Question

To guarantee that elected representatives can be held accountable for their actions by the electorate, an ideal representative democracy has a number of safeguards. Which of the following is not an example of a safeguard in an ideal representative democracy?

A. A fair court system that is independent from the political system
B. Universal adult suffrage
C. An individual's right to freedom of expression, opinion, and organisation
D. A political police force and armed services

Answer 1

In an ideal representative democracy, safeguards like an independent court system, universal suffrage, and freedoms of expression are vital, but a political police force is not a safeguard and may undermine democracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

An ideal representative democracy has safeguards to ensure that elected representatives are accountable to the electorate. Many features contribute to this accountability, such as a fair and independent court system, universal adult suffrage, and the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and organization. These safeguards provide checks and balances against the abuse of power and help maintain the democratic process. However, the presence of a political police force and armed services is not typically considered a safeguard in a democracy. Instead, a political police force may suppress dissent and undermine democratic freedoms, which is counterproductive to the principles of a representative democracy.