INTRODUCTION

• Democracy is defined as a system of representation—of the people, for the people, by the people.
• Key aspects of democracy include mandate and accountability.
• Mandate refers to the will, command, or authorization of the electorate towards their representative.
• Accountability involves the capacity of constituents to reward or authorize representatives.
• In the UK, the House of Commons delegates assemblies and mayors elected through various voting systems.
• The House of Commons and the House of Lords have different voting systems for internal polls.
• In the US, representatives are elected at federal, state, and local levels.
• The President is elected through an electoral college, an indirect election method.
• In China, elections are hierarchical; local People’s Congresses are directly elected.
• Higher levels of People’s Congresses, up to the National People’s Congress, are indirectly elected by the People’s Congress of the level below.