Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: What is implied about the relationship between citizens and democratic institutions?

• A. Citizens cannot influence institutions
• B. Institutions are entirely self-preserving
• C. Citizens play an active role in sustaining democracy
• D. Democratic institutions should restrict citizens' rights

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Citizens play an active role in sustaining democracy

The passage repeatedly emphasizes that democratic institutions do not survive on their own without the active involvement and responsibility of the public:

1. Active Participation: The author explicitly states that "democracy itself is not self-sustaining; it requires vigilant citizens who recognize that rights are not entitlements in perpetuity, but privileges preserved through active participation."

2. Impact on Institutions: The passage warns that "when freedom is divorced from responsibility, democratic institutions become vulnerable to erosion—from within."

3. Role of Civic Virtues: The author concludes that "Democracy survives not just through the laws it enacts, but through the civic virtues its citizens embody," directly implying that citizens play an essential, active role in keeping democratic institutions functional and resilient.