Final answer:
The one defining feature of a minority group is the lack of power, not necessarily being a numerical minority. Minority rights are safeguarded in representative governments, and majority rule can sometimes fail to produce a single preferred outcome when multiple choices are available.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defining Minority Groups:
The term minority is used in different contexts and holds various meanings. However, one defining feature of a minority group is lack of power. In the context of social sciences, this does not necessarily equate to being a numerical minority but rather having less control or authority compared to the dominant group. Charles Wagley and Marvin Harris outlined characteristics such as unequal treatment, involuntary membership, and awareness of subordination, among others, for minority or subordinate groups.
Regarding the protection of minority rights in representative governments, it's important to underscore that even when the majority has a certain viewpoint, the rights of minority groups are safeguarded. This ensures that groups such as atheists, or people with disabilities, are not unfairly targeted or deprived of their rights.
Concerning majority rule, it is true that this principle can fail to produce a single preferred outcome when there are more than two choices. This can lead to complex voting dynamics where no single option gains a majority of the support.