Question

Which of the following was a characteristic of representative government in colonial America? A It allowed one person to make the critical decisions. B It gave all political power to a few key leaders. C It gave citizens a voice in their government. D It prohibited taxation by the government.

Answer 1

Representative government in colonial America gave citizens a voice by allowing property-owning males to vote for colonial assemblies that initiated legislation, controlled the budget, and had the power to petition the crown.

Step-by-step explanation:

A characteristic of representative government in colonial America was that it gave citizens a voice in their government. This can be observed in the various colonial assemblies that had the authority to initiate legislation, control the budget, and petition the monarchy for grievances. Despite being far from democratic by today's standards, these assemblies allowed property-owning males to vote and represent the interests of their localities, contrasting with the British concept of 'virtual representation.' Moreover, the colonial assemblies continually worked to expand their power and influence, often seeking to make decisions locally due to the impracticality of waiting for directives from across the Atlantic, and due to the distractions of the British crown with other international concerns.