The town of Silver Springs has called its residents to a town hall meeting to discuss and vote on a special assessment to its property taxes. This is an example of
Group of answer choices
a. direct democracy.
b. representative democracy.
c. elite manipulation.
d. temporary insanity.
e. constitutional interpretation.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. direct democracy.
Direct democracy is a system where citizens have the power to make decisions on public policy directly, rather than through elected representatives. This contrasts with representative democracy, where elected officials make decisions on behalf of the people. In this case, the town of Silver Springs is calling its residents to a town hall meeting to discuss and vote on a special assessment to property taxes. This type of direct involvement in decision-making, where citizens vote on specific issues themselves, is a key characteristic of direct democracy.
Direct democracy allows for more immediate public participation in government decisions. It is often seen in smaller communities or on specific issues that affect a localized group of people. Examples of direct democracy in action include referendums, initiatives, and town hall meetings, where voters are asked to make decisions directly on issues, without intermediary steps like legislative action or representation by a politician.
In contrast, a representative democracy is where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. In representative systems, the public votes for representatives who will then pass laws, make policies, and handle other governance tasks. The situation described in Silver Springs, where residents are directly voting on a specific property tax issue, shows the community acting in a direct democracy rather than relying on representatives to make the decision.
The other choices are incorrect because:
- Elite manipulation refers to a situation where a small group of influential people or elites control or manipulate political decisions, which is not described here.
- Temporary insanity and constitutional interpretation have no relevance to this voting situation.