Difference between revisions of "Direct democracy"
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| − | + | Direct democracy is the political idea of pure rule of the people. In its purest form, direct democracy consists of all citizens voting on every issue that comes up. But voting on every single issue is quite time consuming for the average citizen. Moreover, this system can only be effective in a small territory having a small population, which allows the citizens to come together and vote. Direct participation of citizens becomes quite problematic indeed if the territory is big and the population isn’t small either. | |
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| + | As such, the most popular form of direct democracy is the so called semi-direct democracy, in which the citizens have a direct say in a part of the legislative process. Citizens vote in referenda to approve or reject certain categories of legal documents (most often national and regional laws and constitutions), yet they also have the ability to initiate the law-making process by submitting a project to the local legislative authority. | ||
| − | + | Such a semi-direct democracy is present in the [[Grand Duchy]] of [[Tarasovka]] where the People (the electorate) has a direct say in Grand Ducal (national) as well as Fiefdom (regional) laws. Moreover, the Fiefdoms themselves have a say in referenda on the amendment of the Grand Ducal Constitution. Taraskovyan citizens, as well as the Fiefdoms, have the ability to submit the projects of laws and amendments to the constitution to the Parliament and then to the nation wide referendum on the issue. | |
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| + | Elements of direct democracy can be efficiently adapted to any form of government, be it monarchy or republic. | ||
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[[Category: Political theories]] | [[Category: Political theories]] | ||
Revision as of 20:46, 18 February 2006
Direct democracy is the political idea of pure rule of the people. In its purest form, direct democracy consists of all citizens voting on every issue that comes up. But voting on every single issue is quite time consuming for the average citizen. Moreover, this system can only be effective in a small territory having a small population, which allows the citizens to come together and vote. Direct participation of citizens becomes quite problematic indeed if the territory is big and the population isn’t small either.
As such, the most popular form of direct democracy is the so called semi-direct democracy, in which the citizens have a direct say in a part of the legislative process. Citizens vote in referenda to approve or reject certain categories of legal documents (most often national and regional laws and constitutions), yet they also have the ability to initiate the law-making process by submitting a project to the local legislative authority.
Such a semi-direct democracy is present in the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka where the People (the electorate) has a direct say in Grand Ducal (national) as well as Fiefdom (regional) laws. Moreover, the Fiefdoms themselves have a say in referenda on the amendment of the Grand Ducal Constitution. Taraskovyan citizens, as well as the Fiefdoms, have the ability to submit the projects of laws and amendments to the constitution to the Parliament and then to the nation wide referendum on the issue.
Elements of direct democracy can be efficiently adapted to any form of government, be it monarchy or republic.
