Final answer:
Citizens having a direct say in their government is an example of a direct democracy, where people directly participate in decision-making, unlike representative democracies where officials are elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Citizens having a direct say in how their government operates is an example of a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, unlike representative democracy, people participate directly in making government decisions. Ancient Athens is the most well-known example of a direct democracy where all eligible citizens had the opportunity to attend assemblies and vote on laws and policy decisions. In the modern United States, while the national and state governments are representative, some elements of direct democracy exist through referendums, ballot propositions, and town meetings.