Reply #3: It's a Republic. The people only have an indirect say in the affairs of Congress outside the ballot.

[Selatius]

It is when you cast your ballot that you do have a direct hand in what happens inside Congress, but beyond that, you're an indirect participant at best. If you want the ability to recall legislators, challenge acts of congress, or even propose initiatives like they do in California, you would have to go to a different country. Switzerland is a good example of a democracy as opposed to a republic. People can directly weigh in on what happens in congress.