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The best model for democracy is the one which has sufficient checks and balances built into it's design to prevent abuse of power, and one which enables decision to be made as close to the people they affect as possible.

The USA has good separation between the three branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. These branches of government are also, theoretically, constrained by the constitution which exists over and above government. The federal structure should ensure decisions can be made closer to the people, although the degree of autonomy is debatable.

Parliamentary democracies suffer from a centralisation of power in Parliament where the three branches of government are generally fused to some degree.

The Swiss model of Cantons and Communes as small autonomous units, with a strong tradition of direct democracy putting power in the hands of the people, which is after all the purpose of democracy, is probably as good as it gets. The power of the people ensures issues have to be debated and that people feel ownership of their governance. Accountability of government and politicians is improved and government functions as it was originally intended, to act on issues of common interest such as public goods, defence, and protection of liberty through law and order.

No democracy is perfect, but the best ones are those which reduce the scope for the views of one person to be imposed on another. This requires accountable government, and also small units of decision making.

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