Social Studies Praxis Practice Test

In its purest form, a direct democracy exists when citizens do which of the following?

1. Participate without intermediaries in political decision making

2. Elect representatives to participate in political decision making

3. Directly elect a chief executive who writes all legislation

4. Vote to approve or overturn laws passed by elected representatives

The correct answer is: Participate without intermediaries in political decision making

In its purest form, a direct democracy exists when citizens participate without intermediaries in political decision making. This means that individuals have the opportunity to directly engage in the legislative process, making decisions on laws and policies themselves rather than through elected representatives. In a direct democracy, every eligible citizen has a voice and can cast votes on specific issues, ensuring that the collective will of the people is reflected in the governance of their community or state. This model emphasizes individual participation and empowers citizens to have a direct influence over the laws that govern them, which is a fundamental characteristic of democratic governance. Other choices describe systems involving representation or intermediate governance structures, such as electing representatives or direct election of a chief executive, which do not align with the essence of a direct democracy where citizens have the authority to make decisions themselves without representatives acting on their behalf.