Multiple Choice. Which characteristic distinguishes the decision-making processes of American democracy from those of totalitarian governments?

Question

• Decisions made by a small, elite group
• Centralized decision-making by a single leader
• Power dispersed among multiple branches of government
• Direct democracy where citizens vote on all issues

Answer 1

The characteristic that distinguishes the decision-making processes of American democracy from those of totalitarian governments is:

• Power dispersed among multiple branches of government

In American democracy, power is divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, which promotes checks and balances, whereas totalitarian governments typically concentrate power in a singular leadership or a small elite group.