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In a democracy, which of the following is supposed to drive the government's policy agenda?

A. Issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail to get elected
B. Issues that Iittract the serious attention of public officials and other political actors
C. Issues brought to the forefront by prominent special interest groups
D. Issues that are asked about broadly on nationwide public opinion polls

User Minh Tran
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Final answer:

In a democracy, the government's policy agenda is primarily supposed to be driven by issues that attract serious attention from public officials and political actors, as these often reflect public opinion and citizen priorities. Option b

Step-by-step explanation:

In a democracy, the government's policy agenda is primarily influenced by the issues that citizens highlight as important. This occurs through various means such as voting, campaigning, and public opinion as expressed in polls.

When public opinion changes, governments often respond to align with the people's preferences, as seen in policies implemented by elected officials like President Obama, who focused on the economy, jobs, and health care following overwhelming public concern for these issues.

We can further understand that the democratic process is enriched by the public's involvement and expression through polls and elections, thereby shaping public policy.

Therefore, in response to the question, the most accurate option would be B. Issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other political actors, since they are typically driven by what citizens express as high-priority during elections and through ongoing public opinion. This is not to say that other factors do not influence policy agendas, but in an ideal democracy, public opinion is paramount. option b

User VSadov
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