What characterizes a representative democracy?

A representative democracy is characterized by the process in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf regarding laws and policies. This system is founded on the principle of elected officials being accountable to the electorate, ensuring that the interests and voices of the citizens are reflected in the legislative process.

In a representative democracy, the elected representatives are tasked with understanding the needs and desires of their constituents and making informed decisions that align with the general will of the people. This approach allows for a more manageable and efficient governance structure, as direct voting on every law by all citizens would be impractical, especially in larger societies with complex legal systems.

The first option describes a direct democracy, where citizens have the opportunity to vote on every law, which differs from the representative model. The third option suggests that citizens have no role in government decisions, which is contrary to the very nature of representative democracy, as citizens actively participate through voting. The fourth option implies a system dominated by appointed officials, which does not align with representative democracy, where elected representatives make policy decisions rather than appointees who may not be accountable to the electorate.

Thus, the essence of representative democracy is the linkage between elected officials and the electorate, making the second option the most accurate representation of this form