direct democracy

noun

plural direct democracies

: democracy in which the power is exercised directly by the people rather than through representatives : a form of government in which the people vote directly against or in favor of decisions, policies, laws, etc.

First, the United States is not a direct democracy and, as such, citizens do not make decisions themselves, [Professor Harry] Wilson writes. Instead, the power to make laws lies in the hands of their elected representatives in Congress.

—Matt Williams

also : a country, state, or territory whose form of government is direct democracy compare representative democracy

Examples of direct democracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, the ballot proposition process would increasingly serve the very forces that direct democracy was conceived as a bulwark against — those with the means to push their pet causes. — Mark Brilliant, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

But even by the standards of the state’s direct democracy process, the 2026 election stands out. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

The proposal takes aim at Missouri’s century-old initiative petition process, a form of direct democracy that allows citizens to collect signatures to place policies on the ballot. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

To be sure, direct democracy is no guarantee of wise decision-making. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for direct democracy

• aristocracy
• meritocracy
• autocracy
• bureaucracy
• hypocrisy
• plutocracy
• theocracy