Question

Difficulty: EasyTypes of Representative Democracy

A state uses a referendum process that allows registered voters to cast ballots directly on whether to approve or reject a new environmental law passed by the state legislature. Which model of representative democracy is best illustrated by this scenario?

  1. A
    Pluralist democracy
  2. Participatory democracyAnswer
  3. C
    Elite democracy
  4. D
    Popular sovereignty

Answer

Participatory democracy
Participatory democracy is characterized by the direct participation of citizens in political decisions and public life. A referendum allows individual citizens to vote directly on policy issues, which directly exemplifies this model.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main political mechanism described in the scenario.
The scenario describes a referendum where individual citizens vote directly on a law.
Understanding the core mechanism helps determine which democratic model is represented.
2
Analyze which model of representative democracy aligns with direct citizen voting on laws.
The participatory model emphasizes broad participation and direct citizen influence in policy-making, which matches the referendum process.
This confirms the alignment between the scenario's mechanism and the correct democratic model.

Key Concept

Participatory democracy is characterized by broad, direct participation of citizens in political decision-making.
Rate this question