What does representative democracy involve?

Representative democracy involves a system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and vote on laws on their behalf. This structure allows for a larger and more populated society to efficiently manage governance, as it is often impractical for every citizen to vote directly on every legislative issue due to time constraints, complexity, and the scale of the population. By electing representatives who are accountable to them, citizens can ensure that their interests and values are reflected in government decisions. This mechanism also allows for a more informed decision-making process, as elected officials typically have access to resources and expertise that the general public may not.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principles of representative democracy. Direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on laws, which is not the case in representative systems. A singular control by one person or a small group making decisions contradicts the foundational democratic principle of elected representation and accountability to the electorate.