Final answer:
Elite democracy is a form of representative democracy where a small, elite group holds significant power, which stands in contrast to broader representative democracies where citizens elect officials to represent their interests more inclusively.
Step-by-step explanation:
An elite democracy is a model of representative democracy where a small group of individuals, often those with wealth, high social status, or substantial political influence, hold significant power even though representatives are elected by the people. This contrasts with direct democracy, where citizens themselves vote on policy issues. Elite democracy is closer to an oligarchic rule, in which power is held by a small, elite group, rather than other systems like monarchies or totalitarian dictatorships where power is concentrated in the hands of a single person or party.
In a representative democracy, citizens exercise their political power by electing officials to represent their interests, making it more inclusive compared to elite democracy. In contrast, forms of government such as oligarchies or totalitarian dictatorships restrict the power to a select few and may not consider the will or welfare of the general population.