What term describes rule by the people, either directly or through representatives?

The term that describes rule by the people, either directly or through representatives, is democracy. In a democratic system, the power to govern is derived from the consent of the governed, meaning that citizens have the right to participate in decision-making processes. This can occur in a direct manner, where individuals vote on policies or laws themselves, or indirectly, where they elect representatives to make those decisions on their behalf.

Democracy emphasizes the involvement of the populace in governance and values principles such as freedom, equality, and the protection of human rights. This system contrasts with autocracy, where a single individual holds absolute power, monarchy, where power is typically inherited and held by a king or queen, and oligarchy, where power resides in the hands of a small group of individuals. Through these distinctions, it is clear why democracy is the correct term for people’s rule.