Question

D. Legitimacy Test: Government's legitimacy is based on the general belief of people that their government has the right to rule. Based on this definition, decide if the situations below jeopardize the government's legitimacy. Then explain your answer.

In a democracy, citizens widely believe that their government is corrupt and engages in fraudulent activities.
a) Yes
b) No

Answer 1

Yes, widespread belief among citizens in a democracy that their government is corrupt and engages in fraudulent activities jeopardizes the government's legitimacy because it undermines the fundamental trust and consent that legitimize the government's authority.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a democracy, the legitimacy of the government is based on the consent of the people and the belief that the government has the right to rule. This legitimacy often comes from the process of free and fair elections, where leaders are chosen and given authority by the governed.

However, if citizens widely believe that their government is corrupt and engages in fraudulent activities, it jeopardizes the government's legitimacy because it undermines the trust and consent that serve as the foundation for the government's authority. In such a scenario, the belief in the government's right to rule is compromised, leading to issues of legitimacy.