CBSE Class 9 Social Science Electoral Politics Assignment

ELECTIONS

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question : Which political party ruled over Haryana between 1982 to 1987?
Answer: The Congress Party.

Question : Who formed the new party named as Lok Dal?
Answer: Choudhary Devi Lal.

Question : When did the Lok Dal of Devi Lal and BJP combination form the government in Haryana?
Answer: In 1987.

Question : How many Lok Sabha Constituencies are there in Indian Parliament?
Answer: 543 seats.

Question : Area wise which is the largest Lok Sabha constituency in our country?
Answer: Ladakh.

Question : What is an Electoral Roll?
Answer: It is the list which contains the particulars of eligible voters.

Question : What is Bye Elections?
Answer: Election held to fill a vacancy caused by the death of the sitting member or due to any other reason.

Question : What is a Mid Term electron?
Answer: Elections held before the expiry of the full term of any house .

Question : How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes in Lok Sabha?
Answer: 79 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes.

Question : How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha?
Answer: 41 seats are reserved for Scheduled tribes.

Question : How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha?
Answer: One-third seats.

Question : What is party ticket?
Answer: Political Parties nominate their candidates who get party symbol and support during election from a particular constituency.

Question : What is Polling Booth?
Answer: A polling booth is a place where voters go inside and election officials identify them and put a mark on their finger and allow them to caste the vote.

Question : What is EVM?
Answer: Electronic Voting Machine.

Question : Who appointed the Cheif Election Commissioner in India?
Answer: President of India. 

Short Answer Type Questions

Question : Point out the demerits of electoral competition/ Political competition.
Answer:
1. It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
4. Some people say that this pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated
5. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena because they do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition

Question : Why is it necessary to check and regulate the activities of political parties and leaders?
Answer:
1. In an ideal world all political leaders know what are good for the people and are only motivated by the desire to serve them. But that is not what happens in real world.
2. Political leaders all over the world like other professionals are motivated by a desire to advance their political career.
3. They want to remain in power and positions for themselves.
4. They may wish to serve people as well, but it is risky to depend entirely on their sense of duty.
5. Even, when they wish to serve people, they may not know what is required to do or their ideas may not match with that of the people really want.

Question : Examine the advantages of ‘Regular electoral (political) competition.’
Answer:
1. Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders.
2. They know that if they raise issues that people want to be raised, their popularity and chances of victory will increase in the next elections.
3. But if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work they will not be able to win again. So, even if a political party is motivated only by desire to be in power, even then it will be forced to serve the people.
4. Political competitions may cause divisions and some ugliness, but it finally helps to force political parties and leaders to serve the people.

Question : Differentiate between General election, a by-election and a mid-term election.
Answer:
¶ Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every FIVE years. After five years the term of all the elected representatives come to an end. The Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha stands dissolved. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election.
¶ Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.
¶ Before the completion of the full term of five years, if Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha is dissolved, election will be held in all constituencies to form a new government. This is called mid-term election.

Question : What are electoral constituencies? How many constituencies are there for the Lok Sabha elections? 
Answer:
1. The country is divided into different areas for the purpose of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.
2. The voters who live in an area (Constituency) elect one representative.
3. For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies.
4. Similarly, each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies, and an elected member is called an MLA.
5. In Panchayats and Municipal elections also, each village and town are divided into several wards and people elect one representative from each ward.

Question : What are Reserved Constituencies? Why is reservation to Lok Sabha/ Vidhan Sabha/ Panchayats necessary? 
Answer:
1. Out of 543 Lok Sabha seats 79 seats have been reserved for Scheduled Caste people and 41 seats for Scheduled Tribe people.
2. This system of reservation is extended to Vidhan Sabha and Panchayats and Municipal Corporations also.
3. Makers of our Constitution were worried that certain weaker sections in the society may not be able to get elected to parliament and State Assemblies.
4. Reserved seats are necessary because the socially and economically backward class people do not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win election against others.
5. One-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Question : Define a ‘Voters’ list’/ Electoral Roll. 
Answer: Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who 1/3 cannot vote. In a democratic election, the list is of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List. The Voter’s List is prepared by The Election Commission of India

Question : What is EPIC? Can any other identity that be used by a voter as a proof apart from EPIC?
Answer:
1. Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] has been introduced by the government to be given to every person on the voters list.
2. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else.
3. For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving license.

Question : What does Universal Adult Franchise mean? OR Who can be a voter in India?
Answer:
1. All the citizens (Adult Citizens) aged 18 years and above can vote in an election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender etc.
2. Name of the voter has to be registered in the voters list for voting.
3. Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the right to vote in rare cases.

Question : Who can give nomination as a candidate in an election?
Answer:
1. An Indian citizen, of the age of 25, whose name appears in voters list can be a candidate in an election in India for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.
2. Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a Nomination For, and also give a certain amount of money as Security deposit.
3. A candidate also has to make an AFFIDAVIT on criminal record, Education and Assets and Liabilities.

Question : What do you understand by a ‘party ticket’?
Answer: Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party nomination is often known as party ‘ticket’. 

Question : State the various election laws for a party or candidate to follow to ensure the free and equal chance in election.
Answer:
1. According to our election law, neither party, nor any candidate can bribe or threaten voters.
2. They should not appeal to voters in the name of caste or religion.
3. They should not use government resources for election campaign, like govt. vehicles or places etc.
4. A candidate should not spend more than Rs. 25 lakhs in a constituency for Lok Sabha election or Rs. 10 lakhs in a constituency in an Assembly election.
5. If any of the above is violated, their election can be rejected by the court even after they have been declared elected.

Question : Point out the different stages in the election process.
Answer:
1. Demarcation of constituencies and preparation of Voter’s List by the Election Commission.
2. Nomination of candidates.
3. Scrutiny of the nomination papers and allocation of election symbols.
4. Election campaign by candidate and political parties.
5. Polling, counting and declaration of results

Question : Describe the significance of election campaign.
Answer:
1. During the election campaign, the people discuss openly and freely about the candidates and parties and their policies.
2. In India, campaign takes place for two weeks. ie. 14 days.
3. During this period, political leaders address election meetings, mobilize their supporters.
4. Political parties release Election Manifesto and there will be debates, rallies and door to door campaign.
5. They make attractive slogans and songs to draw attention of voters.
Eg. Garibi Hatao, Save Democracy, Land to the Tiller etc.

Question : What is the election turn out?
Answer:  People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the percent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote.

Question : What is an EVM?
Answer: EVM is the Electronic Voting Machines. EVM has replaced ballot papers. It has made voting and counting easier with more accuracy.

Question : “The outcome of the India’s elections speaks for itself.’’ Justify the statement with suitable explanation.
OR ‘Elections in India are free and fair’. Justify the statement.
Answer:
1. The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level. In fact in every two out of the three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost.
2. In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
3. Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
4. Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as people’s verdict by the defeated party.

Question : Compare the voter turnout of India with western democratic countries. OR Why is voter turnout higher in India? 
Answer:
1. Over the last fifty years, the turnout in Europe and North America has declined. In India the turnout has either remained stable or actually gone up.
2. In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies.
3. Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that through elections they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them. 

Question : How is the Election Commission formed in India? Why is it considered that ‘very few election commissions in the world have such wide-ranging powers as the Election Commission of India’? 
Answer:
1. The Election Commissioners are appointed by the President of India, and EC enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.
2. The EC has the full power to conduct the elections in free and fair manner. The EC is not answerable to the government. When on election duty, government officers work under the control of EC and not the government
3. Even if the ruling party does not like what the Election Commission does, it is virtually impossible to remove the Election Commissioners.
4. The process of removal of election commissioners is ‘IMPEACHMENT’, the same as the President of India, or the Judges of the High Court and the Supreme Court.
5. EC implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
6. During the election period, EC can order the government to follow some guide lines to prevent the use or misuse of government power. 

Question : What are the functions of the Election Commission?
Answer:
1. The Election Commission determines the Constituencies and prepares the voter’s list for election.
2. It plans the election schedule, appoints the election officials and ensures that free and fair elections are held.
3. The EC allots election symbols and prints ballot papers / EVM.
4. It receives the Nomination from the candidates and scrutinizes the nomination papers
5. E.C conducts polls, counts votes and declares the results.

Question : CCE QUESTIONS-
1. What makes an election democratic?
2. Write Short notes on Election Commission of India.
3. Define the terms: (a) Voter’s List (b) Electoral Constituencies

Question : Which of the following sentiments about the reason for conducting elections are false?