The choice between direct or indirect democracy is closely related to the question of presence & representation. Democracy is a form of government where the people can participate, to a degree, in the decision-making process, also in the integral power. The word representation has several meanings, in all of those meanings however one can find the element of "being present." One can distinguish 4 aspects in the representation by people: the symbol, the expectation, the substitution, & the legitimation aspect. In political representation, the symbolic aspect is under pressure, as the politician will represent so many issues that a symbol overburdening overload exists. A politician is expected to represent his voters as well as his party. The aspect of legitimation is the most difficult. The citizen sometimes asserts his influences thereby pushing the representative to the side & limiting his mandate. Although there are problems related to representeation it can not be abrogated. N. Hirschsohn.
