This book challenges the idea that representative democracy is the pinnacle of political development.The authors argue that when citizens can directly initiate and veto constitutional changes, democracy enters a new phase - direct democracy - as a distinct political system. Using original data and comparisons across six countries and 15 U.S. states, the book shows that direct democracies foster legitimacy, stability and engagement. Combining historical, institutional and empirical insights, the book reframes democracy's future and offers a timely guide for expanding citizen power in the 21st century.This book is of key interest to scholars and students of democratic regimes, reform and democratization and, more broadly, comparative politics.