CBSE Class 9 Social Science What Is Democracy Worksheet

1. Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

5. A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional and citizens’ rights. A democratic government cannot do what it likes after winning the elections. It has to

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY

Democracy as a principle can go beyond the government and can be applied to any sphere of life. People use the word democracy not to describe any existing government but to set up an ideal standard that all democracies must aim to become. However, if the ideals of democracy are considered then no country in the world is correctly democratic. Still, having an understanding of democracy as an ideal will explain why to value democracy. It enables people to judge an existing democracy and identify their weaknesses. It also helps to distinguish between a minimal democracy and a good democracy. The most common form of democracy in today’s world is being ruled through people’s elected representatives. However, for a small community, there can be other ways of making democratic decisions. All people can sit together and make decisions directly. This is how the Gram Sabha should work in a village.

Free and Fair Electoral Competition
In China, elections are held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress). Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is always formed by the Communist Party. Alternatively, since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President. But until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Should we consider the elections described above as examples of people electing their rulers? Reading these examples we get a sense that we cannot. Democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

One person, one vote, one value one value
Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality. However, there are many instances of denial of the equal right to vote. Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote. Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to the Russian minority found it difficult to get the right to vote. In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian. Definitely not a democratic government. The feature of democracy this highlights is that in a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and in turn, each vote must have one value.

MCQs :-

Question. Democracy is based on
1. Coalition
2. Free and fair election
3. One party system
4. All of above
Answer. All of above

Question. One party one vote means
1. All person must vote for one person
2. Each person has one vote and each vote has one Value
3. Each person can vote only once in his life
4. None of the above
Answer. Each person has one vote and each has one value

Question. In which country women donot have the right to vote
1. Saudi Arabia
2. Fiji
3. Estonia
4. None of above
Answer. Saudi Arabia

Question. Who led a military coup in Pakistan in 1999?
1. Benazir Bhutto
2. Nawaz Sharif
3. Pervez Musharraf
4. None of the above
Answer. Pervez Musharraf

Question. How many members are elected to the National People’s Congress from all over China?
1. 3050
2. 3000
3. 4000
4. 2000
Answer. 3000

Very Short Answers 

Question. With whom the final decision makng power rest in a democracy?
Answer. Elected representatives of the people .

Question. Under which form of government political equality given importance?
Answer. Democratic

Question. Whose rule is democracy considered to be?
Answer. People rule

Question. Why are quality decisions a possibility in a democracy?
Answer. A democratic decision always involves many persons ,discussions.

Short Answers

Question. What is the role of citizen in promoting democracy?
Answer. Every citizen should be able to play equal role in decision-making. For this a citizen not only needs an equal right to vote but also needs to have equal information, basic education, equal resources.

Question. Explain any three differences between democratic country and nondemocratic country?
Answer. In a Democratic country–
(i) Each adult citizen has a vote;(ii) Each vote has one value; and (iii) Free and fair elections are held.
In a non-democratic country — (i) Election do not offer a choice and fair opportunity; (ii) Rulers are not elected by the people; and (ii) The rulers have unlimited power

Long Answers

Question. How can you say that every government that holds an election is not a democracy? Give an example to prove your point.
Answer. It is true that every government that holds an election is not a democracy. In many dictatorships and monarchies, there are formally elected parliaments and governments but the real power is with those who are not elected. Pakistan under General Musharraf could not be called a democracy because people there elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but the power to take final decision rested with army officials and with General Musharraf

One word Answer

Question. It is a system in which only those who are in power and their supporters are benefited and excludes minorities and weaker sections.
Answer. Dictatorship

Question. The strength of democracy is its ability to uphold the values for which it stands for.
Answer. Freedom,Equality,Justice

Question. Name the country where women donot have right to vote till 2015.
Answer. Saudi Arabia

Question. The major challenges to democracy are....
Answer. Equality among people and abolition of casteism from society

Question. Who led a military coup in Pakistan in 1999?
Answer. General Pervez Musharraf

Question. Who said these words, “Democracy is the rule of people, for the people and by the people”?
Answer. Abraham Lincoln.

Question. Democracy comes from which Greek word?
Answer. Greek word, “Demokrati”.

Question. Name the ruling party of Syria?
Answer. The Baath Party.

Question. Which two countries of the world have allowed the ruling parties to contest elections?
Answer. China and Mexico.

Question. Name the country where women are not allowed to take part in the election.
Answer. Saudi Arabia.

Question. Name the any one country of the world where there is no democracy.
Answer. Zimbabwe.

Question. What type of government would you like to have in your country?
Answer. Democracy.

Question. Name the ruler who had established dictatorship in Germany?
Answer. Adolf Hitler.

Question. Who is President of Zimbabwe?
Answer. Robert Mugabe.

Question. When did Zimbabwe achieve independence?
Answer. 1980.

Question. Which party is ruling over Zimbabwe since independence?
Answer. ZANU-PF.

Question. Write a drawback of the electoral system of Fiji?
Answer. In Fiji, the value of the vote of the indigenous Fiji is more as comparison to an Indian Fijian.

Question. What is PRI?
Answer. PRI is the political party of Mexico- Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Question. What does referendum means?
Answer. Referendum is the direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

Question. When did Parvez Musharraf come to power in Pakistan?
Answer. October 1999.

Question. Why are quality decisions always possible in a democracy?
Answer. Because democratic decisions always involves many persons, discussions and meetings.

Question. After how many years does Mexico hold elections for electing its president?
Answer. After every six year.

Question. Name the country that does not give voting rights to minorities.
Answer. Estonia.

Question. By whom the President of China appointed?
Answer. Members of the national People’s Congress.

Question. Name a country which has multi-party system.
Answer. India.

Short answers

Question. What are the three features of Democracy?
Answer. Features of democracy:-
(a) Rulers elected by the people take all the major decision.
(b) This choice and opportunities is available to all people on an equal basis
(c) Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people on an equal basis

Question.Explain any three major political changes that took place recently in India neighbourhood?
Answer. Pakistan –General musharaf led a military coup.
(b) Nepal-In 2005,the king dismissed the elected government.
(c)Iraq-Saddam Husseins regime was overthrown.

Long answer question 

Question. How does democracy improve the quality of decision making?
Answer. Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.A democractic decision always involves many persons discussions and meetings.when a number of people put their heads together,they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision .This takes time,but there is a big advantage over important decision.This reduces the chances of irresponsible decisionsThus,democracy improves the quality of decision making.

Question. How is democracy better than other form of government?
Answer.
(a) It is correct that democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes .There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy.
(b) No form of government can guarantee that the advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes  cannot be hidden for long .
(c) There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and have better chances for correction of mistakes.Rules and regulation can be changed but this cannot happened in non democratic country

Question. Some countries are not ready to give voting rights to its citizens’. Explain.
Answer. In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.Estonia had made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.In Fiji the electoral system was is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.

Question. Name any two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be considered as democratic countries. Explain.
Answer. Mexico and China are two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be considered as democratic countries.
In china before contesting elections a candidate need the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
People have no choice. The government is always formed by the communist party. This is against the democratic system of elections.
In Mexico, PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections. All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings. Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI. Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them. This is against the democratic system of elections.

Question. What is responsible government?
Answer. Democratic government is a responsible government.
The representatives elected by the people so it remains responsible towards people.
In case they do not remain responsible before the people can change them during the next elections.

Question. What do understand by political equality?
Answer. Democracy is based on political equality which ensures equal rights.
Both the rich and poor the educated and educated get equal rights.
Democracy enhances the dignity of the people.

Question. What do you understand by room for correction?
Answer. It is only in democracy that mistakes are admitted and all attempts are made to correct these mistakes.
If mistakes are made it is only in democracy that they are admitted and then corrected.
In democracy thus there is a room for correction.

(a) Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
(b) Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
(c) Organising public meetings against government’s policies.
(d) Paying money to government officials to get water.
Answer : (d) Paying money to government officials to get water.

Question.The word ‘Democracy’ comes from the Greek word –
(a) Democracia
(b) Demokratia
(c) Demos
(d) Kratia
Answer : B

Question.What kind of government is there in Myanmar?
(a) Government elected by the people
(b) Communist government
(c) Army rule
(d) Monarchy
Answer : C

Question.The head of the government in Nepal is the:
(a) President
(b) Prime Minister
(c) King
(d) Vice President
Answer : A

Question. Who led a military coup in Pakistan in 1999?
(a) Benazir Bhutto
(b) Nawaz Sharif
(c) Pervez Musharraf
(d) None of the above
Answer : C

Question. In which case was the real power with external powers and not with the locally elected representatives?
(a) India in Sri Lanka
(b) US in Iraq
(c) USSR in Communist Poland
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer : D

Question. ‘One person, one vote’ means
(a) One person is to be voted by all
(b) One person has one vote and each vote has one value
(c) A person can vote only once in his life
(d) both (a) and (c)
Answer : B

Question. How many members are elected to the National People’s Congress from all over China?
(a) 3050
(b) 3000
(c) 4000
(d) 2000
Answer : B

Question. Why can the Chinese government not be called a democratic government even though elections are held there?
(a) Army participates in election
(b) Government is not accountable to the people
(c) Some parts of China are not represented at all
(d) Government is always formed by the Communist Party
Answer : D

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question. Write a note on democracy?
Answer : A democracy means rule by the people. The name is used for different forms of government,
where the people can take part in the decisions that affect the way their community is run.The people meet to decide about new laws, and changes to existing ones.

Question. Mention some of the features of democracy?.
Answer :
(1) IN DEMOCRACY RULERS ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
2) IN A DEMOCRACY THE FINAL DECISION OF MAKING POWER RESTS WITH THOSE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
3) IN A DEMOCRACY AN ADULT CITIZEN HAS ONE VOTE AND EACH VOTE HAS ONE VALUE.

Question. Does democracy enhance the dignity of the citizens? Give reasons supporting your answer
Answer :
1..Recognition of the principle of equality becomes easier to wage a struggle against what is now unacceptable legally.
2. The right to vote has given the right to all the adults to vote and thus express their views.
3. Democracy has strengthened the equal opportunities and equal castes for all. It is the recognition that makes ordinary citizens value their democratic rights.