CBSE Class 10 Democratic Politics Power Sharing Worksheet Set C

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

CHAPTER- 1- POWER SHARING

1 Describe the ethnic compositions of Belgium and Sri Lanka.

Ans:

I. The ETHNIC composition of Belgium is very complex:

a) Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language.

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

c) In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch speaking.

II. Sri Lanka has a diverse population:

a) The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) and the Tamil-speakers (18 percent).

b) Among Tamils there are two subgroups:

i. Tamil natives of the country are called ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ (13 per cent).

ii. The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period, are called ‘Indian Tamils’.

iii. Most of the Sinhala speaking people are Buddhists, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.

iv. There are about 7 per cent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.

NOTE: (Assessed as whole answer as well as separately) (In all answers percentage of ethnic groups should be specified clearly)

2 What led to the tension between the Dutch- speaking and the French – speaking communities of Belgium during the 1950s and 1960s?

Ans:

i. The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later.

ii. This led to tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

iii. The tension between the two communities was more acute in Brussels. Brussels presented a special problem: the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a
minority in the capital.

3 Why power sharing is desirable? Justify your answer with suitable examples.

Ans:

i. Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

ii. Second, deeper reason why power sharing is good for democracies. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. 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. (Assessed as a whole answer)

4 What are ‘Prudential’ and ‘moral reasons’ of Power Sharing?

• While prudential reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasons emphasise the very act of power sharing as valuable.

5 Describe the how ‘Majoritarianism’ in Sri Lanka spoiled the relation between various ethnic groups.

OR

“The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority”. Comment

OR

Why do the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated in spite of their long stay in Sri Lanka? CBSE Questions (March-2013)

Ans:

i. The democratically elected government adopted a series of MAJORITARIAN measures to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only
official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

ii. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.

iii. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.

iv. All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.

v. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture. They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests. (Assessed as a whole answer)

6 Discuss the Belgium model of Power Sharing (Accommodation)

OR

‘The arrangement Belgians worked out is different from any other country and is very innovative’. Discuss the features of the innovative methods adopted by the Belgiians.

Ans:

i. Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.

ii. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.

iii. Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.

iv. Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.

7 In a democracy political power should be shared among as many citizens as possible. Why?

Ans.

i. For a long time it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located at one place.

ii. It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.

iii. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-governance.

iv. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.

v. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies .So, in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.

8 TYPES OF POWER SHARING

8-1 I. HORIZONTAL POWER SHARING/ SEPERATION OF PWERS:

Why horizontal distribution of power often referred to as a system of ‘checks and balances’? Explain three reasons.(CBSE -October-2012)

OR

Explain what are called Separations of power?

Ans:

i. Power shared among different organs of government ( Separations of power)

ii. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Let us call this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level

iii. In a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies.

iv. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

8-2 II- VERTICAL POWER SHARING/ FEDERALISM:

i. Power shared among governments at different levels. (Federation)

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

iii. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them State Governments. This system is not followed in all countries. There are many countries where there are no provincial or state governments.

iv. But in those countries like India, where there are different levels of governments, the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This is what they did in Belgium, but was refused in Sri Lanka. This is called federal division of power.

v. The same principle can be extended to levels of government lower than the State government, such as the municipality and the panchayat. Let us call division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government or vertical division of power.

8-3 III- VARIOUS SOCIAL GROUPS/ COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT:

i. Power shared among different social groups (Community Government)

ii. Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups.

iii. ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

iv. This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the government. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.

v. In India ‘Reservation’ is adopted in order to accommodate various social groups

8-4 IV- COALITION GOVERNMENT:

i. Power shared among political parties, pressure groups and movements. (Coalition Government)

ii. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.

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

iv. Sometimes this kind of sharing can be direct, when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. If their alliance is elected, they form a coalition government and thus share power.

v. In a democracy, we find interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision making process.

9 REGULAR CBSE BOARD QUESTIONS (FROM 2008-2018) FOR PRACTICE (Write the answers of these questions in your note book.) (Refer D.P Text Book)

1. Which are the two social groups in Sri Lanka?

2. Define ‘Elam’. 

3. Name the language which is spoken by the majority of people in Brussels.

4. What is meant by the system of 'checks and balances'?

5. Mention any one characteristics of power sharing.

6. In which form of government people can express their views freely? 

7. What is a ‘Community Government”?

8. What are the benefits of power sharing? 

9. Explain the causes of tension that existed between Dutch and French speaking people in Belgium.

10. Describe the major demands of Sri Lankan Tamils which can settle the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka for good.

11. Suggest any two measures to integrate the people belonging to different ethnic group in a society.

12. Explain how power is shared in modern democracies. 

13. Explain the horizontal distribution of power and three merits of this form of power sharing.

Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 10 Democratic Politics Power Sharing Worksheet Set C