DEMO POLITICS (X)- LESSON-1 POWER SHARING (QUESTION ANSWERS)

 

DEMO POLITICS (X)- LESSON-1

POWER SHARING

(QUESTION ANSWERS)

 

(NCERT QUESTION ANSWERS)

Q.1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Ans.
FORMS OF POWER SHARING

v Horizontal distribution of power

Ø Power is shared among different organs of government,  legislature, executive and judiciary

Ø It is called as the horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. 

Ø Each organ checks the powers of other organs. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

Ø This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

 

v  VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER SHARING

Ø Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.

Ø In India there are three levels  of government as-

§  Central Level-Federal government or Central or Union Government.

§  Provincial or regional level –State Government

§  Local Level-Panchayats Or Municipalities

Ø The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.

Ø This is also called federal division of power.

v POWER SHARING  AMONG DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS

Ø In a democracy power also can share among different social groups like religious and linguistic groups.

Ø In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

Ø This power sharing provides the space in the government and administration to diverse social.

Ø This method also gave fair share to minority communities in power.

Ø Community government’ in Belgium and ‘reserved constituencies’ in India are the good examples of this power sharing.

v  POWER SHARING AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES, PRESSURE AND MOVEMENTS GROUPS-

Ø  In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.

Ø  In contemporary democracies, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups

Ø   In a democracy power is also shared among the interest groups such as groups of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision-making process.

Q.2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Ans.
(i) (a) India is a multicultural society.
(b) India is a democratic country.

Q.3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why ? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mattai – Power sharing is suited only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ousep – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions.
Ans.
The conclusion drawn by Ouseph is correct. Every society needs some form of power-sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions because power-sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflicts among individuals too. For example, there may be a difference of opinion among the members of a joint family. Such differences may be resolved if responsibilities and powers are divided among the members of the family. Similar is the case in societies and governments. Thus there should be power-sharing in small or big societies or countries.

If there are different communities in a country they should try to accommodate each other as has been done in Belgium – where the French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the central government.

Q.4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non¬Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements ? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Ans.
The ban on speaking French in the town’s schools in Merchtem is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements because this is a Flemish town. Dutch is spoken by the people in this region. The ban is an example of the imposition of the will of the majority on the minority which is against the principle of accommodation under which the Belgian leaders recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. However, they amended their constitution to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the country. On the other hand, the ban on speaking French may result in strained relations between French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities.

Q.5. Read the following passage, and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. The Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption, and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus the Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Ans. The following prudential reasons are cited into the passage for power sharing.
(a) Reducing corruption by giving power into the hands of the people and thus, making them responsible for their own decisions.
(b) Increasing administrative efficiency by delegating the decision-making function to the people affected by it.
(c) Improving the efficiency of the system by reducing the number of middlemen, and transferring the planning and implementation to the people concerned through the Panchayats.

6. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka :
A. In Belgium the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka the policies of government ensured the dominance of the Sinhala speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given are correct ?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B, and D
(c) B and D
(d) B, C and D

ANS-

7. Match List I (forms of powe- sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using codes given below the lists :

List I	List II
(i) Power shared among different organs of government	A. Community government
(ii) Power shared among governments at different levels	B. Separation of Powers
(iii) Power shared by different social groups	C. Coalition government
(iv) Power shared by two or more political parties	D. Federal government

(a) (i) – D, (ii) – A, (iii) – B, (iv) – C
(b) (i) – B, (ii) – C, (iii) – D, (iv) – A
(c) (i) – B, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – C
(d) (i) – C, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – B

ANS-C

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

 1. Tamil natives of Sri Lanka are called the
(a) Indian Tamils
(b) Muslim Tamils
(c) Sri Lankan Tamils
(d) Christian Tamils

 2. The term Eelam stands for
(a) government
(b) state
(c) country
(d) political party

 3. Division of powers between higher and lower levels of government is called
(a) horizontal division
(b) parallel division
(c) vertical division
(d) none of the above

 4. Which two languages are generally spoken in Belgium?
(a) French and English
(b) Dutch and Sinhala
(c) French and Sinhala
(d) Dutch and French.

5. Brussels is the capital of
(a) Belgium
(b) the Netherland
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) West Indies

 

 6. A system of ‘checks and balances’ is another name for which one of the following power-sharing arrangements:
(a) Power sharing among different social groups.
(b) Vertical division of power or power shared among different levels of government.
(c) Horizontal division of power or power shared among different organs of the government.
(d) Power sharing in the form of political parties, pressure groups and governments.

 7. In dealing with power sharing, which one of the following statements is NOT correct about democracy?
(a) People are the source of all political power. !
(b) In a democracy, people rule themselves j through institutions of self-governance.
(c) In a democracy, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.

(d) In a democracy, if the power to decide is dispersed, it is not possible to take quick decisions and enforce them.

 

 8. System of ‘checks and balances’ means:
(a) Horizontal distribution of powers.
(b) Separation of powers.
(c) Put a check on the exercise of unlimited powers of the organs of government by maintaining a balance of power among various institutions.
(d) Federal division of powers

 9. Power sharing is:
(a) the very spirit of democracy
(b) separation of powers at different levels.
(c) system of checks and balances.
(d) a type of balancing powers.

 10. Who elects the community government in Belgium?
(a) People belonging to one language community only.
(b) By the leader of Belgium.
(c) The citizens of the whole country.
(d) The community leaders of Belgium.

 11. In which year Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country?
(a) 1947
(b) 1948
(c) 1949
(d) 1950

 12. Which is the state religion of Sri Lanka?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Hinduism
(c) Islam
(d) Christianity

 

 13. Which major social group constituted the largest share in population of Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhalas
(b) Sri Lankan Tamils
(c) Indian Tamils
(d) Muslims

 14. Which language is spoken by the majority of Belgians?
(a) German
(b) French
(c) Dutch
(d) English

 15. Which religion is followed by Sinhala speaking people?
(a) Hindus
(b) Muslims
(c) Buddhists
(d) None of these

 16. Which language was declared as the only official language of Sri Lanka by an Act passed in 1956?
(a) Tamil
(b) Sinhala
(c) Hindi
(d) English

 

17. Which of the following is not one of the three organs of government powers are shared?
(a) Legislature
(b) Bureaucracy
(c) Executive
(d) Judiciary

 18. Which of the following is not one of the aspects of federal division of powers?
(a) Sharing of powers among central provincial and local governments
(b) Division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government
(c) The Constitution clearly lays down powers of different levels of government
(d) There is no vertical division of powers

19. What led to non-sharing of power?
(a) Peace among all the communities
(b) The tyranny of the majority and oppression of minority
(c) Negation of the very spirit of democracy
(d) Both (b) and (c)

 20. How many times was the Constitution of Belgium amended between 1970 and 1993?
(a) Two times
(b) Three times
(c) Five times
(d) Four times

ANSWERS

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
C	B	C	D	A	C	D	C	A	A
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
B	A	A	C	C	B	B	D	D	D

 

 1. Which language was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956? (2012)
Answer: Sinhala

 2. Apart from the Central and the State governments, which is the third type of government practised in Belgium? (2012)
Answer: Community government

 3. Define majoritarianism. (2013)
Answer: Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority community.

 4. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala Supremacy? (2014)
Answer:

·        In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

·        The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions and government jobs.

 5. What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium?
Answer: People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

 6. What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)
Answer: The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is shared among different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances. This system ensures that none of these organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the other.

 7. After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of which community?
Answer: Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the democratically elected government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.

 8. Define the term ‘Ethnic’.
Answer: Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. People belonging to an ethnic group need not have the same religion or nationality.

 9. What is vertical division of power?
Answer: When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical division of power.

Short Answer s (SA) 3 Marks

 10. Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity.
Answer: Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:

1.    Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings and interests of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.

2.    Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre. Along with the State Government, both communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language related issues.

3.    Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all linguistic groups to live together within the same country.

Sri Lanka:

1.    In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking (18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over Tamils, refusing to share power.

2.    Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political, educational, religious, employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.

3.    In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

 11. How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the spirit of democracy?
Answer: Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Conflict between social groups leads to violence and political instability. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may undermine the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority, it often brings ruin to the majority as well.

A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas moral reasons emphasize the act of power sharing as valuable.

 12. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government.
Ans. Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences of these majoritarian policies:

1.    The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.

2.    The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics, in getting jobs and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities became extremely strained as a result.

3.    The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

4.    Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War. As a result, thousands of people of both communities were killed and many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and lost their livelihoods.

 13. Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?
Answer: Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore.

·        59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language.

·        Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German.

·        Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the population is French-speaking and 20 per cent is Dutch-speaking.