This form of democracy has been used by several societies. Ancient Athens practiced direct democracy, and even today one can find some Swiss cantons and in some New England town meetings. Before the advent of modern technology, direct democracy was not possible in an area larger than a city-state; therefore, it has not been very popular. Today, however, it is possible foe a society, using computers, television, and the telephone, to govern itself in much more direct way than was possible in the past.
Some states, however, have adapted limited direct democracy practices by which they allow the people to pass and repeal laws themselves.