We can also distinguish among political systems according to their method of organization. In particular, governments may differ widely in how their officials, from heads of state to the lowest-ranked functionaries, are chosen. A popular government is organized in such a manner that political authority originates in and arises from the masses. Common citizens may exercise their authority either directly or through elected representatives:

When the people vote directly on political issues, as in a town-hall meeting, the majority tends to acquire and exercise unlimited power over the minority. Consequently, these direct democracies usually show little if any recognition for the rights of the individual. The inherent disadvantages of such structures may be mitigated if they include only a small number of persons, who all know and retain some respect for one another. Some politicians, such as Ross Perot, have proposed that the principle of direct participation be extended to large nations through electronic democracy. In order to minimize the agenda of issues requiring a popular vote in such a system, complex implementation details would have to be determined by an executive, who in practice would acquire quasi-autocratic powers. Perhaps for this reason, such proposals hold immense attraction for some populist politicians.