Democracy: Difference between revisions

'''Representative democracy''' also called [[File:Repdemgen.png]] '''Republican democracy''' or '''indirect democracy''' is a form of government in which the people elect representatives who administer, establish and execute all the interests of the population. This is by far the most common variant, with almost all established democracies currently using it.

'''Semi-direct democracy''' (also called a '''Participatory Democracy''') is a variant of democracy that combines direct and representative democracy. In this system, the rulers are elected by the people, but the citizens maintain sovereignty through, for example: referendum, public consultation, popular initiative and revocation of the mandate. It is currently practiced in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and at the local level in most of the United States.

'''Direct Democracy''' is a variant where the population is given full control over policy making rather then having to elect legislators like in a Representative Democracy. Historically practiced in Ancient Greece in the city of [[File:Athdem.png]] [[Athenian Democracy|Athens]], [[File:Jack.png]] [[Jacobinism|Revolutionary France]] and the [[File:Soc-h.png]] [[Socialism|Paris Commune]], it is nowadays practiced in the autonomous region of [[File:Rojava.png]] [[Democratic Confederalism|Rojava]] and in [[File:Zapa.png]] [[Neozapatismo|Chiapas]].

'''Defensive democracy''' is a term referring to the collection of laws, delegated legislation, and court rulings which limit certain rights and freedoms in a democratic society in order to protect the existence of the state, its democratic character, institutions and human rights. The term describes a major conflict that may emerge in a democratic country between compliance with democratic values, particularly freedom of association and the right to be elected, and between preventing anti-democratic parties, groups and persons from abusing these principles.

In certain democratic states there are additional special distinctions, supported by a notable section of the population, which justify the use of defensive democracy. However, the question of in what situations the use of defensive democracy is justified without this being considered excessive repression of civil rights is disputed. To some extent this can be argued to be a form of [[File:IllibDem.png]] [[Illiberal Democracy]].