Some people argue that concentrating all power in one place allows a government to make quick decisions and enforce them effectively, while distributing power weakens the system. How does democracy challenge this view? In your answer, explain what principle underlies the sharing of power in a democratic government and why this principle matters.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:15 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Democracy challenges this view by proving that distributed power leads to better, more legitimate governance rather than weakness.
The core principle underlying power-sharing in democracy is that people are the source of all political power. Since power belongs to the people, it must be distributed among as many citizens as possible, not concentrated in one person or group.
This principle matters because:
- It ensures diverse groups and views are respected and have a voice in public policy.
- It prevents misuse of power through checks and balances among legislature, executive, and judiciary.
- It makes governance more representative and accountable.
Thus, sharing power does not weaken a system — it makes it more just and stable.
Source: Chapter 1, Forms of power-sharing
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Explanation
The examiner expects three things for 3 marks:
- Challenge to the argument — briefly state democracy's counter-view (1 mark).
- The principle — "people are the source of all political power" (1 mark). Use the exact phrase from the textbook.
- Why it matters — at least two reasons: representation of diverse groups, checks and balances, accountability (1 mark).
Avoid long elaboration on types of power-sharing (horizontal/vertical/etc.) — that goes beyond what this question asks and wastes time.