Types of Democracy

Last updated at September 7, 2026 by

pages 146 to 149

In short: Democracy has no single model, but every model shares the same principles.
What are the types of democracy?
Types of Democracy democracy has no single model
Direct Democracy
Citizens decide themselves
Difficult in large countries
Example:
Switzerland
Parliamentary Democracy
Executive is part of the legislature
Accountable to the legislature
Example:
India and Canada
Presidential Democracy
Executive is independent of the legislature
President elected by the people
Example:
United States of America
Let's Explore
  • Four student councils, each working like a different model of democracy.
Team How it works Which model it resembles
Team A All students gather and elect a president once a year, but the president has very limited powers. For major decisions they gather and vote using ballot papers Direct democracy - the students decide themselves
Team B Every class elects a representative; the representatives elect the Council President, and together they make decisions Parliamentary democracy - the executive comes from the elected body
Team C Students directly vote for the President and the Council members; the President is the chief decision-maker Presidential democracy - the executive is elected directly
Team D Only selected candidates may contest, the President holds most power, the Council has little authority and opposition is discouraged Not a democracy - no real choice and no checks
  • The model names in the last column are not given in the book.
  • The chapter only says these examples show that systems differ in how power is shared, who participates in decision-making , and whether checks and balances are in place.
  • Each model is explained below.
Which team would you select, and why?
What the four teams show
Team A
students decide themselves
Team B
class representatives decide
Team C
president elected directly
Team D
only selected candidates
↓
An election alone is not enough - choice and checks decide
  • Team A - every student has a direct say, but this becomes slow and impractical as numbers grow.
  • Team B - everyone is represented through their class, decisions are shared between the President and representatives, and it works at any size.
  • Team C - the President has a direct mandate from all students, but a great deal of power sits with one person.
  • Team D should be rejected.
  • Elections happen, but only selected candidates can contest.
  • Opposition is discouraged.
  • So there is no real choice and no check on power .
  • The main lesson: an election happening is not enough .
  • What matters is whether there is genuine choice, shared decision-making, and checks and balances.
What is Direct Democracy?
  • Citizens directly participate in most decision-making processes.
  • Some features of representative democracy also exist.
  • Difficult to follow in large countries .
  • Example: Switzerland .
What is Representative Democracy?
  • Also called Indirect Democracy .
  • People elect their representatives .
  • People do not directly govern .
  • Periodic elections are held.
  • The government is accountable to the people .
  • Example: India .
Difference between Direct and Representative Democracy
Direct or Representative? who actually decides
Direct Democracy
Citizens decide themselves
Hard in a large country
Example:
Switzerland
Representative Democracy
Citizens elect representatives
Works at any size
Example:
India
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Citizens decide themselves
Citizens elect representatives to decide
Hard to run in a large country
Works in countries of any size
Example: Switzerland
Example: India
Different types of Representative Democracy
  • Representative democracy is of two kinds - Parliamentary and Presidential .
Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy
Executive is part of the legislature
Executive is independent of the legislature
Executive accountable to the legislature
President accountable to the people
People elect the legislature only
People elect the President directly
What is Parliamentary Democracy?
Types of Democracy - Democracy - [Teachoo] - Concepts
Inside a legislature
  • Members of the Executive are also part of the legislature.
  • The Executive is accountable to the legislature .
  • People elect the legislature but not the executive.
  • Examples: India and Canada .
What is Presidential Democracy?
  • The Executive is independent of the legislature .
  • The President is elected by the people.
  • The President is accountable to the people .
  • Example: United States of America .
How do democracies function across the world?
Country Type of Democracy System of Government Head of State / Head of Government Key Features
India Representative (Parliamentary) Executive power lies with the council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister President (Head of State), Prime Minister (Head of Government) Multi-party democracy, Written constitution, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Federalism
Canada Representative (Parliamentary) Executive power lies with the Prime Minister Governor-General appointed by the Monarch (Head of State) on the advice of the Prime Minister (Head of Government) Federalism, multi-party system
United Kingdom Representative (Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy) In a Constitutional Monarchy, the executive power lies with the Prime Minister Monarch (Head of State), Prime Minister (Head of Government) Unwritten constitution, parliamentary Sovereignty, multi-party system
Switzerland Direct Democracy Executive power lies with the Federal Council The President is the Head of the Government Written constitution with multiple parties
United States of America Representative (Presidential Democracy) Executive power lies with the President The President is the Head of the Government Written constitution, with two major parties
  • Note the pattern: India, Canada and the UK separate the Head of State from the Head of Government.
  • Switzerland and the USA do not .
Why doesn't democracy have a single model?
  • Because the characteristics and features of democracy vary from country to country .
  • Different societies institutionalise democracy in diverse ways , depending on:
  • how citizens participate in decision-making
  • how political power is structured
  • Some involve direct citizen participation , others function through elected representatives .
Is there something common between different models?
What every democracy shares
Freedom
Equality
Participation
Rule of law
Rights and duties
↓
The models differ, but the principles stay the same
  • Yes.
  • Certain fundamental principles are common to every democracy:
  • freedom
  • equality
  • participation
  • rule of law
  • rights and duties
  • So the models differ , but the principles stay the same .
Let's Explore
  • Choose any two of India's neighbouring countries and find out:
  • Does the country hold regular elections ?
  • Who chooses the Head of the Government ?
  • Is there more than one political party ?
  • How much freedom do citizens have to express their opinions and criticise the government?
Suggested answer, as of September 2026
Country Regular elections? Who chooses the Head of Government More than one party? Freedom to criticise Description
Afghanistan No Taliban leadership, since 2021 No parties Very restricted Non-democratic
Bangladesh Yes - general election held February 2026 Elected Parliament; PM from the majority party Yes Broadly free, still recovering after the 2024 upheaval Democratic
Bhutan Yes Elected National Assembly; PM from the majority party, under a constitutional monarchy Yes Generally free Democratic
China No competitive national elections The Communist Party of China; Premier confirmed by the National People's Congress One ruling party Heavily restricted Non-democratic
Maldives Yes President elected directly by the people Yes Generally free Democratic
Myanmar Election held Dec 2025 to Jan 2026, but opposition parties excluded and civil war continuing Military-backed leadership Only approved parties Very restricted Non-democratic
Nepal Yes - election held March 2026 after the 2025 protests Elected Parliament; PM from the majority Yes Generally free Democratic
Pakistan Yes Elected National Assembly; PM from the majority Yes Limited - press and opposition face pressure Partially democratic
Sri Lanka Yes President elected directly; PM from Parliament Yes Generally free Democratic
How to judge from your findings
What you find
What it suggests
Regular elections, head of government chosen by the people or their elected representatives, several parties contest, citizens can criticise freely
Democratic
Elections are held but choice is limited, or opposition and criticism are restricted
Partially democratic
No genuine elections, head of government not chosen by the people, one party or no parties, criticism not allowed
Non-democratic
  • Link back to Fig.
  • 6.5: Team D also held elections, but only selected candidates could contest and opposition was discouraged.
  • Elections alone do not settle the question - Myanmar is the real-world version of Team D.
  • This table is not from the NCERT chapter , which deliberately leaves the classification to the student.
  • Political situations change quickly - Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal have all held elections since this book was printed.
  • Always check current sources and quote the year of your information.
Quick self-check
1. Why is direct democracy difficult in large countries?
Show answer Hide answer

Because citizens directly participate in most decision-making, which becomes impractical when the population is very large.

2. Give two differences between parliamentary and presidential democracy.
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In a parliamentary democracy the executive is part of the legislature. It is accountable to the legislature. In a presidential democracy the executive is independent of the legislature. The President is elected by the people and accountable to them.

3. Which country is given as an example of direct democracy, and which of presidential democracy?
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Switzerland - direct democracy. The United States of America - presidential democracy.

4. In India, who is the Head of State and who is the Head of Government?
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The President is the Head of State; the Prime Minister is the Head of Government.

5. Which country in the table has an unwritten constitution?
Show answer Hide answer

The United Kingdom.

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