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

But now, there’s a new referendum drive to legalize recreational pot, and once again, the invisible hand of Ron DeSantis is cheerlessly throttling the life out of direct democracy. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

The effort marked a continuation of GOP attempts to curtail direct democracy in Missouri as voters have used the ballot box to pass policies seen as progressive, such as a minimum wage increase, Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026

The voters can, in the purest form of direct democracy, vote up or down. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Folks, here's direct democracy — and the powerful post-separation motivation — in action. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 7 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for direct democracy

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