Representative democracy is a form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. These representatives are accountable to the people through regular elections, and are expected to act in the best interests of their constituents. This system allows for a large and diverse population to have a say in how their government is run, without requiring every citizen to participate directly in decision-making. Representative democracy is the most common form of government in the world today, and is seen as a way to balance the need for efficient decision-making with the desire for popular participation in governance.