Question

If a legislative body was composed of 15% Latinos and 70% males in a state whose residents were 35% Latino and 50% male, the legislative body could be said to lack ______ representation.

a. substantive
b. descriptive
c. delegate
d. trustee

Answer 1

The legislative body lacks descriptive representation because the composition of the Latinos and gender does not reflect the state's demographics.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a legislative body is composed of 15% Latinos and 70% males, and this body exists in a state where the residents are 35% Latino and 50% male, the legislative body could be said to lack descriptive representation. Descriptive representation refers to the type of representation where the representatives share demographic characteristics, such as ethnicity and gender, with the people they represent. Therefore, the correct answer is b. descriptive. This is based on the contrast with the state's actual demographics suggesting that Latinos and females are underrepresented in the legislative body.

An example of descriptive representation could be a Latino politician elected from a heavily Latina/Latino district. This is due to the representative sharing similar demographic characteristics with the constituents, aligning with the populace's ethnic makeup.