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directly in decision making. This means that people can participate in policy making
through polls and public meetings.
Indirect Democracy Also known as representative democracy, this form of government
involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Elected
representatives serve as the voice of the people, making decisions through the
Autocracy. Despotism: Despotism is a form of government in which one person has
absolute power. Often called a dictator or autocrat, this person exercises power without
limits or checks from other branches of government. Public participation is limited or
non-existent.
Oligarchy: An oligarchy is a system of government in which power is held by a small
group of individuals or families. These people usually belong to a certain social or
economic elite. Public participation is minimal because the ruling class retains most of
the decision-making power.
• Distributed power in the state: The distribution of power in the state can vary, but
often involves a combination of centralization and delegation to regional or local
authorities.