2014•The Encyclopedia of Political ThoughtRequires access
Indirect Democracy
Aaron D. Hoffman
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Abstract
Abstract Indirect democracy is the political concept used to denote the organization of a government based on a democratic foundation, but with the actual decisions about government being made by representatives of the people. Indirect democracy is in contrast to the practice of “direct democracy,” where the people not only form the basis of the government but also actually make, administer, and judge the laws, the typical example given of direct democracy being the practice of ancient Athens, although Swiss cantons and New England town hall meetings are often held up as examples of almost pure direct democracies. In contrast, “indirect democracy” is representative democracy or rule by the people through their representatives.