In a representative democracy, how are leaders chosen?

In a representative democracy, leaders are chosen through elections held at set intervals. This system relies on the principle that citizens have the right to vote and select their representatives to make decisions on their behalf. By participating in regular elections, the electorate has the opportunity to weigh in on who will represent their interests in government, ensuring accountability to the public.

Such elections are typically organized at various levels of government—local, state, and national—and can vary in frequency depending on the position being filled. This structure promotes a system where leaders are responsive to the people’s needs and can be held accountable for their actions, as they must face re-election after a specified term. This contrasts with hereditary succession, where leaders inherit their positions, or appointments by a monarch, which do not involve public choice or periodic accountability. Direct voting on every issue, while empowering in theory, is impractical in larger societies where representative democracies enable more efficient governance.