Photo Composite from Encarta
Alexis de Tocqueville Alexis de Tocqueville
Representative Democracy Representative Democracy
Political Demonstration in Manila Political Demonstration in Manila

Representative Democracy

Representative Democracy
In representative democracies, citizens elect people to serve in legislative and executive positions. These representatives, invested with the confidence of their constituencies, then try to convey the interests and desires of these constituencies by participating in governmental processes. In the United States, citizens elect people to the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together comprise the nation’s bicameral legislature. Citizens in each state elect two senators and a certain number of representatives based on the population of the state. Here, members of the Senate (right) and House of Representatives (left) meet in their respective chambers to discuss legislation.
UPI/THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
Appears in these articles
Democracy
* Exclusively for MSN Encarta Premium Subscribers Join Now
Have Your Say
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Encarta Products
Upgrade your experience

© 2008 Microsoft