USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -But what is a social contract and why is it important for democracy? What is a social contract? A social contract is an implicit agreement between the people and their government about what each side provides to the other. The terms of the agreement can vary widely.

Detailed explanation-2: -Rousseau argued that the general will of the people could not be decided by elected representatives. He believed in a direct democracy in which everyone voted to express the general will and to make the laws of the land.

Detailed explanation-3: -Direct democracy describes those rules, institutions and processes that enable the public to vote directly on a proposed constitutional amendment, law, treaty or policy decision. The most important forms of direct democracy covered in this Primer are referendums and initiatives.

Detailed explanation-4: -Rousseau’s social contract theory holds that a people is free when it is governed by its own laws. This is accomplished through the general will, which is like a collective idea of the common good, and through the election of members of government.