Which term describes a system in which the government must answer to the people’s elected representatives?

• A. Direct Rule
• B. Indirect Rule
• C. Representative Democracy
• D. Responsible Government

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is accountability of the government to elected representatives. Responsible government is a system where the executive is drawn from the legislature and must maintain the confidence of that elected body. That means the government has to answer for its policies and actions to the representatives who were chosen by the people. If the legislature loses confidence in the government, it typically must resign or seek a new mandate. This arrangement keeps the ruling power aligned with the people’s will as expressed through their elected representatives.

Direct rule would mean ruling without such representative accountability. Indirect rule involves local or subordinate authorities under a central power but doesn’t by itself guarantee the government must answer to the legislature. Representative democracy involves electing people to make decisions, but responsible government specifies the mechanism of accountability to the elected representatives themselves.