Between direct and representative is participatory democracy. AKA citizen assemblies, citizen juries. A diliberative body (council, legislature) selects a bunc

Between direct and representative is participatory democracy. AKA citizen assemblies, citizen juries. A diliberative body (council, legislature) selects a bunch of people (sortition), gives them a charter (scope of work), empower sthem to investigate (interview experts, research, dig into a problem). The assembly/jury writes up their conclusions and recommendations. The empowering body then acts or not. All work and meetings are public. Early experiences have been very encouraging.