we're on autopilot... didn't you all have civics class?
republican legislature, we're represented by people who do nothing but vote.. we don't do it except on a local scale
"true"/direct democracy, everyone votes on everything
referendum and something else (can't remember the word, initiative maybe??) allow citizens to petition to make a law.. I do think that congress still has to write it so they could word it to be loosely interpreted but that's about it, they couldn't stop it
also any challenges to it would be challenges to the most rich and powerful in america so that would be hard, although judges would hear it and the legislature and judiciary are always arguing about what the law REALLY means so that could open up some JUD on LEG infighting on the federal level....
man that might make a great new set of checks and balances.. we'd have to find a way for either of them: JUD or LEG to burn the executive branch though