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direct democracy

American  
[di-rekt di-mah-kruh-see, dahy-rekt] / dɪˈrɛkt dɪˈmɑ krə si, daɪˈrɛkt /

noun

  1. government with direct rule by the people, without the involvement of elected representatives.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The assumption then was Congress would fix this, or the state legislatures would fix this, or initiatives in the states that have direct democracy would fix this.

From Slate • May 7, 2026

Madison especially thought pure direct democracy would prove unstable, a too-slight skiff heaved about in history’s seas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

There can be issues with direct democracy, as Sean Morales-Doyle of the Brennan Center for Justice pointed out.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

This time they said enough was enough, using the power that Switzerland's system of direct democracy gives them to vote themselves an extra month's pension each year.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2024

The absence of settled public law and the influence of direct democracy made a complete ministry of finance impossible.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various

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