CBSE Class 9 Social Science What is Democracy Why Democracy Assignment Set 01

Answer: Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people, and the government is chosen by the people. It is based on free and fair elections, equal votes, respect for rights, and limits set by the constitution. Democracy is the most common form of government in the world today, though no country fully meets the ideal.

Teacher's Note: Keep the answer to the core definition and the features, and avoid listing examples without linking them to the idea.

Answer: A. Democratic governments: rulers are elected in free and fair elections (for example, India); citizens have equal votes; rights are protected by the constitution; power can change hands peacefully. B. Non-democratic governments: rulers are not elected by the people (for example, Myanmar under military rule or Chile under Pinochet); opposition is restricted; elections are unfair or absent; the army or a monarch holds final power.

Teacher's Note: Use two examples for each part. The examples in the chapter are Myanmar and Chile for the non-democratic side.

Answer: Rulers elected by the people take the major decisions; elections offer a free and fair choice and a fair chance to change the rulers; every adult citizen has one vote with equal value; and the government works within the limits of the constitution and citizens' rights.

Teacher's Note: These four features are the points the chapter draws from its four questions.

Answer: Yes. Democracy is based on political equality, so the poorest and least educated have the same status as the rich and educated. Every adult has one vote, and no citizen is treated as less important because of birth, wealth or education.

Teacher's Note: Link the answer to the principle of political equality, not just to the right to vote.

Answer: A democratic election is one that is free and fair. Citizens must have a real choice, all adults must have an equal right to vote, and those in power must have a fair chance of losing. Elections in China or Mexico under the PRI were not democratic because the outcome was predetermined.

Teacher's Note: The key test is whether those in power can actually lose.

Answer: General Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999 and overthrew an elected government. In 2002 he held a referendum that granted him a five-year extension. Elections to the national and provincial assemblies did not give elected representatives real power, because final power rested with the military and with him.

Teacher's Note: Mention both the coup and the fact that the final power did not rest with elected people.

Answer: Direct democracy is a system in which all people sit together and take decisions themselves, rather than through elected representatives. The chapter gives the Gram Sabha as an example: in a small village, people can meet and decide directly on village matters.

Teacher's Note: Contrast it with representative democracy, where a majority decides through elected representatives.

Answer: The arguments are: leaders keep changing, which causes instability; democracy is only about political competition and power, leaving no room for morality; consulting many people causes delay; elected leaders may not know what is best for the people; democracy leads to corruption because it is based on electoral competition; and ordinary people do not know what is good for them.

Teacher's Note: List the arguments and give a short explanation for each. The chapter presents these before answering them.

Answer: Until 2000, every election in Mexico was won by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Those in power had no fair chance of losing, so the elections were not free and fair and could not be called democratic.

Teacher's Note: The reason is the lack of a fair chance for those in power to lose.

Answer: Democracy is more accountable, as shown by India's response to the 1958–61 famines compared with China's. It improves decision-making through consultation and discussion. It provides a peaceful way to handle differences in a diverse society. It enhances the dignity of citizens through political equality. It allows mistakes to be corrected through public debate and the possibility of changing rulers.

Teacher's Note: Describe each argument briefly and give an example where the chapter provides one.

Answer: True. A democracy must answer to the people. In the famines of 1958–61, the Indian government responded to the food scarcity better than the Chinese government, which is an example of democratic accountability.

Teacher's Note: Give the example to justify the answer.

Answer: Democratic decisions involve many people, discussions and meetings. People can point out possible mistakes in a decision. This takes time, but it reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Teacher's Note: Explain that the time taken is an advantage, not a weakness.

Answer: A government can be elected and still be undemocratic if it uses unfair practices. In Zimbabwe, the ruling party won every election after independence, but it limited criticism of the President, controlled the state media, and harassed journalists. Being elected alone is not enough.

Teacher's Note: Democracy also needs rights, free media and fair competition.

Answer: 1. In a democracy, rulers are elected by the people; in a dictatorship, a single person or small group takes power without election. 2. In a democracy, citizens have rights and there are free and fair elections; in a dictatorship, these are restricted or absent. 3. In a democracy, power changes hands through elections and government is limited by the constitution; in a dictatorship, power is not limited and cannot be changed by the people.

Teacher's Note: Use three clearly separate points.

Answer: It is not a strong argument on its own. A feeling of freedom can exist even in a non-democratic system, and feelings can vary from person to person. A better argument is that democracy guarantees equal votes, free elections and protection of rights, so that freedom and equality are real and can be enforced.

Teacher's Note: The question tests whether you can separate a feeling from a structural guarantee.

Answer: The democratic element is that the laws are passed by Parliament, which is made up of elected representatives. Even when international rules require a change, the people's representatives must approve the law, so the decision is taken through an elected body.

Teacher's Note: The democratic element is the role of elected representatives in passing the law.

Answer: The undemocratic element is that women, who are half the population, have very little representation in Parliament. Democracy depends on equal political rights and fair representation, so a very low share of seats for women does not reflect the people.

Teacher's Note: Refer to political equality as the principle that is not being met.

Answer: The army is not elected by the people, so it cannot be held accountable to them through elections. Being disciplined does not mean the army will make the best decisions for the people. Democracy allows mistakes to be corrected and rulers to be replaced, which an army ruling without elections does not allow. Rule by the army also removes the people's right to choose their rulers.

Teacher's Note: Argue that accountability and choice matter more than discipline in a democracy.

Answer: No. Democracy as a value respects each person's dignity and right to make their own choices. Denying a person the right to express an opinion on a personal decision goes against equality and dignity, which are the values democracy is based on.

Teacher's Note: Relate the answer to democracy as a way of living, not only as a form of government.

Answer: A democracy works within a constitution and the rule of law. The constitution sets limits on the government and protects citizens' rights, and the courts can strike down laws or actions that violate these rights. Students should add a recent example from a news report on a court ruling or constitutional matter. Keep the example factual and date it.

Teacher's Note: The chapter does not contain a news example, so the teacher should add a current one before the answer is used.