Direct Democracy

Direct Democracy

1. the people make the political decisions

2. effectiveness

   • extent of popular participation in government
     • direct
       • people 'make' policy decisions
     • umediated
       • people 'are' the government
     • continuous
       • people engage in politics on a regular and ongoing basis

3. example

   • ancient Athens (500 to 322 BCE)
     • Operated by mass meetings
     • exclusions
       • slaves which were 3/5th of population
       • women and men classified as 'immigrates' (even though family lived in Athens for generations
   • Paris Commune of 1871
     • Operated by mass meetings