The Framer's concerns about direct democracy are illustrated by the fact that the Constitution

The Framer's concerns about direct democracy are illustrated by the fact that the Constitution

• A. uses the word democracy only once, in the Preamble
• B. uses the word democracy only in reference to Congress
• C. does not feature the word democracy at all
• D. uses only the word democratic

Answer: (C)

Direct democracy means citizens vote on laws themselves, rather than through elected representatives. The Framers worried that letting the public directly decide every issue could lead to the tyranny of the majority and unstable policy. To guard against that, they created a republic with layered representation, checks and balances, and federalism that mediates popular will through elected officials and institutional guardrails rather than allowing direct, government-wide decisions by a popular vote on each issue. That mindset shows up in the Constitution’s language, which does not name the government as a democracy at all; it designs a constitutional republic with institutions that filter and structure public opinion rather than enshrine direct popular rule. If the document were framed as a straight democratic system, you’d expect explicit labeling of the government as democratic, or direct references to majority rule in a straightforward way. The absence of the term democracy signals the Framers’ preference for representative government and constitutional limits on direct popular power.

Direct democracy means citizens vote on laws themselves, rather than through elected representatives. The Framers worried that letting the public directly decide every issue could lead to the tyranny of the majority and unstable policy. To guard against that, they created a republic with layered representation, checks and balances, and federalism that mediates popular will through elected officials and institutional guardrails rather than allowing direct, government-wide decisions by a popular vote on each issue. That mindset shows up in the Constitution’s language, which does not name the government as a democracy at all; it designs a constitutional republic with institutions that filter and structure public opinion rather than enshrine direct popular rule. If the document were framed as a straight democratic system, you’d expect explicit labeling of the government as democratic, or direct references to majority rule in a straightforward way. The absence of the term democracy signals the Framers’ preference for representative government and constitutional limits on direct popular power.