Which of the following is a characteristic of a totalitarian government? (1 point)
• lack of civil liberties
• adherence to the rule of law
• checks on power
• free and fair elections
lack of civil liberties
A characteristic of a totalitarian government is the lack of civil liberties.
The characteristic of a totalitarian government among the options you mentioned is "lack of civil liberties," which is associated with this type of regime. To understand how to arrive at the answer, let's go through the options step by step.
1. Lack of civil liberties: Totalitarian governments often suppress individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion. They exercise strict control over citizens' lives by restricting their rights and freedoms.
2. Adherence to the rule of law: Totalitarian governments typically do not prioritize the rule of law. Instead, they tend to favor the leader or ruling party's ideologies and interests rather than following established legal frameworks.
3. Checks on power: Totalitarian governments usually consolidate power in the hands of a single leader or a small group of individuals who exercise total control. There are limited to no checks and balances in place to prevent abuse of power.
4. Free and fair elections: Totalitarian regimes often do not hold free and fair elections that give citizens a genuine choice in governance. Instead, they manipulate or control electoral processes to maintain their grip on power.
Based on these explanations, we can determine that the characteristic of a totalitarian government is the "lack of civil liberties." This is the defining feature that distinguishes it from other forms of government.