Question

To ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies must act to protect: a) universal suffrage b) representative elections c) minority rights d) written constitutions e) free and competitive elections

Answer 1

To ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies must act to protect minority rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies must act to protect minority rights. While universal suffrage, representative elections, written constitutions, and free and competitive elections are all important aspects of a democracy, they alone cannot protect against the potential tyranny of the majority. Minority rights ensure that the rights of individuals or groups who may be marginalized or outnumbered are still protected and respected within the democratic system.

Answer 2

Modern democracies must protect minority rights to prevent the majority from becoming oppressive. A representative democracy like the U.S. uses a written constitution, laws, and cases such as Reynolds v. Sims to ensure fair representation and protect minority interests.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies must act to protect minority rights. This protection is essential to prevent what is known as the tyranny of the majority, where the majority may enforce their will on minorities in ways that can be undemocratic and unjust. While democracies are characterized by majority rule through free and competitive elections, universal suffrage, and representative government, they also uphold standards of fairness and equality that necessitate protection for minority groups. In the United States, which operates as a representative democracy, this is achieved through a system of checks and balances, laws, and a written constitution that explicitly defines and guards these rights against infringement by the majority.

For example, court cases like Reynolds v. Sims help ensure fair representation and prevent majority domination by implementing the principle of 'one person, one vote'. In a republic, a key difference from a pure democracy is the duty of government to protect the rights of minorities, which is integral to the structure of the system and is reflected in governance strategies and legal frameworks.