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The Athenian Model Of Direct Democracy

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Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of any true democratic state today and the legitimizing force by which citizens of a country grant a government the authority to rightfully rule over them and represent their opinions by make decisions in their best interests. Citizens’ right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights which they possess in modern liberal democracies, however, the low level of electoral participation is indicative of the fact that a countries democratic system might not be meaningfully representing the collective interests of it its citizens, which ultimately undermines the legitimacy democracy and its political institutions. Democracy, being one of the most fundamental aspects on modern day politics, dates …show more content…
However as Pluralists argue, the Athenian model of direct democracy is impractical as well as infeasible to be implemented in modern democratic …show more content…
Furthermore, the inability to impact the policy decision making process and influence outcomes also reinforces the belief that the average citizen could play no significant role in influencing the decisions that impact their lives. Perhaps an examination of the contrasting perspectives from which legislators should be representing their local constituents could provide some insight, and political scientists have suggested that representatives have the choice of either behaving as delegates or trustees when it comes to representing their constituents. In the delegate model of representation, a lawmaker acts as a spokesperson of his constituents by voting on bills strictly in accordance with the stated preferences and wishes of the constituents. For a delegate representative, this model is the closest form of direct democracy as it gives preference to the opinions of those being represented instead of being at odds with them. Representatives can learn about the opinions of their constituents on an issue by calling a town hall meeting or even conducting a public opinion survey to decide on how to vote on particularly controversial bills in the legislature, such as that of abortion, marijuana legalization or immigration law. The delegate model of

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