The Constitution created a democratic republic, not a democracy. In a

Question

The Constitution created a democratic republic, not a democracy. In a democracy, citizens vote directly on government policies, while in a republic, they elect representatives to develop policies on their behalf. Vestiges of democracy remain in America. They include the New England town meeting when residents directly vote on issues, such as whether the town should purchase a new police cruiser. The ballot initiative, also called the referendum, exists in over 40 states, allowing voters to make specific policies, such as whether a state should repeal its capital punishment law.  Most laws in the United States today, however, are passed by representatives elected by the citizens.  This system comprises the republic.    1 
 1. Which of the following would make the best title for this passage?

(A) What is the Ballot Initiative?
(B) Town Meetings, A New England Tradition
(C) No More Democracies!
(D) The American Democracy Is a Lie!
(E) America’s Democratic Republic System

2 
 2. According to the passage, New England town meetings operate under what political system?

(A) They are democracies.
(B) They are republics.
(C) They are republican democracies.
(D) They are representative democracies.
(E) They are representative republics.

3 
 3. Which of the following best describes the role of the sentence  Highlighted ] in the passage?

(A) It introduces the main idea.
(B) It is the conclusion.
(C) It is a part of a group of sentences listing examples to prove the main point of the passage.
(D) It turns the paragraph back to the main topic after a series of sentences that provided exceptions to the topic under discussion.
(E) It refutes the thesis of the passage.

4 
 4. According to the passage, what is another term for “ballot initiative” and what kind of government is it an example of?

(A) Referral; Democracy
(B) Referendum; Democracy
(C) Rehabilitation; Democratic republic
(D) Rebuttal; Democracy
(E) Realignment; Republic

5 
 5. According to the passage, what would be another example of a democratic republic form of governing?

(A) An entire student body votes on the next school president.
(B) A CEO chooses the best candidate from several dozen applicants.
(C) The Board of Trustees, chosen by election, vote on the next steps for an insurance company.
(D) A group of people decide to choose a leader from within their ranks.
(E) The government decides who should lead the military.

American Constitutional History  by Jack Fruchtman

TheGriffin · Answer

can someone explain Q3 ? what are the exceptions here

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. Which of the following best describes the role of the sentence   in the passage?

Explanation

Choice (D)  is best because the passage seeks to build an argument that America is a democratic republic. In order to do so fairly, several examples of a true democracy are offered, and the bolded sentence acknowledges them before turning the paragraph back to the topic.

Answer: D

wasario · Answer

Answers with my personal explanations:

1.   This is basically another way of asking "what is the main idea of the passage"?

A -  Wrong, because the ballot initiative is not the main point of the passage, it is simply mentioned as an example of a democracy.
 B  - Wrong, same reason as A
 C  - Wrong, the passage's tone is not negative towards democracies, the tone is rather neutral and "explanatory"
 D -  Wrong, same reason as C
 E  - Correct, the passage's main goal is to discuss that America is a democratic republic, with SOME democratic systems in place on a smaller scale.

2. The answer to this question is in the sentence before the one in which the New England town meetings are discussed. It says "Vestiges of democracy remain in America", followed up by the New England town meetings example. Therefore, the answer is A

3. This question is a role question, let's look at the answer choices

A -  Wrong, the main idea was already introduced in the beginning.
 B  - Wrong, this SEEMS like a good answer, but it's not the best. It's not really concluding anything as much as it is simply bringing up a point already brought up before.
 C -  Wrong, the highlighted sentence goes AGAINST the examples, which were all about democracies; however, these examples were then COUNTERED by the main idea that DESPITE these examples of democracy, America is still a democratic republic at the end of the day.
 D  - Correct, the passage listed 2 examples of democracies within America before reiterating that despite these local democracies existing, America is still a democratic republic at the end of the day, which is what the main idea of this passage is and was iterated in the first sentence.
 E  - Wrong, it is in agreement with the thesis

4. In the sentence referring the ballot initiative, it says it is "also called the referendum", and talks about how voters are directly responsible for the outcome, which matches the definition of a democracy according to the passage. B is the correct answer

5. To reiterate, ACCORDING TO THE PASSAGE (never make your own assumptions about something), a democratic republic is a system in which the representatives voted in by the people make decisions on the people's behalf.

A  - Wrong, this is an example of democracy. It SEEMS right because voters are picking their president, but no one said anything about the president REPRESENTING the voters in any way in this particular school board or making decisions on their behalf (it's a trick answer, never make assumptions!)
 B  - Wrong, the CEO isn't doing this on anyone's behalf, nor is there any mention that he was elected in by the voters.
 C  - Correct, because the Board of Officials were voted in by the people and are now picking the next steps on the people's behalf for the insurance company
 D  - Wrong, this is an example of democracy
 E  - Wrong, this answer SEEMS right, but is not the best example, because it's not mentioned in the answer choice anywhere that the government was elected in by the people, or that the government even has representatives elected in (it simply says "the government" NOT "the American government", never make assumptions!)

The Constitution created a democratic republic, not a democracy. In a

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The Constitution created a democratic republic, not a democracy. In a

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