ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on more examples of working rules which organize the political process for purposes of illustrating political institutions which contribute to or retard the appearance of participatory democracy. Participatory democracy can invoke self-rule only when the exercise of discretion is informed via candid, extensive, threat-free interchange of ideas and information–free speech and press. Political choice for citizens is genuine in a representative democracy when two fundamental conditions are met. The first condition is addressed mainly to party machinery and second condition is addressed primarily to the principle of majority rule. Broadly speaking, most of the procedural givens for participatory democracy are included in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. The committee structure of legislative bodies requires brief comment if understanding of the structuring of the political process is to be extended. In a participatory democracy, the symbolic significance of the elected executive official imposes exceedingly heavy burdens upon the person who assumes that responsibility.
