Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumTypes of Representative Democracy

During a state's redistricting process, a commission composed entirely of retired federal judges and constitutional law professors is appointed to redraw congressional districts, with the goal of ensuring map neutrality without public input. Which of the following models of representative democracy is best illustrated by this commission's structure and authority?

  1. A
    Participatory democracy, because the commission's primary purpose is to ensure that every individual citizen's vote carries equal weight in future elections.
  2. Elite democracy, because it vests the power to make critical policy decisions in a small, specialized group of highly educated individuals.Answer
  3. C
    Pluralist democracy, because the commission acts as an independent group that bargains with the state legislature to reach a compromise on the maps.
  4. D
    Pluralist democracy, because the commission is composed of members from different professional backgrounds who represent competing societal interests.

Answer

Elite democracy, because it vests the power to make critical policy decisions in a small, specialized group of highly educated individuals.
The correct answer is correct because elite democracy is a model of representative democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy, highly educated, or possess specialized expertise, influence political decision-making. In this scenario, the redistricting process is entirely controlled by a select group of retired judges and constitutional law scholars without direct public participation, which aligns with elite democracy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key features of the decision-making body in the scenario.
The commission is composed entirely of retired federal judges and law professors (a small, highly educated group of experts) who redraw maps without public input.
Analyzing the composition and public accessibility of the decision-making body helps determine which model of representative democracy is at play.
2
Compare the features of the scenario against the three models of representative democracy.
Participatory democracy requires broad, direct citizen involvement. Pluralist democracy requires competing interest groups. Elite democracy emphasizes limited public involvement, placing power in the hands of a select few.
Understanding the definitions of the three models allows for accurate classification of the scenario.
3
Select the model that best matches the scenario.
Since the commission consists of a small, specialized group of experts who make policy decisions insulated from public input, it aligns with elite democracy.
Vesting policy-making power in a select group of highly educated experts is the core characteristic of the elite model of democracy.

Key Concept

Models of Representative Democracy
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Types of Representative Democracy

More questions from this topic