pure democracy
Citizens vote directly
Pure democracy is a system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives to decide for them.
The term often carries skeptical connotations—the Founders warned against pure democracy as mob rule vulnerable to faction and passion.
Also called direct democracy.
Ancient Athens practiced something close to pure democracy, with citizens gathering to vote on matters of state.
Decisions by greater number
- popular voteTotal of citizen votes
- collective willUnified desire of many
- vox populiVoice of the people
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
simple majority · supermajority · plurality · public opinion · common consent
Constructing from components
- citizensMembers of a nation
- ecclesiaCitizens' assembly, especially Greek
- AgoraNamed platform or production
- PericlesFifth-century Athenian statesman
Solon · ostracism · deme · polis · archon · boule · city-state
Careful weighing of choices
- assemblyConstructing from components
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- public forumSpace for collective discourse
- debateFormal argument on issues
direct action · citizen participation · self-governance · stakeholder · open meeting · face-to-face · active citizenship
Direct vote by citizens
- ballotVoting document
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- direct votePopulace chooses without delegation
popular vote · binding vote · ballot measure · ratification · recall · ballot initiative
Same status for all
- universal suffrageAll adults may vote
- enfranchisementGranting citizenship rights
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
non-discrimination · franchise · voting rights · political equality · equal representation · popular sovereignty
Collective of connected people
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
- civic engagementActive citizenship in community
town hall · collective action · neighborhood · door-to-door · community-driven · citizen initiative · self-organization · community organizing
majority rule
Decisions by greater number
- popular voteTotal of citizen votes
- collective willUnified desire of many
- vox populiVoice of the people
mandate · simple majority · supermajority · plurality · public opinion · common consent
assembly
Constructing from components
- citizensMembers of a nation
- ecclesiaCitizens' assembly, especially Greek
- AgoraNamed platform or production
Pericles · Solon · ostracism · deme · polis · archon · boule · city-state
deliberation
Careful weighing of choices
- assemblyConstructing from components
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- public forumSpace for collective discourse
debate · direct action · citizen participation · self-governance · stakeholder · open meeting · face-to-face · active citizenship
plebiscite
Direct vote by citizens
- ballotVoting document
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
direct vote · popular vote · binding vote · ballot measure · ratification · recall · ballot initiative
equality
Same status for all
- universal suffrageAll adults may vote
- enfranchisementGranting citizenship rights
- civil rightsGuaranteed individual legal protections
inclusivity · non-discrimination · franchise · voting rights · political equality · equal representation · popular sovereignty
community
Collective of connected people
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
civic engagement · town hall · collective action · neighborhood · door-to-door · community-driven · citizen initiative · self-organization · community organizing · localism
pure democracyrepresentative democracy
Governance through chosen delegates
constitutional republic · representative government · republic · parliamentary democracy · liberal democracy
pure democracyautocracy
Rule by one
absolute rule · dictatorship · absolute monarchy · monarchy · single-party state
pure democracyconstitutional democracy
Rule by people, bounded by law
limited government · constitutional republic · liberal democracy · rule of law · checks and balances
pure, democracy, purely, purer, purest, purity, impure, impurity, purify