Final answer:
Representative democracy is a system where citizens elect officials to make legislative decisions on their behalf, unlike in a direct democracy where citizens vote on each issue themselves.
Step-by-step explanation:
A form of democracy that derives its authority from the people, where citizens elect government officials to represent them in the process of making laws, is known as a representative democracy. In representative democracies, such as the United States, the public does not vote on every issue directly but rather elects officials who make decisions on their behalf. This system ensures that the people have a voice through their elected representatives, who are accountable to the electorate for their legislative actions and decisions.