Question

In a representative democracy, who makes laws ?

• A. The President
• B. The Prime Minister
• C. The people directly
• D. Elected Representative

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The people directly

Understanding Law-Making in Democracies

• A democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

• The process of law-making is fundamental to any democracy, establishing the rules and regulations by which society operates.

Representative Democracy: The Role of the People

• In a Representative Democracy, citizens elect individuals to represent their interests in a legislative body (like a parliament or congress). These elected representatives are then responsible for debating, drafting, and passing laws on behalf of the people.

• While representatives are the ones who physically enact laws, the concept that 'the people directly' make laws in a representative democracy emphasizes the ultimate sovereignty and authority of the populace.

• The legitimacy of the laws and the power of the representatives are derived directly from the consent and mandate of the people, expressed through elections. Thus, representatives are essentially agents of the people.

• Key Fact: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution, for example, begins with "We, the People of India," highlighting the foundational principle that power emanates from the people.