Law Commons^™

Direct Democracy: The Right Of The People To Make Fools Of Themselves; The Use And Abuse Of Initiative And Referendum, A Local Government Perspective, Daniel M. Warner

Seattle University Law Review

The Framers of the United States Constitution did not embrace direct, populist democracy. They rejected the Swiss model of direct legislation' and chose a system of representative-republican, not democratic-government that would, as James Madison wrote, "enlarge the public views by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial [partisan] considerations." Representative democracy presumes that an informed electorate will choose wise legislators. Direct democracy, by extension, demands that citizens …