their interest and values. (Vechten,
"California Politicos", 2015) The losers will have the opportunity to beat their opponent again through future ballots if voters agree with their interests
and views. (Vechten, "California Politicos", 2015) Political conflicts have increased due to the initiative process in California which debate controls the
conflict and is either solved through compromise and bargaining. (Vechten, "California Politicos", 2015) The referendum, recall, and initiative
proposed laws with a yes or no response. (Vechten, "California Politicos", 2015)Direct democracy does not include checks and balance, unlike the
Supreme Court. (lecture) Direct democracy involves the citizens of California to decide on the issues, but the citizens may not understand the proposed
law or uninvolved. Improving direct democracy in California would involve the officials to make decisions that reflect the population and not the
official self–interest. For example, Governor Jerry Brown signed the SB 1253, the Ballot Initiative Transparency Act, which strengthens the initiative
process and legislature would "hold hearings months before ballots are printed, allowing lawmakers to make changes" or corrections. (Gardels,
"California Tames Its Direct Democracy",2014) Citizens may lack knowledge of the proposed law and would need more information through
television, news or billboards. California will continue to direct democracy in the government. (Vechten, "California Politicos",

Direct Democracy In Ancient Athens
Can you imagine a community where you weren't allowed to have a vote or say in elections and government choices? The reason you now have a say
in government is because of the development of a direct democracy in Greece. The development of such a government has given many opportunities to
the people. Amy Wilde acknowledged the fact that, "modern–day democratic governments owe a lot to the democracy of ancient Athens,"
("Relationship Between"). The development of a direct democracy in Greece had many positive effects on future societies, such as being the first
government where the people were involved and had a voice.
Between 500–400 B.C., Athens, Greece changed their government system from one of aristocracy or a tyranny to a direct democracy ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The people wanted a voice, they did not want to live in a city–state where they were unhappy and silenced about what took place in their home. They
felt as if their opinion mattered, and they were correct. Democracy gives the people freedom of speech and to speak out in a political matter in
what they believe ("Athenian Democracy."). To be allowed to be part of a community where what you said could change an outcome, meant a lot
to the Greeks. Democracy protected the interests of the people (Breiner). However, Democracy wasn't happily welcomed by all. Plato, a greek
philosopher, acknowledged the fact that democracy gives people who do not have an political experience a say. He argues that many might not be
capable to make such judgements on the law. Although that being said, Democracy still kept rising and most power of government was equally
spread among different social groups and people. Democracy did not only give men the right to vote, but it also gave men the right to run in office
and elections. Political say gave people a sense of involvement, which was like a reward to Athenians. Democracy didn't only positively affect the
people in Greece, but in the future affect many other civilizations

Direct Democracy Vs Indirect Democracy
The strengths and weaknesses of direct democracy versus indirect democracy is an interesting comparison. Direct democracy calls on the people to be
more involved in the making of political decisions as well as calling for a more transparent government to allow the public to make such decisions.
Unfortunately, with direct democracy you have to worry about the possibility of the majority making decisions they're not knowledgeable about and
causing more burdens for the country. Another flaw is it would also leave out the potential needs of the minority. Indirect democracy also produces the
same problem, while the public does vote in the officials' beyond that it's often questionable if they make the decisions based on the majority or the
minority.

Direct Democracy and Athens Essay
Athens was located on the Western Europe specifically it's one of the city on Greece. It was the first birth of democracy and also it was the home of
education, that's included Philosophy, Artists and so many scientists were appeared in Athens. In this city there were so many government came out,
but none of them didn't satisfy what the Athenian people wanted, except one king was called Pericles. He was the first leader who proposed democracy
and made Athens glorious by different directions, those were by their military, economy and by other things. The important thing why we learned about
Athenian history is their astonishing change in the Western Europe . That means they were super smart in Architecture, artist and so many... Show more
In Athenian being a citizen means they have to fulfilled 4 things. Those were "vote in all elections, serve in office if elected, serve on juries and
serve in the military during war". This shows that being citizens means sacrificed themselves for Athens glorification. But the criteria was almost
the same as today democracy, so they were smart and knowledgeable in all direction. During the Golden age the athens were in highly glorified.
For instance, In the "Funeral Oration" Pericles talk about their apotheosis. He said " In short, I say that as a city we are the school of Hellas, while i
doubt if the world can produce a man who, where he has only himself to depend upon, is equal to so many emergencies, and graced by so happy a
versatility, as the Athenian". ( Pericles funeral oration p.4) This quote means Athens are the model and the teacher of allGreece city state and also their
man had different and god gave them different abilities for them, in other word their citizen had distinct. The second one is their building. That means
they were highly in architecture. For instance, " Athenian architecture was of the most important types of art that still survive, which like anthills, are
strong and sturdy. This form of art was extinct in Greece from the end of the Mycenaean

Direct Democracy Within A Representative System
On a very basic level, direct democracy can be seen as mob rule or rule by decree. The system allows the mob to overrule the decisions made by the
government, refusing any consistent social contracts between the citizens. In this pure form, direct democracy cannot even be considered a system of
governance at all. It is not the most fair or just system. (Schneider). In order for any individual to indulge in a causal contract with other members of the
society, it is necessary that they feel that they can rely on the constitution of the society they are contracting with.
Direct democracy is popular currently as an alternative to a failed form called Representative Democracy. The Pirate Party "uses liquid democracy as an
idea to tie votes to expertise and incorporate some aspects of direct democracy within a representative system, but this is a recycled idea from
historical democracy that was replaced for a reason" (Marsh). Before individual voting and secret ballots were established, people were forced out of
voting by the people in a position of power like employers or tyrannical spouses. Liquid democracy is not a new system instead it is a return to a
previously failed one. It advocates corruption, vote buying and accepted rule by demagogues. These were the things that deemed this system of
government not fit to be implemented; there is no logical reason for returning to a failed form of government. Women and minorities fought too hard
for this system to return.

The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy
Access. A strong argument in favor of direct democratic ballot initiatives is that they provide citizens access to the lawmaking process. As
Guetzloe (2001) contended, ballot initiatives can be thought of as "weapons of the people," that is, "tools of direct democracy" that encourage the
"free flow of ideas" (32). This can sometimes be straightforward and positive. Consider Oregon's 1990 seat belt law. As described by Ellis (2002),
this was "a measure requiring all Oregonians to buckle up.... The bill was simple, people could use their own everyday experiences to make an
informed decision, the money expended to qualify and pass the measure was modest, there was no lengthy and costly court challenge, and the policy
change did not produce a host... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Direct democracy is at its best when it stimulates more active participation in the democratic process among citizens. Smith and Tolbert (2004) argued
that although they understand the potential danger of direct democracy by ballot initiative, initiative processes could be very positive for democratic
practices. Members of the public are provided with more education on the issues and voter turnout is higher when such initiatives are on the ballot. In
addition, Bowler and Donovan (2000) found that voters are more capable than political scientists often give them credit for, that is, they are more
capable of becoming informed about the issues and to cast a thoughtful vote. They argue that expensive initiative campaigns actually promote voter
engagement, especially at the partisan level; they also assert that voters use the ballot information guides provided by states, and that such a simple
resource usually provides what voters need in order to come to an informed decision. Similarly, Donovan, Bowler, and McCuan's (2001) research
showed that voters actually get their information from official ballot summaries and media coverage of the ballot initiatives rather than campaign
advertisements and messages. Of course, such confidence in official ballot summaries and the media may be misplaced; ballot summaries are
notoriously confusing and misleading and the media rarely provide the public with substantive information about ballot issues (Sabato et al., 2001b;
Moses

Assess The Difference Between Direct And Representative...
A direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of government wherein the citizens have a direct say.
In a representative democracy is a form of government wherein it's citizens vote for or elect someone to represent them.
People who are born in the direct or pure democracy have a direct say in laws, choices, and issues that affect them or they have a problem with.
People born in a representative democracy can only vote for the people that wanted to be a representative for their city–state.
They did both have the chance to vote for who they wanted, because they might not have liked the person/people that were in charge.
They both had people who tried to trick them into voted for the wrong person when you have your mind set on a certain

Direct Democracy: The Use Of Referendums In Contemporary...
As a method of direct democracy referendums have taken different forms within contemporary politics. Direct democracy is the belief that everyone
over a certain age is able to participate in politics. Referendums are the most commonly used form of direct democracy. A referendum is "the
principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative"
(Merriam–webster.com, 2014). If we examine the use of referendums in political systems it is clear that there is little, if any, justification for using
them. Two polar opposites that demonstrate this point are Switzerland and Slovakia. The former has done reasonably well with their use of
referendums and the latter leaves something to be desired with their use of referendums. There is not a simple answer to the efficacy of direct democracy
, specifically referendums. Despite the positive ideal of direct democracy through the use of referendums, it does not work in practice.
When we first think of direct democracy the immediate benefit that comes to mind is that the populace is given a say in important political decisions.
Ordinary citizens are empowered with the ability to collectively make decisions for themselves, and to participate directly in their government through
referendums. Another benefit is that referendums ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Switzerland is a representative democracy that is mostly run by parliament; however certain laws are brought to the people and decided through
direct democracy. The system of direct democracy that Switzerland runs its country by is simple and has had some success within their country. If
the public wants to add their voice to a law, they are allowed to put almost every law to a vote. To do this they require 50 000 signatures within 100
days of the publication of the law (Harrington, 2005, 5). While Switzerland's laws on referendums are simple they are not without

Athens Direct Democracy
Research Question: How did Athens' system of direct democracy contribute to the success of its military engagements during the 5th century?
Bibliography Tridimas, George. "A political economy perspective of direct democracy in ancient Athens." Constitutional Political Economy 22, no. 1
(March 2011): 58–82. Accessed April 9, 2017. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1007/s10602
–010–9093–5 Athens possessed a very complex
system of government. Since it is still studied to this day there are quite a few factors worth researching. It developed democracy to a higher form and is
highly revered for its ability to institute a system of direct democracy and allow its citizens to contribute to the negotiations in various institutions.
Their ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Editing the research question to include success of military engagements as well as a specific period appeared to be the right choice when reviewing
research. The sources give an excellent perspective to Athens democracy and how it could benefit their society. It is important to have sources that
support the topic sentence and can provide a somewhat thorough analysis of whatever points the writer is attempting to prove or illustrate.
Athens military revolution for the prior assignment was briefly covered in one source, the other sources provided excellent material but did not directly
support the topic sentence. Through editing the research question and more thorough evaluation of the sources, the research better supports the newly
edited research question. It is important to carefully read one's research to avoid such a mistake and instead provide a concise topic that is adequately
supported by the research

Indirect Democracy Vs Direct Democracy
In your own words, explain the difference between a direct and an indirect democracy. There is a difference between a direct and an indirect
democracy. In a direct democracy, individuals make all the decisions themselves. For example, they will vote on proposed laws. In ancient Greece,
there were some examples of direct democracies in some of the city–states that existed. Today, a directdemocracy can be seen when people vote on a
referendum to exceed the tax limit set by law. In local school districts in Wisconsin, the voters must approve the budget and tax levy for a school
district. All voters in the school district may attend the meeting and vote on these issues.
2. What are one advantage and one disadvantage of direct democracy? One advantage

The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy In The United States
Direct democracy is a government in which the people decide. Direct democracy overall is a positive thing, but as with everything, there can be
some dangers. Direct democracy is a form of democracy in which the people are able to vote and form consensus on policies directly. The people have
the power of recall, which gives the public the power to remove elected officials from office before the end of their term if they do not feel they are
doing a great job. California voters are also able to help make laws by creating ballot propositions. Propositions are ideas voters have for new laws or
changes to the constitution. Direct democracy in California started in the early 1900's, when many citizens in California were unhappy with the state
government. The citizens then created a system of initiatives and referendums. Initiative is a proposal for a new law and a referendum allows the
citizens to vote for or against a law that the state assembly has passed. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Direct democracy is supposed to promote a cooperative community, people have the power to speak for their opinions. It promotes civic
involvement and a meaningful society where informed decisions are not just made by the government but by the public as well. The citizens are
able to learn the important information they need in order to understand issues of the government and laws that are implemented. In a direct
democracy the people are able to feel that their voice matters and that if the majority of the public is against a law or feels that a person in office is
not living up to what they said, they have the right to either fix the law or remove the person from office. This feeling of a voice makes the public
more willing to get involved and care about the

Advantages Of Direct Democracy
Direct Democracy There is a lot of controversy over which government is the best, and honestly I don't think there really is a best form of
government but I believe there that some are better than others. Direct Democracy definitely has its flaws, it is the best option open to us at this time.
It gives the people the power to get what they want. America is already a form of Democracy, it's a Representative Democracy. So direct Democracy is
not too far fetched.
Direct democracy, also known as pure democracy, is where the people vote to on or form consensus on policy initiatives directly. The word
democracy literally means "rule by the people". The United States today is a representative democracy. Which is a democracy in which the people...
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From 1995 to 2005 swiss citizens voted over 30 different times, while the french citizens only voted twice. In direct democracies the citizens have most
of the power.
We want rights, freedom, and equality. But we also need some sort of structure. As people we need a say in how we live our lives but we cannot
just do as we please. We can't have the government gaining too much power but we need to still be controlled. Harmony in all aspects is what we
are sought after, we want and need a balance. Direct democracy is a way to get citizens involved and united. It helps keep the government
transparent, you cannot make promises to the people and then not keep them because you run the risk of the people removing you from power. It
holds everyone accountable, the officials to do what they promised and to fix the problems within society and the people to keep their government
going in the right direction. "The individual is foolish, the species is wise." (Burke). Together we are better. There are also some pros to having a
direct democracy, when the people want to see change, they appeal and they vote. Which would truly be a government "for the people, by the people",
protecting our interests. There is a "checks–and–balances" system that makes sure the power gets distributed. Democracy also promotes equality,
allows for change, doesn't put too much power in the hands

Barriers To Direct Democracy
Our democratic system was made by the Framers to "set up a series of barriers to direct citizen participation in the selection of our leaders.
"Examples of these barriers are the Electoral College for selecting the president and presidential appointment of judges." The reasons for these
barriers was the keep the people from having complete direct participation in choosing the President and members of the judiciary, because the
population(usually less wealthy and less educated) would have total power over laws. There are positives and negatives of these "barriers." There
are 2 main positives to these barriers on direct citizen participation. One positive is that they save time. Could you imagine if the country voted on
every single law? It would take too long to have everyone vote, and too difficult of a process with setting up voting locations and times for everyone to
get the chance to vote on every law, which would run very expensive. By voting in representatives it takes out the time and difficult constraints of a
direct democracy. The second positive to the barriers on direct ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One negative aspects is that the elected officials might not represent the population. They could vote a different way than what the population thinks,
which is totally legal. The officials might have different living standards like wealth, which could shape their beliefs to be different than the
population. Officials could take back promises on legislature that they made during their campaign, which may be why some people voted for them.
For example, President Lyndon B. Johnson told the American people that he would not be engaging in more warfare in Vietnam, but during his time
in office he sent more soldiers and military help to Vietnam to help with the war. Officials aren't legally held accountable for it; therefore, some
officials might lie about political positions on topics to get more

Direct Democracy : The Five Forms Of Democracy
The ideas of democracy traces back to the ancient Greek word
'dД“mokratГa',
meaning the people hold the power. From this many forms of democracy have come to light and are now used globally. Looking at the types, there are
about five main types of democracy; including direct, representative, parliamentary, constitutional, and presidential. Each form has its upsides and its
downsides, and the form which a nation follows should be completely up the nation.
Starting off, direct democracy is a form in which the citizens have all the power. They participate actively in the government, and help guide the
future of a nation. Direct Democracy is referred to as a 'pure form of democracy' because it makes everyone equal, and puts no one in ... Show more
Alongside this a vote requiring every citizen for even minor decisions like highway speeds, becomes a bit ridiculous.
"Deciding whose voices to listen to and whose voices are not important is not a decision that can be made easily and can lead people not to believe in
direct democracy."
4
When people start to doubt the government, it reduces public involvement. Every member would be required to participate in order for it to be
properly effective. Lastly, the tensions that arise from direct democracy can be a hassle to deal with. When you have a large group of people where
it is nearly impossible to get anything done; large issues immediately become a problem. A country must be able to act fast and reliably, especially in
today's world, meaning direct democracy is almost impossibility. Regardless, some nations such as Switzerland continue on a legacy of direct
democracy, and many of its methods of how the government
4
(OCCUPY THEORY 2015)
4
run, are based heavily on the ideas of a direct democracy.
5
A direct democracy is one of the many forms of democracy; however it was the first method of democracy, but soon became irrelevant to most nations.
Next on, representative democracy is a form in which the citizens make the decisions, however the political power is handled through a few
'representatives' who are elected by the people. This

Athenian Democracy: Direct Democracy In Ancient Greece
III. Government
Direct democracy, which was ruled by the whole citizens rather than elected representative, was the powerful governmental form during the Golden
Age of Greece, precisely in the city–state of Athens. Nevertheless, there were limitation for women, foreigners and slaves as they had no political
rights in the state. Only adult male citizens, who were born Athenians and completed two year of military training, could join the assembly. The
Athenian democracy system at that time based mainly on three main pillars, naming People's Assembly, Council of 500 men and People's Court, along
with other less important institutions as well.
The assembly met around 40 times a year on the Pnyx hill to address variety issues, such as receiving

Comparing Direct Democracy And Representative Democracy
There are two types of democracies, direct democracy and representative democracy. As one would expect, the two are very similar. Direct
democracy and representative democracy are both systems of government in which power lies with the people whom are govern though the power of
voting. The power of voting is how both systems emphasis the importance of people's rights. There is also a common sense of self–empowerment to
the people being govern in both types of government due to this right. Furthermore, there is a mutual prominence towards majority rule in the two
systems.
Despite their similarities, direct democracy and representative democracy have some important differences that distinct on from the other. One of the
key differences is in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Once we established our independence from Great Britain, the first priority was to outline the future for America beginning with the Articles of
Confederation. Due to the oppressive rule of Britain, the Founding Fathers thought that an ideal federal government would be one with exceptionally
limited power. Therefore, under the Articles of Confederation, the states would remain independent and sovereign, meaning the power was vested
within the states. The federal government's purpose was simply to be a last resort to resolve any disputes that occurred between states, and to preside
over international affairs, i.e. alliances and treaties. Additionally, the federal government maintained armed forces, and was responsible for circulating
currency. However, the federal government was incapable of levying taxes and regulating commerce, issues that eventually required revisions, which
led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. At the Constitutional Conventional, the delegates concurred that a stronger central authority was
necessary, enabling the federal government to have more power and control. Was this a good idea? Not necessarily. The past has shown us many
unfortunate instances that did not have to happen, but had because of the federal government vying for powers belonging rightfully to the states. That
is why we believe that

The Ambivalence of Direct Democracy Essay
The California Constitution states, "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and
they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require." (CA Const. art. 2, sect. 1) Indeed, the age–old maxim that the government
is for the people is evident in California's Constitution, and the inception of direct democracy by the early 20th century Progressive movement follows
this ideology. The 2nd article of California's constitution includes three forms of direct democracy: the initiative, referendum, and recall. Respectively,
these forms of direct democracy grant electors the power to propose statutes and amendments, adopt or reject statutes and ... Show more content on
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Direct democracy's initiative sounds appealing in theory, but realistically, history has shown that the average voter is incapable of truly assessing the
effects and repercussions of these ballot proposals. This is clearly exemplified by Proposition 13, an initiative that, as author Isaac Martin states,
became a "nationwide symbol of tax revolt" (Martin). Proposition 13 essentially set the property tax rate to 1% and stated that the assessed value of
homes could not exceed the 1975–76 assessed value. This reduced taxes by about 57% (californiataxdata.com), a truly drastic decrease, which
translates to a loss of $7 billion in property taxes during the 1978–79 fiscal year (McCaffery & Bowman, 530). Consequently, Proposition 13 led to
intense repercussions; the huge decreases in finances forced local agencies to look for funding elsewhere, and severe cuts were made. The Los Angeles
Times conducted a survey of 70 southern school districts and found that two–thirds of them had eliminated or sharply curtailed summer school. Also,
Long Beach school sent layoff notices to nearly half of its staff of teachers, and by June 28th there was a total of 3,252 estimated layoffs with 165,000
imminent layoffs. The repercussions continued, with prices escalating to cover the decline of financing. And ironically,

Difference Between Direct And Direct Democracy
The differences and similarities between Direct and Representative Democracy
Direct democracy can also be called a pure democracy. It is a form of direct participation from citizens for democratic decision making to indirect or
representative democracies. This can happen in the form of an assembly democracy or by initiative with ballot voting. Sometimes the term is also
used for electing representatives in a direct vote. This vote is opposed to an electing body as well for reselecting elected officeholders. Direct
democracy may be also known to others as a system of political institutions. In general, the term direct democracy refers to citizens making policies
and law decisions with other citizens. This should not go through representatives and legislatures. There is a third approach to direct democracy
which is called the initiative process. This process is for a number of states which allows anyone to propose a law. If they can get enough of their
fellow citizens sign a petition it can be voted on by the entire electorate in the next election. This process has been co–opted by special interest groups;
in these groups they have interests who put initiatives on the ballot to increase their wealth and power in disguise as public benefits. Since the monies
interests have more resources to hire petition and signature gatherers to run advertising campaigns based on extensive marketing surveys. They use a
PR which is a devious, last minute blitzes that can't be answered

Direct Democracy In The UK
Direct democracy is a structure of government that all citizens vote on policy proposals directly, and the result is uncovered by the amount of votes.
For example, Cooter and Gilbert (2010, pp. 687–730) said in their latest research, "Citizens in many states use direct democracy to make laws on
everything from soda bottles and horse meat to affirmative action and same–sex marriage". There are many benefits to this structure; firstly, a responsive
government is formed to the general wish of the public, meaning they can gain results quickly by voting. Secondly, in the words of Mautner (2000,
pp.19) "Direct democracy satisfy human dignity and minimise conflicts, eliminate wars and save human lives. It can also cause promote human rights
and minimize ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This only works if there is a real competition for freedom of expression, leadership and if voters believe there is a significant choice. Dr Alman
Leroy's research says that, "Representative democracy, according to its underlying and supporting political theory, is far superior to direct
democracy." This is often portrayed as the only democracy possible in mass societies. An example of this is theUnited States, where they elect
members of Congress and a President. All of the officials listen to the population and act on what they think is best for the nation. The US, today, is
one of the most stable democracies in the world. Other examples of this are the UK and Germany, who instead have a parliamentary system where the
Prime Minister, instead of its own executive branch, is part of the legislative branch. Every five years in the UK, citizens have the opportunity to vote
for who they wish to represent them. Once elected, MPs then gather at the House of Commons to converse over matters and decide on what would
become British law. This proves that representative democracies are much more practical for larger nations than direct democracy. Due to
representative democracy being the most commonly used structure out of the three types, it proves that it is the most preferred in contemporary

Essay on Direct Democracy vs Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy vs Representative Democracy
The term Democracy is derived from two Greek words, demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning rule. These two words form the word
democracy which means rule by the people. Aristotle, and other ancient Greek political philosophers, used the phrase, `the governors are to be the
governed', or as we have come to know it, `rule and be ruled in turn'. The two major types of democracy are Representative Democracy and Direct
Democracy. Clearly the arguments for and against each form of democracy are plentiful. However, it is my belief that theoretically, Direct Democracy
is the superior form of political rule. Due to problems with in the direct democratic system, its use as a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But, it is very possible, that through discussion an agreement could be reached by all members. Representation, on the other hand allows a select few
to make decisions in their own best interest, which is not necessarily the best interest of the society. However, direct democracy is not the perfect
method to produce a union of the community. For a direct democracy to work, face to face communication between all members of the community is
needed. The only way this is possible is to meet in large groups. Due to the fear of high tension, many citizens
"will not participate in these large group meeting. So in order for these fearful people to voice their opinions they must get together in smaller, less
tensions groups, where they are not as timid to say as they wish to see happen.
A direct democracy can only work in a small group, so as a form of government for an entire community or country, direct democracy would
definitely fail. As the membership increases, people become less involved. Once the membership reaches the size of a country, the participation still
exists, but is limited to as low as it can go. Thus in a country, any form of direct democracy is only possible in individual communities. In order for a
committee small enough to operate on direct democracy principles to have any authority at all, it must represent a much

Ancient Greece: Direct Democracy
If you time travel back to the time of Ancient Greece, you will notice many things that are different from now, including the type of government in
their society. If you go to say, the City of Athens around 500 B.C.E you'll find they have a Democracy that's a bit different than the one we have today
in the United States. Demokratia or rule of the people was introduced by Cleisthenes a noble Athenian Leader. For about one hundred years Athens was
a direct democracy, unlike the United States that has a Representative Democracy. Though, since you can't time travel I'll explain to you just what I'm
talking about.
As I said before Ancient Greece was a Direct Democracy. Meaning any free man could speak in an assembly, vote on a new law, propose to go to
war or run the city's any to day business. As you can tell in the U.S it's very different, we vote for representatives who decide issues for us in our
name. In Athens specifically every year five hundred names were drawn from a pool of all citizens in Athens.The citizens chosen from the pool
would have to serve for a year, and no longer. How this worked was that the five hundred chosen from the pool would have ... Show more content on
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For example in Athens, a city–state in Ancient Greece women and slaves were not considered citizens, therefore they couldn't vote or participate in
an assembly. But in the U.S. anyone who was born in the country, gained citizenship through a green card, or met the basic requirement could be a
citizen. Another example is that in Greece the chosen leaders were random and basically "pulled out of a hat". In the U.S. we vote on people we
believe are fit for the job there running for. The five hundred in who were chosen each year in Ancient Greece all had the same amount of power, but
in the U.S. we have different levels of power like the President, Vice President, and so

Direct Democracy And Representative Democracy In The...
Direct Democracy is one type of politic, and also direct democracies have good part for USA. People may like the people who like help the citizen.
Direct democracy means is a form of democracy in which people decide policy initiatives directlyпјЊand direct democracy places all power in the
hands of the individual. In this time, we know about representative democracy is dominant in USA right now. The representative democracy means, is
a type of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy Nearly all modern
western–style democracies are types of representative democracies пјЊSo I think would use in United States. The first reason is one people to do the
decision is not good for citizen. The second reason is direct democracy are more legitimacy; this is because more people can consider or care about
the law. The third reason is technology can letgovernment not corruption, which means people will make better life and decision than before. First, the
advantage of the direct democracy is that most people can make do the own vote. Currently when country have problem, congress will make the
decision, because there are the representatives in the country. This means representatives chooses what they debate and discuss and what happens in
government.
They will do debate and discuss to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
So which means пјЊ'Anytime political power is held by few men, or even a few hundred as in a representative democracy, there is always an
opportunity for corruption as powerful interests can focus all their attention and money on swaying only a relatively small group of political players '.
so if the government control much power, and many company can pay money for them and change the decision. This is bad for citizen, and it it un fair
to anyone, and nobody want to like

Differences And Similarities Between Direct Democracy And...
Introduction
Growing up I didn't really pay much attention to other types of government, I mean I didn't really care about them since I didn't have to worry about
living in a different type of government. I was proud to live in our comfortable, free country of America and how we took care of our issues by
electing a representative to vote or represent everyone's position equally. In my Government 280 class is the first time I have had to really learn more
about the different types of government and understand and be able to compare the differences and similarities. In this paper I will be analyzing the
differences and similarities between direct democracy and constitutional democracy, just two of the many governments I have been learning so much
about. There are so many differences from the involvement of the people and the way issues are handled by the officials.
Direct Democracy
A direct democracy is also known as a PURE democracy or a 'Popular democracy'. In a direct democracy people are able to vote on things directly,
making sure that everyone is involved in the decision making (Britannica). This type of government was actually used in ancient Greece where
CITIZENS [in the time of ancient Greece, citizens were only free adult men] were involved in referendums [A direct vote which an entire group of
voters is invited to vote on a specific proposal (Dictionary)]. Direct democracy actually can be found in many forms, Mandatory referendums,
referendums of

California's Direct Means of Democracy Essay
California is a democratic republic consisting of three branches of government. The first is the executive branch, i.e. the governor and a group of
elected constitutional officers. Second is the judicial branch which consists of the Supreme Court of California and the various local courts. Officials
are appointed by the Governor and ratified in the next general election. The third branch of government in California is the legislative branch. It is a
bicameral body which includes California's Senate and Assembly. The Assembly makes up the lower house of the California StateLegislature and
consists of eighty members, one representative from each county, who serve for up to three two year terms. There are forty state senators who are able
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In 1910, California Progressive Party member Hiram Johnson ran for governor. "Restore absolute sovereignty to the people that we may yet live in
a free republic" was his slogan. In years prior to the election Californians began to notice a trend in their state government. Californians were not
being represented properly by the legislature (Kesler). This is a reflection of California at the time. The gold rush had brought massive amounts of
people into the state. This led to an unprecedented opportunity for new business. The Southern Pacific Railroad among other big business infiltrated
politics and corruption followed for decades. Law makers passed laws which benefited them. The Progressives sought to give the people greater say in
making and dismantling legislation. In doing so the Legislative branch lost power.
To accomplish their goal in 1911 they enacted the ballot measures in order for citizens to bypass legislature approval and have a measure placed on the
ballot. An initiative is a proposal for a new law that allows any citizen or organization to gather a state defined amount of citizen signatures to qualify.
Another ballot measure enacted by the Progressives is a popular eferendum. This allows citizens to create a ballot measure to repeal a specific
legislative act by gaining a predetermined number of signatures. "Voters ratified these amendments in a special election of October 10, 1911" (Initiative
& Reform Institute).
Since their enactment,

What Is Direct Democracy
Direct democracy, refers to citizens participating personally in making government decisions, without going through representatives and legislatures. It
gives citizens an great amount of participation in the legislation process and granting them a maximum of political self–determination. Switzerland is a
good example of a country that has a long tradition in direct democracy. This country has been practising this way of democracy since 1291. Nowadays
the modern system of direct democracy lie in an experimental phase of democracy in the 19th century,this because of the monarchies throughout
Europe and their little enthusiasm shown for democracy.
Direct Democracy is the key to Switzerland's famous political stability. If an overall majority

Direct Democracy Vs Representative Democracy Essay
Direct Democracy vs Representative Democracy
The term Democracy is derived from two Greek words, demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning rule. These two words form the word democracy
which means rule by the people. Aristotle, and other ancient Greek political philosophers, used the phrase, `the governors are to be the governed', or
as we have come to know it, `rule and be ruled in turn'.
The two major types of democracy are Representative Democracy and Direct
Democracy. Clearly the arguments for and against each form of democracy are plentiful. However, it is my belief that theoretically, Direct Democracy
is the superior form of political rule. Due to problems with in the direct democratic system, its use as a practical ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
It is not even thinkable that all citizens will agree on what good is. Rousseau recognized this and accepted a term of majority rule. Those who voted
against a policy which is found to be the best for the general, must have been thinking of personal gains, rather than the gains of the entire society.
The feature which distinguishes direct democracy from other forms of government is the idea of agreement and the key to agreement is discussion. It
is impossible to reach an agreement without discussion, because it is not right to think that everybody will have the same opinion on all matters. But, it
is very possible, that through discussion an agreement could be reached by all members. Representation, on the other hand allows a select few to make
decisions in their own best interest, which is not necessarily the best interest of the society.
However, direct democracy is not the perfect method to produce a union of the community. For a direct democracy to work, face to face
communication between all members of the community is needed. The only way this is possible is to meet in large groups. Due to the fear of high
tension, many citizens
"will not participate in these large group meeting. So in order for these fearful people to voice their opinions they must get together in smaller, less
tensions groups, where they are not as timid to say as they wish to see happen.
A direct democracy can only work in a small group, so as a form of government for an

Federalist No.10вЂ™s Faction and Direct Vs. In Direct Democracy
In Federalist No.10, James Madison discusses his theories about faction. In doing this, he persuades the new Constitution and how it should be
enacted. He believed factions were the number one cause of the failure of the Articles of Confederation. The definition of a faction is a group of
people forming a minority group within a larger group, to seek some goal within a political party or government. Madison describes faction differently
in Federalist No.10, but in actuality the definitions have the same meaning. Madison's definition is derived from a listing of requirements. Requirement
number one indicates that factions are determined by the number of citizens. Citizens of a government share a common interest which makes them a ...
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In doing so, he proposes that the government should regulate the interest of society so faction is not easily formed. Regulation should be the
legislature's principal task in creating a more united society. Without focus on principal tasks, Madison describes how chaotic the faction can
become. To prevent this, the government should be an empowered body of people, who come together to make and change laws. No one person
should have to the power to judge their own opinions. Giving a person the power of judging themselves can cause many bias, and therefore being
inactive. There is no cure for faction. Madison explains that the only way to deal with causes of faction is by controlling its effects. This is where the
constitution comes into play, providing security of the public good and the rights of other citizens. To assure constitution,democracy is enacted to form
a more civilized community governed by the people. The way democracy is organized is determined by the ideas of being direct or indirect. Direct
Democracy is defined by people as a whole who make direct decisions, rather than having decisions made by other representatives. In Madison's
Federalist No.10 he states, "a pure democracy can admit of no cure for the mischief's of factions

Direct Democracy In Ancient Greek City
Direct democracy derives its power from citizens debating and voting directly on all laws and policies. Ancient Greek City–State portrayed direct
democracy by allowing the legislature to be made up of all the citizens. To add, women, foreigners, and slaves were excluded because they weren't
citizens. Furthermore, participation is key, concluding that direct democracy is carried out most easily in small political communities. Due to spread of
democratic policies, representative democracy was established. It's defined as a form of government in which citizens elect a representative to take
charge of all laws and policies. Elections are held for government officials, universal suffrage allows all adults to take action and vote for their
representative.

Direct Democracy In Plato's The Republic
Madison's statement on how pure democracies cannot cure factions is evident through the example of Athens during Ancient Greece. The Athenian
model of a pure democracy is the product of a majority self–interested faction who overruled the government, and this ultimately leads to mob rule, as
Plato explained in The Republic. Athens, one of the world's first direct democracies, had been created on the belief that average man could be
depended upon to do what is right for his community. A directdemocracy, by definition, is a democracy in which the power to govern lies directly in
the hands of the people rather than being exercised through their representatives. (The Free Dictionary.) However, participation to political issues was
very limited. Of the forty thousand adult males who are allowed to participate in political affairs, less than a sixth actually did so. Moreover, slaves,
women, or people of the lower class remained without a voice in political affair. Thus, democracy indeed brought greater ... Show more content on
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Plato proves Madison's ideas to be true as he describes the cause and effect from full liberty to disunity to finally an anarchy. In this case, disunity
would mean the existence of factions. He states that it is the fundamental ideal, liberty, which a direct democracy is built on that would lead to all
other problems. Because direct democracy promotes full liberty leads to anarchy, it also means that social disunity can emerge. Plato proceeds to
explain that that inherent class tensions will cause disunity in a direct democracy, since people of different classes do not show respect to each
other. "It [democratic society] goes on to abuse as servile and contemptible those who obey the authorities and reserves its approval, in private life as
well as public, for rulers who behave like subjects and subjects who behave like rulers." (Plato 1955, p.299)This in turn leads to anarchy and

The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy

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The Pros And Cons Of Direct Democracy