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It is a representative democracy. In a direct democracy, citizens vote directly on issues concerning the community, while in a representative democracy, the citizens vote on people to represent them in making the decisions.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe United States is a Representative Democracy. The rest of this answer is intended to make sure you have the complete answer, but all you need to know is that the USA is a Representative Democracy.
You and I don't decide whether to increase the size of the military (an example), our elected officials do. We elect these people to go to Washington to represent us, hence the term Representative Democracy.
In a Direct Democracy, everyone votes on every issue. However if every citizen was in Washington debating and voting on things, then the factories wouldn't be running and the banks would be closed. Instead we choose one from among us (our "representative") whose task is to understand the issues and make choices that are best for us. If we don't feel that they have been making the best choices then we choose somebody else to represent us when the next election comes.
There are some elements of Direct Democracy in our country however. Occasionally, citizens can vote directly on "ballot questions". These Ballot Questions usually appear on a ballot when you go to vote in November. These are cases where you can directly tell the government what you personally would like to see happen, rather than depend on your elected official to make the decision for you. An example might be "should we put fluoride in the water?". If more people vote yes than no, then it is deemed to have passed.
There is one further complication. The United States is not formally a democracy. It is what is known as an "indirect democracy" (or a James Madison Republic), because although we vote for president every four years, our votes do not select our president. The president is actually chosen by a group of 538 people, called the Electoral College. The Electoral College always follows the will of the people in selecting a president, however it does not have to.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoDemocracy is a political concept. Democracy is subdivided into two forms---representative and direct. If you're talking about the federal government, then the US is a representative democracy---meaning, we elect our representatives in the legislature and executive branches, where then those representatives will make, vote, and approve laws. Direct democracy--meant that the people themselves will make, vote, and approve laws. Direct democracy only occurs in state and local governments.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe U.S. is technically a representative republic, not a democracy.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agorepresentative
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To what extent is the US a direct democracy a representative democracy or a republic?
In what ways, and to what extent, is the U.S. a democracy?
Does the US have a pure democracy?
No. See the related question below.almost. only Greece has a full democracy
How is representative democracy used in the US government?
Representative Democracy is where the people elect representatives on their behalf. Examples of this in the United States is the representatives in the House of Representative and the Senate.
What are the kinds of democracy?
direct, representative
Why doesnt the US practice direct democracy?
The founding fathers didn't want to put the country in a position in which we need to worry about tyranny of the majority. This is why we have two Houses in Congress, and why we have the three main branches of federal government.
Does the US have a direct democracy?
No, the US has a representative democracy.
Does the US have a direct democracy or a representative democracy?
Representative. We vote for people to represent us.
What is the difference between direct Direct democracy and representative democracy?
a direct democracy people vote on policies directly, a representative democracy people vote for representatives who then present a plan
How did the direct democracy in the US form?
The United States is a representative republic, not a direct democracy, as a result, the question is unanswerable. As for how the US became a representative republic, this was through the approval of the US Constitution of 1789, which is still in power today.
To what extent is the US a direct democracy a representative democracy or a republic?
In what ways, and to what extent, is the U.S. a democracy?
Why is direct democracy impractical in US today?
it's impractical because the U.S is a large country, and that makes it representative democracy.
Why is Representative the only practical democracy the US can have?
With 300 million people in the US, it is not possible to have a Direct Democracy. The number is just too great to work.
Why is the US a direct democracy?
The US is a representative democracy, not a direct democracy. The Founders thought that the American people needed to have distance from the policies that would be considered to prevent mob-rule and keep voting among the more educated persons.
Did the framers of the Constitution created a system of a government based on the principles of direct democracy?
NO. The United States is a representative democracy and its Constitution gives no provisions for direct democracy.
Does the US have a pure democracy?
No. See the related question below.almost. only Greece has a full democracy
What countries are representative democracies?
Many countries that have democratically elected governments practice representative democracy. Countries like the US, the UK and most of the western countries practice representative democracy.
What are the two types of democracy?
Direct and indirect democracy. There is Direct democracy, which is also called a pure democracy, that exists where the will of the people is translated into public policy (law) directly by the people themselves, in mass meetings. There is also Inderect democracy where a representative is chosen to represent a larger group of people. These select few represent the popular will of the people. ( This is the type of Democracy the US uses)
