CBSE Class 10 Social Science Political Science Democratic Politics II Important Questions with Answers Set 04

Answer: 1. Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, ignoring the wishes and needs of the minority.
2. A civil war is a violent conflict between opposing groups within a country, which is so intense that it looks like a war.
3. In Belgium, the community government is elected by people belonging to one language community, wherever they live, and has the power over cultural, educational and language-related issues.
4. Belgium amended its Constitution four times to accommodate regional and cultural differences.
5. The two major ethnic communities of Sri Lanka are the Sinhala and the Tamil.
Federalism: 1. Nagaland and Mizoram have special provisions under Articles 371A and 371G. 2. The 73rd and 74th Amendments of 1992.
Gender, Religion and Caste: 1. Patriarchy means male dominance in a society. 2. The Equal Remuneration Act 1976 says that equal wages must be paid to men and women for the same work.
Political Parties: 1. The Indian National Congress is the oldest party. 2. Over 750 parties are registered by the Election Commission (the number changes). 3. Defection is when an elected member leaves his party and joins another.
Outcomes of Democracy: 1. Decisions are delayed because they are made after consultation and discussion. 2. Yes, democracy is not free from corruption, but it can be controlled by public opinion.

Teacher's Note: Use the key term in your answer.

Answer: Power is shared between the central government, the state governments and local governments (panchayats and municipalities), as in a federal system. The constitution lists the subjects of each level, and it is called vertical division of power.

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Answer:

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Answer: India has a three-tier federal system: the Union, states and local governments. Subjects are divided into the Union, State and Concurrent lists. Power is shared between the legislature, executive and judiciary. Reservations are made for backward groups, and coalition governments share power between parties. This accommodates diversity.

Teacher's Note: Remember this for your exam.

Answer: It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups. It gives political stability, since a government that does not share power can become oppressive. It prevents the tyranny of the majority, which can break the nation. There is also a moral reason: it is the very spirit of democracy.

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Answer:

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Answer: Hindi was declared the official language by the Constitution, but only 40% of the people speak it as the mother tongue. The south Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, opposed it. So English was to continue as an associated official language for 15 years, and later it was decided to retain it. In the 1960s there were protests, and finally the 'three-language formula' was adopted.

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Answer: Strengths: brings government near the people, so local problems are solved by local people; people take part; a training ground for leaders; reservation of one third seats for women. Limitations: state governments have not given enough power and funds; gram sabhas do not meet regularly; many elected members, especially women, may be controlled by others.

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Answer: After 1947 the country was reorganised into states on the basis of language, as in Andhra Pradesh. Some leaders feared that it might lead to disintegration, but the opposite happened: it made the country more united, and administration easier, as people got government in their own language. It proved that democracy can accommodate diversity.

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Answer: There is no official state religion. All citizens are free to follow and propagate any religion. There is no discrimination on the basis of religion (Articles 15, 25 to 28). The government may interfere in religion to ensure equality, e.g. banning untouchability. No religious instruction is given in government schools.

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Answer: Elections to local bodies are held regularly. At least one-third of seats are reserved for women, and seats are reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs. An independent State Election Commission conducts the elections. State governments must share some powers and revenue with the local bodies.

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Answer: India has people of many religions, so a secular state is the only way to keep it united. The Constitution treats all religions equally, with no state religion. Secularism is therefore a basic principle in the Constitution, and not the ideology of a party.

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Answer: Though the practice of caste discrimination is legally banned, a majority of the marriages are still within the caste, and the poorest and the most backward are mostly the lower castes. Untouchability still exists in some places, and the educational and economic gaps between castes still remain.

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Answer: Communalism says that people of the same religion have the same interests, and that people of different religions cannot live as equals. It uses religion for political gain, and sees other religions as rivals and enemies. So it is a threat to a secular state.

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Answer: In daily beliefs, such as prejudice and stereotypes. In the desire of the majority community to dominate others, or the minority to form a separate political unit. In using religious symbols and leaders to win votes. In violence, riots and massacres, such as in the Partition.

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Answer: Women are seen as being responsible for housework and men for work outside, though both can do either. Biology matters only in child-bearing, but society fixes roles, e.g. in many countries women earn less than men for equal work, and in India the sex ratio shows a preference for sons. So it is based on stereotypes.

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Answer: Parties choose candidates and make appeals keeping caste in mind. Political parties try to win the votes of different castes. Caste groups form pressure groups to demand rights. Politics in caste has created awareness among the lower castes. But it can also lead to caste conflict, and not all elections are decided by caste.

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Answer: The literacy rate of women is lower than that of men. The sex ratio has fallen because of female foeticide. Women are paid less than men for the same work. They face domestic violence, dowry and harassment. They have little political representation: their share in the legislatures is very low.

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Answer: In many parties top positions are held by members of one family, so ordinary but able members get no chance. It is unfair, and is not democratic. Lack of internal democracy weakens parties and trust in them.

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Answer: The anti-defection law (52nd amendment) was passed to stop MLAs and MPs from changing parties. The Supreme Court has made it compulsory for candidates to file an affidavit about their property and criminal cases. The Election Commission has made it compulsory for parties to hold organisational elections and file income tax returns.

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Answer: They contest elections. They put forward policies and programmes. They make laws, and form and run governments. They play the role of opposition. They shape public opinion, and provide people with access to government schemes.

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Answer: Regional parties strengthen federalism, since they bring regional issues into politics and share power at the centre in coalitions. Democracy cannot exist without parties because there is a need to contest elections, to form governments, to put forward alternatives, to make the government accountable, and to link the people with the government.

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Answer: It gives the people the right to choose and remove their rulers, so the government is accountable. It is based on consultation and discussion, which results in better decisions. It also corrects its mistakes, since people can change the government.

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Answer: Democracy ensures that differences between communities are settled peacefully, as in the Belgian model. Every group gets a say, and a government keeps in mind the interests of all. Democracy does not allow tyranny of the majority.

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Answer: People complain because they believe that the government should be accountable to them. It shows that they are aware of their rights and have dignity, and that they have the freedom to criticise. This awareness shows that democracy has succeeded in making people more conscious of their rights.

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Answer: It gives all citizens equal rights and freedom of speech and expression. It treats everyone as equal, whatever caste, class or gender. Groups that were unequal before have started to claim equal status, such as women and Dalits.

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Answer: Democracies settle conflicts through discussion, laws and elections, and not by force. They allow all groups to voice their views, so there is less resentment. They have accommodated the diversity of society, and have therefore avoided civil wars in most cases.

Teacher's Note: Give an example if the question allows.