In contrast to direct democracy, representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy, is a type of democracy in which elected people represent a group of people. It is a form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them. Almost all modern Western-style democracies, such as the United Kingdom (a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), Germany (a federal parliamentary republic), France (a unitary semi-presidential republic), and the United States (a federal presidential republic), operate as some form of representative democracy. It is a type of democracy that combines elements of direct democracy with the realities of large-scale governance.
Representative democracy can be used in both the parliamentary and presidential systems of government. It usually takes place in a lower chamber, such as the House of Commons in the United Kingdom or the Lok Sabha in India, but it can be limited by constitutional constraints such as an upper chamber and judicial review of legislation. Representative democracy has been described as polyarchy by some political theorists (including Robert Dahl, Gregory Houston, and Ian Liebenberg).
The main features of representative democracy include:
- Elections and Political Parties: Representatives are elected in regular elections. Citizens have the right to vote and choose the candidate or political party who they believe best represents their interests. Political parties are essential in representative democracies. They organize the political process and provide a platform for candidates. Parties may have opposing ideologies, and citizens can choose between them based on their personal preferences.
- Separation of Powers: Representative democracies usually have a system of checks and balances in place to prevent power concentration. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches are distinct entities with distinct functions, ensuring that no single body wields complete power.
- Rule of Law: Representative democracies uphold the principle of the rule of law, which means that laws apply equally to all citizens, including elected officials. This principle ensures that the government operates within legal boundaries and protects individual rights and liberties.
- Pluralism: Representative democracies embrace pluralism, which means that diverse interests, opinions, and viewpoints can be represented in the political process. This allows for a variety of perspectives to be considered in decision-making.
- Accountability and Transparency: Elected representatives are accountable to the citizens who elected them. They are expected to act in the best interests of their constituents and can be held accountable through regular elections and other mechanisms. Transparency in government processes and decision-making is also crucial to maintain public trust.
Power is concentrated in the hands of representatives elected by the people in a representative democracy. If electoral systems require or encourage voters to vote for political parties or candidates associated with political parties (rather than voting for individual representatives), political parties frequently become central to this form of democracy.
Citizens exercise political power indirectly in a representative democracy by electing representatives to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf. Depending on the country’s structure, these representatives may be elected at various levels of government, such as local, regional, or national.
Representative democracy is widely practiced worldwide and is regarded as one of the most common forms of democratic governance. It strikes a balance between direct participation and practical governance by giving citizens a say in decision-making through their elected representatives.
