According to the chapter, which of the following is NOT a valid component of civil disobedience?

• A. Any Action Must Be Approved by the Majority of the Community
• B. A Major Moral Issue Must Be at Stake
• C. It Must Be Non-Violent
• D. No Other Legitimate Means of Correcting the Issue Should Be Available

Answer: (A)

Civil disobedience is a deliberate, public, nonviolent challenge to a law the actor believes is unjust, with a willingness to accept the consequences in order to spur social or political change. This approach rests on three core elements: the issue at stake must be a major moral concern, the act must be nonviolent to preserve legitimacy and moral authority, and there should be no other legitimate means available to address the grievance through legal or political channels. Requiring that any action be approved by the majority of the community runs counter to how civil disobedience operates, because it is often used precisely when the majority does not recognize the injustice or when formal channels are insufficient. The absence of majority approval is part of what gives civil disobedience its power to highlight issues and provoke dialogue.