Season 5, Episode 1: On Direct Democracy - A Conversation with Jenna Spinelle

Watch & Listen: Ahmed Bouzid’s conversation with Jenna Spinelle, Communication Specialist at Penn State's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, on the topic of Direct Democracy.
The discussion begins by exploring what "democracy" means to the average person, the current state of democracy in the U.S. (including whether it is truly under threat as some claim), and the challenges facing democracy in the U.S. and globally.
The conversation then delves into a thought experiment: envisioning a form of direct democracy where a U.S. Congressman acts purely as an avatar for their constituency, voting precisely as the majority of voters dictate through polls. Finally, the discussion shifts to what can be done to strengthen democratic systems by those who advocate for them.
Key Terms: Democracy, Direct Democracy, Representative Democracy, Ballot Propositions, Ballot Access.
Key links:
- Jenna Spinelle Linkedin: / jspinelle
- When The People Decide Podcast: www.democracyg...
- The McCourtney Institute for Democracy Website: The democracy.psu....