Most of this site examines the institutions of 'representative democracy;' however, in the following three files, we analyze some mechanisms for 'direct democracy.'

• File Referendums and Plebiscites discusses the advantages and disadvantages of referendums and plebiscites - direct elections to decide single issues.
• File Citizen Initiative looks at the mechanism of 'citizen initiative,' commonly used in the United States, which enables voters to place legislative issues on the ballot or in front of their State legislature.
• File Legislative Recall outlines the procedure in the US for 'legislative recall' where elected legislators can be recalled by their constituents.