What is the primary characteristic of a direct democracy?

The primary characteristic of a direct democracy is that citizens vote on laws themselves. In this system, all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate directly in decision-making processes, including the creation and enactment of laws and policies. This level of direct involvement is what distinguishes direct democracy from representative democracy, where citizens elect officials to make those decisions on their behalf.

In a direct democracy, mechanisms such as referendums or initiatives allow citizens to express their preferences and make decisions on specific issues rather than relying on elected representatives to do so. This form of governance emphasizes the role of individual citizens as active participants in shaping their government and laws, fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility.

Options that involve representatives or monarchs do not align with the essence of a direct democracy, as they either delegate power away from the citizens or centralize it in an individual or a select group. Thus, the choice highlighting citizens voting on laws themselves accurately captures the spirit and function of a direct democracy.