AQA GCSE Citizenship Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Prep Guide

The correct choice is representative democracy because it directly involves citizens electing representatives who are tasked with making decisions in governance on their behalf. This system is characterized by a framework in which elected officials represent a group of people, and those representatives are accountable to their constituents.

In representative democracy, citizens typically participate in the electoral process to choose individuals who they believe will best advocate for their interests and values in legislative and policy decisions. This contrasts with other forms of democracy, such as participatory democracy, where citizens have a more direct role in decision-making processes, or direct democracy, where individuals vote on specific issues rather than electing representatives. Social democracy, while related, often encompasses a broader range of policies aimed at promoting social justice and welfare alongside democratic governance. Thus, the essence of representative democracy lies in the delegation of decision-making authority to elected officials.