Direct democracy and participatory democracy are often discussed together because both emphasize the involvement of citizens in political decision-making, yet they differ significantly in scope, methods, and underlying assumptions about political participation. Direct democracy refers to a system in which citizens themselves directly decide on laws and policies without the mediation of elected representatives. Participatory democracy, on the other hand, is a broader political ideal that seeks to deepen citizen engagement not only in formal decision-making but also in social, economic, and administrative processes. In direct democracy, the central feature is the direct exercise of political power by the people. Citizens vote on specific issues, laws, or policies through mechanisms such as referendums, initiatives, and plebiscites. The classical example is ancient Athens, where eligible citizens assembled to debate and decide public matters. In the modern world, direct democracy survives mainly in limited forms, such as in Switzerland, where citizens regularly vote on constitutional amendments and legislative proposals. The emphasis here is on decision-making authority resting immediately with the people, bypassing representative institutions. Participatory democracy, by contrast, does not necessarily reject representative institutions but seeks to supplement and transform them by expanding opportunities for meaningful participation. It emphasizes