Criteria are the reason why something

However, precepts are the principle or bedrocks of democracy. Hence here is more suitable as (ii) blank

Regards

A (i) _____ democracy must be built on certain (ii) _____ in order to survive. Giving the populace the right to vote without establishing the rule of law makes a young democracy (iii) _____ to devolving into a dictatorship.

Blank (i)	Blank (ii)	Blank (iii)
A. well-established	D. precepts	G. dedicated
B. nascent	E. criteria	H. resolute
C. representative	F. precedents	I. prone

The answers are B, D and I.

Blank (i): "Nascent" appropriately describes a democracy in its early or beginning stages, indicating that the discussion revolves around a young or developing democracy.

Blank (ii): "Precepts" refers to foundational principles or rules that are fundamental to the functioning of a democracy. These are the essential guidelines necessary for the establishment and sustenance of a democratic system.

Blank (iii): "Prone" indicates the susceptibility or vulnerability of a young democracy to negative outcomes, such as the risk of devolving into a dictatorship, particularly when these foundational principles (precepts) are not firmly established.

Therefore, the completion using "nascent," "precepts," and "prone" effectively conveys the idea that a young democracy requires certain foundational principles (precepts) for survival, and without them, it's vulnerable to negative outcomes like devolving into a dictatorship.

A (i) $\(\qquad\)$ democracy must be built on certain (ii) $\(\qquad\)$ in order to survive. Giving the populace the right to vote without establishing the rule of law makes a young democracy (iii) $\(\qquad\)$ to evolving into a dictatorship.

Blank (i)	Blank (ii)	Blank (iii)
A. well-established	D. precepts	G. dedicated
B. nascent	E. criteria	H. resolute
C. representative	F. precedents	I. prone

criteria is not something on which democracy can be built. It might be benchmark to which something can be compared.