Final answer:
Participatory democracy is a form of direct democracy where citizens have direct involvement in decision-making, unlike representative democracy where officials are elected to make decisions. Elements of participatory democracy, such as referenda, exist within the broader context of a representative democracy like the United States. Oligarchy and totalitarian dictatorship represent forms of governance with significantly less citizen participation and control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Participatory democracy is a model of democracy whereby citizens have the power to make decisions on legislation and policies that affect their lives, rather than solely electing representatives to make those decisions. This model of democracy is based on the principle that all citizens should have the opportunity to actively participate in the political process, typically through mechanisms such as referenda and town hall meetings. It is a form of direct democracy, where active participation of citizens in policy-making is a central feature.
In contrast to participatory democracy, a representative democracy is a system in which the populace elects officials to represent their interests within the legislature. Over time, traditional forms of democracy have evolved into representative systems to manage the complexities of governing large populations, such as in the United States, where decision-making rests with elected lawmakers. Yet, certain elements of direct democracy still exist in the U.S., where citizens may vote on specific issues during elections via referenda.
An oligarchy is radically different, as it is a form of government in which a small elite group has control, and a totalitarian dictatorship is an even more extreme form of governance, where the ruler or ruling party has near-total control over the lives of citizens, often with little to no input from the general populace.