Which one among the following is NOT the central feature of Polyarchy

Which one among the following is NOT the central feature of Polyarchy ?

Government is in the hands of elected officials

Right to run for office is restricted

Practically all adults have the right to vote

There is free expression and a right to criticize and protest

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2019

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Option B is not a central feature of Polyarchy; instead, a core characteristic of Polyarchy is the right of virtually all adults to run for public office (subject to minimal qualifications).

Polyarchy, as conceptualized by political scientist Robert Dahl, is a type of government that falls between a closed hegemony and a full democracy. Its central features are high levels of both public contestation and the right to participate. These include: (1) Elected officials, (2) Free and fair elections, (3) Inclusive suffrage (right to vote for practically all adults), (4) Right to run for office (for practically all adults), (5) Freedom of expression, (6) Availability of alternative information, and (7) Freedom of association.

Options A, C, and D represent key dimensions of Polyarchy: A) elected officials ensure responsiveness to the electorate; C) inclusive suffrage broadens participation; D) freedom of expression and protest allows for public contestation and critique of the government. A system where the right to run for office is significantly restricted would limit contestation and participation, thus not being a characteristic of Polyarchy.

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