What defines a Direct Democracy?

A direct democracy is characterized by the process in which citizens themselves participate directly in decision-making regarding policy initiatives and laws, rather than relying on elected officials to make those decisions on their behalf. This form of government empowers individuals to voice their opinions and vote on specific issues, which allows for greater public involvement in governance.

In a direct democracy, policy decisions are made through mechanisms such as referendums or initiatives, where the electorate can directly express their preferences on legislative proposals or amendments. This contrasts with representative democracy, where elected officials represent the interests of their constituents and make decisions for them.

The other options do not accurately describe a direct democracy; they reference different forms of governance, such as representative democracy, authoritarian rule, or constitutional frameworks, none of which involve direct citizen participation in the decision-making process to the same extent as a direct democracy.