精英、多元、參與式
Many countries of the world are democracies. However, not all of them are the same.
世上許多國家都是民主國家。然而，並非所有民主國家都是同一類型。
Although the idea of democracy can be traced back to the ancient Greek ideal in which citizens have the power to govern the society they live in, nowadays there are three main types of democracies: elite, pluralist and participatory.
儘管民主概念可追溯回古希臘的理想，即民眾有權治理他們所處的社會，現今的民主體制主要分為三種類型：精英式、多元式、參與式民主。
be traced back to 追溯回過去的某個時候ideal(adj.)(n.)理想的、理想(的情形)govern(v.)管治、治理governor(n.)管轄者、總督government(n.)政府political elite 政治精英academic elite 學術精英plural(adj.)複數形式的participate(v.)參與、參加
An elite democracy favors a small group that holds all the decision-making power.
精英式民主傾向由小群體掌握決策權，
favor(v.)較喜歡、支持、贊同、傾向
It is based on the idea that wealthy, educated citizens are better suited to make political decisions.
其根據是富有且受過教育的民眾更適合作政治決策。
be based on 根據educate(v.)教育education(n.)教育
A pluralist democracy, on the other hand, involves rules and laws influenced by larger social groups, like political parties.
而多元式民主體制內的規章與法律則受政黨等社會上較大的群體所影響。
on the other hand 表對比influence(v.)(n.)影響
This type of democracy is favored in some places because it allows for negotiation between the groups in order to ensure that one doesn’t hold all the power.
某些地區傾向採用這種民主體制，因為它讓群體間能夠協商，確保不會一人獨大。
negotiation(n.)談判、協商negotiate(v.)談判、協商wage negotiation 薪資談判trade negotiation 貿易談判
The final type of democracy is participatory, which allows individual citizens to vote on laws and other important issues. Referendums are an example of this.
最後一種類型是參與式民主，這種體制讓民眾得以針對法案或其他重要議題進行投票，公投便是一例。
vote(v.)投票、(對某事)進行表決；(n.)(選)票abstention vote 棄權票blank vote 白票spoiled vote 廢票voter(n.)投票者、選民vote on sth. 就某事進行投票表決vote for sth. = vote in favor of sth. 投票支持某事vote against sth. 投票反對某事referendum(n.)全民公投
Not all democracies fit into one of these specific types.
並非所有民主國家都符合上述特定的類型。
fit into sth. 符合～、適合～
In fact, many Western-style democracies adopt a combination of them, with some aspects being direct, in which citizens vote on issues themselves, or indirect, in which they elect representatives to make decisions for them.
事實上，許多西方民主體制採用綜合型體制，當中有些面向是直接的（如民眾針對議題自行投票）或間接的（如推選代表替他們決策）。
adopt(v.)採用、採納a combination of sth. 某物的結合elect(v.)選舉、推選election(n.)選舉councilor(n.)市政委員、地方議會議員legislator(n.)立法委員
Countries like the U.S. and Taiwan have democracies that exhibit a mix of these types.
美國與台灣等國家的民主體制，便展現了這種綜合型民主體制。
exhibit(v.)展示、展現