The concept of citizen power is a concept taken from politics, relatively current, which refers to the conception that all citizens who are part of a nation must see their rights fulfilled. The concept is usually used in relation to political rights that should allow citizens not only to elect their representatives, but also to control them and carry out the different processes to prosecute and remove them if necessary. The conception of citizen power opposes the very traditional idea that politicians come to office representing a sector of the population and then make their wishes in power, even if they betray the promises they made during the campaign season. Since this is what happens in most countries, the notion of citizen power is what establishes that it is the people who can exercise the right to control and change their rulers if they deem it necessary.
Indirect democracy is a very young system of government compared to others since it has no more than two hundred years in Western societies and even less in some Eastern societies. Indirect democracy is based on the idea that citizens elect their representatives, who should govern by their choice, carrying out the promised projects, models and programs. This makes the relationship indirect since the people do not govern except through their representatives.
The idea of citizen power arises at the same time that democracy arises and is understood as the prerogative that citizens have to elect someone but also to remove them from power. Thus, it is the people who hand over their power to one or more representatives and therefore should also be empowered to take it away if that person does not comply with the promise or uses the public function for their own benefit. There are various measures and actions that are included within the notion of citizen power and what is sought to re-signify is not only the moment of vote or suffrage, but also to understand that citizen power rests on the people permanently.
