Welcome to DirectDemocracy21.org!

What is a direct democracy?

A direct democracy is a 21st century form of government that has citizens directly involved in the process of lawmaking. In our US Constitutional Republic form of government, citizens are limited to local ballot initiatives, and a few other ways to directly participate in lawmaking decisions. However, citizens have no right to be directly involved in decisions made by their elected representatives every day they are in office.

In contrast, a direct democracy has citizens participating in government decisions in every level of government, and every day their representatives are in office. This is made possible by the readily available polling technology our citizens now have in this 21st century. Today, constituents can use polling to directly influence the decisions made by their representatives in all of the executive and legislative branches of our government. Constituent polling presents a clear record of how lawmaker’s represent the interests and needs of their constituents.

Why should we consider a direct democracy now?

This is because our 18th century US Constitution does not require our elected representatives to pay attention to us, according to our Supreme Court in 1984. Click on this link and scroll to page 272:  https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/465/271/#top It states that “Nothing in the First Amendment or in this Court's case law interpreting it suggests that the rights to speak, associate, and petition require government policymakers to listen or respond to communications of members of the public on public issues.”   In this 1984 decision, the Supreme Court made clear that our elected representatives have no obligation to pay attention to their constituents when they make laws for them to follow and obey.

Thus, while we expect our lawmakers to act like our public servants, they are free to pass or reject legislation based solely on their own personal interests. We only have a voting right to elect representatives, but no ongoing voting right to directly influence their decisions after they take office. If our lawmakers make harmful decisions that affect our civil rights, financial well-being, health, or safety, only those from a new administration can repeal them, or the courts must be called upon to overturn them. 

A direct democracy, however, can prevent harmful legislative decisions and promote beneficial ones. Using today’s polling technologies, a direct democracy creates a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and in control of the people! Described in the Pledge tab on this website, constituent polling gives us a direct voice in the decision-making process of our representatives. With it, representatives that accept their role as public servants provide opinions on the pros and cons of legislation, and then vote for, or against it, based on the majority opinions of their constituents. In addition, constituent polling also ends corporations, wealthy donors, and foreign entities from influencing legislation, as explained in the Benefits of a Direct Democracy tab.

In a direct democracy we will no longer have politicians alone making political decisions for us that would be against our personal values, interests or needs, whether they are laws, policies, or mandates. We will no longer have politicians acting like rulers that dictate what they want us to have, or not have from our government. In a 21st century direct democracy, we, the people, become the rulers of our government.

Unlike other plans for political reform, creating a direct democracy does not require changing, repealing, or passing any new laws. It simply offers voters a voice in the decisions of their representatives that accept their public servant roles as our government employees.

However, if we want our representatives to pay attention to us after elections, we must seek people who accept the idea of a direct democracy. These people want to be our public servants, and have us directly involved in the decisions they make for laws and government policies, using constituent polling. Those that sign a Direct Democracy Pledge will offer us a choice in elections for having a direct voice in government after elections.

If you’re tired of letting other adults make all or your political decisions for you, check out the rest of this website to learn more about how a direct democracy would work for you. Then tell your friends, family, and social media followers how voters can have real political power after elections in this 21st century.