Final answer:
A strong presidency enables efficient decision-making and energizes the executive's ability to act swiftly, which is especially beneficial during urgent situations. It also reinforces the checks and balances system through required cooperation and compromise with the legislative body.
Step-by-step explanation:
A strong presidency provides several benefits to a representative democracy, one of which is efficient decision-making. A president can act with an energy that Congress, due to its size, cannot match. This speed and decisiveness are often crucial in situations that require quick action. As the executive leader, the president can make decisions more rapidly than the deliberative bodies of the legislature, which must navigate through extensive debate and consensus-building.
Moreover, a sturdy executive branch contributes to the system of checks and balances that is fundamental to a functioning representative democracy. The independence of the legislative arm ensures that the president must engage in cooperation and compromise, preventing unilateral actions and promoting balanced legislation.
Lastly, the strong presidency helps uphold the democratic principle by ensuring representation and freedom for citizens, securing a government that represents their collective interests in policy-making. In the United States, this is facilitated by elections at various levels of government, including the presidency, where the executive is held accountable by both the electorate and the other branches of government.