Table 3.6 A comparison of representative and direct democracies
Great Britain: Representative system Switzerland: Semi-direct democracy system Competition between parties and their governments. Winner takes all Cooperation of all political forces in government. Proportional representation Periodical alternation of power because of elections Negotiation and power-sharing in legislation. No alternation of power Political legitimation through changes in power or reelection of government satisfying voters expectations Institutional legitimation comes from participation: the most important decisions being taken by the people, important ones by parliament and the rest by government Enactment of the political programme of the majority Integration of pluralistic values, minorities and of group interests; different coalitions on major issues Policies for the people Politics through the people Participation as a form of general and programmatic influence: voters elect a government and its programme for the entire legislative period Participation as a form of 'one-issue' influence: people vote on specific questions. No strategic government policy