Voting is not democracy. Politicians aren’t inherently dishonest, but the fact that elections are popularity contests tend to make them lie. The government officials can look at the situation, decide on the best course of action, and then take action. Here are some additional representative democracy advantages and disadvantages to think about.
In a representative democracy, minority groups are only given enough air time to have their issues heard so that a vote can be obtained. With representative democracy, you can’t possibly make everyone happy. List of Pros of Representative Democracy. 3. The Reconstruction Era (1865–1877) What Is … In the 2016 US Presidential election, for example, more 126 million votes were cast. There is nothing that they can offer from that point forward besides faith in the political process. In addition, there will be a specific group of people who think they are better than the rest and this will create conflicts. Once an official is elected to represent them, the population must trust that their representative will pursue their needs as efficiently as possible. Instead, he might work towards his vested interest and for his own personal gains. The powers of the elected representatives are defined by a constitution that establishes the basic laws, principles, and framework of the government. When the majority is not ethically or morally right, the structure of government can put the lives of people who are in the minority at great risk.
Robert Longley is a U.S. government and history expert with over 30 years of experience in municipal government and urban planning. Everyone who lives in that area benefits from the official being part of the government. An independent judiciary body, such as the U.S. Supreme Court, may have the power to declare laws enacted by the representatives to be unconstitutional. A clear majority does not usually rule in a representative democracy. 2. It does not hold the elected official accountable. If you can vote, then you are making your opinion be heard. Letters can be written to their representatives. Polarization occurs frequently. So, when there is something that they find unfavorable or is not implemented properly, they can make a stand and let their representatives act on it. The 22nd Amendment Sets Presidential Term Limits. Some districts may also have highly varied socioeconomic groups that have conflicting needs. A large group of people receive the benefits of living in a democracy by having one representative vote according to their needs, wishes or desires. Definition and How It Works in the US, Federalism and the United States Constitution, How the US Electoral College System Works, Why Puerto Rico Matters in the US Presidential Election, totalitarianism, authoritarianism, and fascism. Unless term limits apply to the official in question, the only options available to dissatisfied constituents are to vote the representative out of office in the next regular election or, in some cases, to demand a recall election. An obvious way to do that is to present a platform that is in the interest of the people. The legislative body is comprised of people voted by the electorate and given the capability to make proportionate decisions.
A common complaint about a representative democracy is that the elected officials are “out of touch.” This occurs because a representative must be present where the government meets, which could be thousands of miles away from their district. If these representatives fail to meet their constituents expectations, then they can be voted out in the next election.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'positivenegativeimpact_com-box-4','ezslot_4',117,'0','0'])); 4. 2. At the state government level, the people elect the governor and members of the state legislatures, who rule according to the state constitutions. Jim Crow in the South and anti-gay laws int he United States are examples of this coming to fruition. 4. People only have a voice on election days. 5 Pros and Cons of Representative Democracy Also called indirect democracy, representative democracy is a system of government where all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. At the national government level, the people elect the president and the officials who represent them in the two chambers of Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Representative democracy is typically employed in larger countries where the sheer number of citizens involved would make direct democracy unmanageable. The officials are not bound by law to vote the way the people who elected them want them to vote. Here are the lists of pros and cons of representative democracy. In a representative democracy, it is important for all branches of the government to share equal power, but with differing responsibilities. A government with this structure still relies on what the majority of the people want in most circumstances. Advantages of Representative Democracy 1.) When you elect your representative, people are putting their blind faith in them. Here are the disadvantages and advantages of a representative democracy as they are practically applied. Pros and Cons in parliamentary democracy As a consequence, the government and the public have both benefits and disadvantages. 3. Once the representatives are elected, they will do whatever they please. It can be complicated to get anything done when a government becomes too polarized. Representative democracy is the most prevalent form of government. You can only look as far as lobbying in the United States to see this in action. If they behave corruptly or misrepresent their constituents, the next election will remove them from power, or if the offense is egregious enough, a recall vote. As a bonus, elected officials should be well educated and versed in the law. Cons of a Representative Democracy On the down side, many complain that representative policy is impractical, because of the demands of time, information and energy. It is efficient. It is efficient. Practically, this is much more difficult to implement in most democracies. It happens a lot in politics: promises are made in order to win the favor of citizens. People still have a say in how their government operates. Republic vs. Democracy: What Is the Difference? This type of government has its fair share of proponents and opponents. This form of government is adopted by most Western countries and is seen as the only form of democracy that is possible in mass societies.