<P> The power of representatives is usually curtailed by a constitution (as in a constitutional democracy or a constitutional monarchy) or other measures to balance representative power: </P> <Ul> <Li> An independent judiciary, which may have the power to declare legislative acts unconstitutional (e.g. constitutional court, supreme court). </Li> <Li> The constitution may also provide for some deliberative democracy (e.g., Royal Commissions) or direct popular measures (e.g., initiative, referendum, recall elections). However, these are not always binding and usually require some legislative action--legal power usually remains firmly with representatives . </Li> <Li> In some cases, a bicameral legislature may have an "upper house" that is not directly elected, such as the Canadian Senate, which was in turn modeled on the British House of Lords . </Li> </Ul> <Li> An independent judiciary, which may have the power to declare legislative acts unconstitutional (e.g. constitutional court, supreme court). </Li> <Li> The constitution may also provide for some deliberative democracy (e.g., Royal Commissions) or direct popular measures (e.g., initiative, referendum, recall elections). However, these are not always binding and usually require some legislative action--legal power usually remains firmly with representatives . </Li>

How much personal freedom do citizens have in a representative democracy