Ask a silly question...

Usually an agent has their own client list and works on their own- an associate agent is newer at the game and sometimes works with a more experienced agent- for example my agent's assistant worked for her for years and now has moved up to being an associate agent- after a few years he'll be an agent- usually associate agents are hungrier and actively working on finding clients...

They probably run stuff by them as part of the learning process, but by then, I'd imagine the associate agent has been screening work for the agent for a while and knows what works and what doesn't. They wouldn't have been given a shot at agenting if they didn't have that eye. I'd imagine it would vary depending on the relationship and how that agency works. Everyone has their own procedures.