Direct & Representative democracy

• Direct democracy


  When people express their opinions themselves rather than a representative doing it for them
• Direct democracy


  • Referendums
  • E-petitions
• Advantages of direct democracy


  • Legitimacy to political decisions since people decide themselves
  • Decisive and avoids excessive debate
  • Decisions made by people can't be overturned by leaders
• Disadvantages of direct democracy

  • Issues may be too complex for people to judge
  • People may be swayed in judgement through emotional appeals and false claims - not enough info to make rational decision
  • People can't be held accountable for their decisions
• Representative democracy


  Voters elect politicians to make decisions on their behalf
• Advantages of representative democracy

  • Politicians have expert knowledge and experience
  • Politicians are more rational and not swayed in judgement
  • Politicians are democratically accountable and behave in responsible way
• Disadvantages of representative democracy


  • MPs may be more interested in party politics than national interest
  • Parties elect MPs, control over members
  • No guarantee that MPs reflect view of constituents
  • FPTP produces highly unrepresentative vote
• reforms to strengthen participation


  • Reducing the voting age to 16
  • Compulsory voting
  • Greater use of direct democracy, such as referendums and recall and e-petitions
  • Introduction of e-voting
  • Constitutional reform, such as the House of Lords reform
  • A change to the voting system to proportional representation