Defining Features of Representative Democracy and Their Role in Mediating Popular Sovereignty, Institutional Accountability, and Political Legitimacy within Modern Constitutional Frameworks Introduction Representative democracy has emerged as the dominant model of governance in modern constitutional states, particularly after the 20th-century global expansion of liberal-democratic institutions. As distinct from direct democracy, representative democracy delegates the exercise … Continue reading What are the defining features of representative democracy, and how do they function to mediate popular sovereignty, institutional accountability, and political legitimacy within modern constitutional frameworks?