Which author warned democracy's health relies on voluntary associations and civic engagement?

Which author warned democracy's health relies on voluntary associations and civic engagement?

• A. Alexis de Tocqueville - Democracy in America
• B. Lyndon B. Johnson - Great Society Speech (1964)
• C. Buck v. Bell (1927)
• D. Chevron v. NRDC (1984)

Answer: (A)

Democracy thrives when people actively participate in public life and join voluntary groups that connect citizens, foster collaboration, and build social capital. Alexis de Tocqueville argued in Democracy in America that these associations—whether civic clubs, religious groups, or mutual-aity societies—teach citizens how to govern themselves, create a healthy balance of power, and prevent tyranny by keeping government responsive. The other options do not express this idea: Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society speeches focus on expanding government programs to address social issues; Buck v. Bell is a Supreme Court case about eugenics; Chevron v. NRDC deals with how courts defer to agency interpretations of laws. Therefore, the author who warned about democracy’s health depending on voluntary associations and civic engagement is Alexis de Tocqueville.

Democracy thrives when people actively participate in public life and join voluntary groups that connect citizens, foster collaboration, and build social capital. Alexis de Tocqueville argued in Democracy in America that these associations—whether civic clubs, religious groups, or mutual-aity societies—teach citizens how to govern themselves, create a healthy balance of power, and prevent tyranny by keeping government responsive. The other options do not express this idea: Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society speeches focus on expanding government programs to address social issues; Buck v. Bell is a Supreme Court case about eugenics; Chevron v. NRDC deals with how courts defer to agency interpretations of laws. Therefore, the author who warned about democracy’s health depending on voluntary associations and civic engagement is Alexis de Tocqueville.