How does republicanism differ from direct democracy?

How does republicanism differ from direct democracy?

• A. Direct democracy relies on elected representatives to exercise power; republicanism involves citizens voting on laws themselves.
• B. Republicanism relies on direct democracy.
• C. Republicanism means citizens vote on all laws; direct democracy means representatives vote.
• D. Republicanism and direct democracy are the same.

Answer: (B)

Republicanism uses elected representatives to govern on behalf of the people, with decisions made by those representatives within a framework of laws and constitutional limits. Direct democracy means citizens vote on laws and policies themselves, without intermediaries. The key difference is who makes the laws: in republicanism, representatives carry out governance and are held accountable by voters; in direct democracy, every policy is decided by popular vote. Saying republicanism relies on direct democracy reverses the relationship, since republicanism is about representation, not citizens voting directly on each measure.

Republicanism uses elected representatives to govern on behalf of the people, with decisions made by those representatives within a framework of laws and constitutional limits. Direct democracy means citizens vote on laws and policies themselves, without intermediaries. The key difference is who makes the laws: in republicanism, representatives carry out governance and are held accountable by voters; in direct democracy, every policy is decided by popular vote. Saying republicanism relies on direct democracy reverses the relationship, since republicanism is about representation, not citizens voting directly on each measure.