American Government / Unit 1 Gov 008 short lesson, about 20 seconds
ERROR: "The United States Is a Direct Democracy"
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The idea
The claim that the United States is a direct democracy is false: the national government is a representative democracy.
In practice
No federal law is passed by popular vote; Congress legislates, and the people elect Congress.
Where people slip
State ballot initiatives are direct mechanisms — their existence does not change the national design.
Your place on the trail
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