Kinds of democracy

Direct democracy: all citizens take part directly in every decision. Some forms of it are used in a few countries, like Switzerland. But it's very hard in big countries. Imagine India making one law by asking 140 crore people, one by one: "Your view? And yours?" Years would pass and no law would be made! (The same problem as everyone joining the school committee.)

Representative democracy: people elect representatives through universal adult franchise, as in India. The people don't govern directly, but the government is always accountable: it must answer to the people who elected it.

Elections let people change their choice, so they happen at regular, fixed times: in India general elections are every five years; in the USA, every four.

Representative democracy comes in two forms. Easy way to tell them apart: count the elections for the national government.

Parliamentary (like India): you vote once, for the legislature (your MP). The executive comes out of it: the prime minister and council of ministers are also MPs. They stay in office only while they have the confidence of the legislature (in India, the Lok Sabha). People elect the legislature, but not the executive directly.

Presidential (like the USA): people vote for the legislature and, separately, for the president. The executive works independently, and the president doesn't need the legislature's confidence to keep the job.

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