Direct Democracy:
This is the type of democracy in which all qualified adult citizens of a state directly participate in decision-making without really electing representatives. This system of government is possibly seen in the Igbo political societies and the Great city of Athens. Direct democracy is a face-to-face system of government where every qualified citizen is expected to participate actively.
Indirect Democracy:
This is the type of democracy in which the electorates periodically elect representatives into the parliament for the purpose of representing their interest in the governance and administration of their state. This is the type of democracy that is practised in the USA and Nigeria today. Democracy originated in Greece and is often referred to as Representative Government.
Constitutional Democracy:
This is a government by majority rule which emphasizes the protection of minority rights. It is a government which operates within the provisions of the law of the land and where majority rule is balanced by minority and individual rights.
Parliamentary Democracy:
This is another form of democracy where the head of government is appointed by parliamentary representatives as opposed to a presidential rule where the president is both head of state and head of government and is elected by the electorates. In a parliamentary democracy, the powers. of the executive ministry are subject to review, checks and balances by the elected parliamentarians, who delegate them to work.
Representative Democracy:
This is the modern type of government. It is also called Indirect Democracy. This type of democracy involves the election of government personnel by the electorates to represent them at various levels of government. In this type of democracy, power resides with the people (electorates).