CBSE Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing Worksheet Set A

SUMMARY

Belgium and Sri Lanka are two typical case studies of countries that had a common problem of ethnic minorities but adopted different measures to deal with the problem. Belgium’s population comprised of citizen who spoke Dutch Flemish region (59%) French Wallonia region (40%) and German (1%). In Sri Lanka Sinhala speaking people comprised of 74% while the Tamil speaking minority was just 18%. The Political leadership in Belgium chose to be accommodative. At the level of the Central Governance, the Dutch and the French speaking people have equal number of ministers. Both communities have equal representatives at Brussels which has a separate government. The Third kind of government – The 'Community Government' is elected by people belonging to one community irrespective of where they live. Matters regarding cultural, educational and language are decided by the Community Government. The arrangement helped in avoiding any strife within the country. The Sri Lankan government recognised Sinhalese as the only official language. State fostered Buddhism with no such regard for other religions. These measures alienated the Tamils. There is a demand for a separate and independent Tamil state in the North – eastern part of the country. The two ethnic groups are involved in a long drawn civil war. The unity of a country is seriously undermined if the majority is unwilling to share power with minority groups, where different groups have opportunities for participation , they acquire a stake in peace and stability of the nation.

MCQs

Question. Belgium solved its problem successfully by:
1. Developing the power-sharing mechanism
3. Rejecting the policy of majoritarianism
2. Respecting the interests of different communitie
4. All of the Above
Answer. The correct answer is ‘All the Above given options’.

Question. Prudential Reason of Power Sharing stresses more on:
1. Reducing the possibility of conflict between various social groups
2. A fair chance to minority
3. Bringing stability in the political order
4. All of the Above
Answer. The Correct answer is ‘All the Above given options’.

Question. What does the coalition government imply?
1. Power-sharing between different communities
2. Power-sharing among the different organs of the government
3. Power-sharing by two or more political parties
4. Power-sharing within the government at different levels
Answer. The correct answer is ‘Power-sharing by two or more political parties’.

Question. What does the word ethnic signify?
1. Social division on shared culture
3. Careful calculation of gains and losses
2. A violent conflict between the opposite groups
4 Different religions
Answer. The correct answer is social division on shared culture.

Question. Identify the major social group that constituted the largest share in the population Of Sri Lanka.
1. Sri Lankan Tamils
2. Indian Tamils
3. Muslims
4. Sinhalas
Answer. The correct answer is Sinhalas.

Question. Among the given options what power-sharing does not imply:
1. Speed up the decision-making process
2. Accommodating diversities
3. Increases Conflicts among the different communities
4. All of the Above
Answer. The correct answer is ‘increases conflicts among the different communities.’

Question. A Belief that the majority community is able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is:
1. Federal Government
2. Community Government
3. Prudential
4. Majoritarian
Answer. The correct answer is Majoritarian.

Question. Power sharing is desirable because:
1. To reduce possibilities of conflicts
2. To increase pressure on the government
3. To increase the percentage of voters
4. To generate awareness among people
Answer. The correct answer is ‘to reduce possibilities of conflicts’.

Question. Which of the statement is an example of horizontal sharing of power?
1. Power-sharing between different organs of the government
2. Power-sharing between different political parties
3. Power-sharing between different levels of the government
4. Power Sharing between different states
Answer. The correct answer is- Power sharing between different organs of the government.

Question. In India, power-sharing mechanism does not involve directly:
1. Legislature
2. Judiciary
3. Industry
4. Executive
Answer. The correct answer is Industry

Name the various language groups of Belgium. 

Question : What led to the tension between the Dutch- speaking and the French – speaking communities of Belgium during the 1950s and 1960s?
Answer: 1. 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.
2. This led to tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s.
3. 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.

Question : Why power sharing is desirable? Justify your answer with suitable examples.
Answer:  1. 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.
2. 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.

Question : 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
What is majoritarianism? How has it increased the feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils? Explain with examples.  OR Why do the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated in spite of their long stay in Sri Lanka?
Answer:  1. The democratically elected government adopted a series of MAJORITARIAN measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
2. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

SUMMARY
Belgium and Sri Lanka are two typical case studies of countries that had a common problem of ethnic minorities but adopted different measures to deal with the problem. Belgium’s population comprised of citizen who spoke Dutch Flemish region (59%) French Wallonia region (40%) and German (1%). In Sri Lanka Sinhala speaking people comprised of 74% while the Tamil speaking minority was just 18%. The Political leadership in Belgium chose to be accommodative. At the level of the Central Governance, the Dutch and the French speaking people have equal number of ministers. Both communities have equal representatives at Brussels which has a separate government. The Third kind of government – The 'Community Government' is elected by people belonging to one community irrespective of where they live. Matters regarding cultural, educational and language are decided by the Community Government. The arrangement helped in avoiding any strife within the country.

The Sri Lankan government recognised Sinhalese as the only official language. State fostered Buddhism with no such regard for other religions. These measures alienated the Tamils. There is a demand for a separate and independent Tamil state in the North – eastern part of the country. The two ethnic groups are involved in a long drawn civil war. The unity of a country is seriously undermined if the majority is unwilling to share power with minority groups, where different groups have opportunities for participation , they acquire a stake in peace and stability of the nation.

Question. How is power shared among various communities of Belgium?
OR
Discuss the Belgium model of Power Sharing.
OR
How have Belgium and Sri Lanka dealt with the question of power sharing differently? 
OR
What is the difference between the policies adopted by Belgium and Sri Lanka regarding power sharing arrangement? 
Answer: 1. 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.
2. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.
3. 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.
4. Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.
5. 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.

Question. In a democracy political power should be shared among as many citizens as possible. Why?
Answer: 1. 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.
2. It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.
3. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-governance. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.
4. 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.

Question. Explain the various forms of power sharing with proper illustrations.
OR
Power shared among different organs of government 
Answer: 1. 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
2. In a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. 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.

Question. Power shared among governments at different levels. 
Answer: 1. Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.
2. 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.
3. This system is not followed in all countries. There are many countries where there are no provincial or state governments.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Question. Power shared among different social groups (Community Government) Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups.
Answer: 1. ‘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.
2. 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.

Question. Power shared among political parties, pressure groups and movements. (Coalition Government)
Answer: 1. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.
2. In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.
3. 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.
4. In a democracy, we find interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers.
5. They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision making process.

Assertion and Reasoning Based Questions

Mark the option which is most suitable :
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.

Question. Assertion : Sinhala was recognised as only official language of Sri Lanka.
Reason : The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish the supremacy of Sinhala community.
Answer : (a) The government of Sri Lanka passed an Act in 1956 to recognise Sinhala as only official language of Sri Lanka. The government also formulated preferential policies to favour Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. All this was done to establish supremacy of Sinhala community. Thus, the reason justifies the assertion.

Question. Assertion : In Belgium, the leaders realized that the unity of the country is possible by respecting the feelings and interest of different countries.
Reason : Belgium favoured Dutch speaking community.
Answer : (d) Belgium adopted a power sharing arrangement in which all the communities have equal representation. This helped in relieving tension between the different communities. Thus, they did not favour any particular community. Both the assertion and reason are false.

Question. Assertion : In a democracy, everyone has voice in the shaping of public policies.
Reason : India has federal system. 
Answer : (b) In a democracy, people elect the representatives who participate in the decision making process. Due respect and proper representation is given to diverse groups in a democratic system. Hence, in democracy everyone has voice in the shaping of public policies. However the reason does not justify the assertion.

Question. Assertion : Power should reside with one person and group located at one place in a democracy.
Reason : If the power is dispersed, it will not be possible to take decision quickly and enforce it.
Answer : (d) In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in the society. Hence, political power should be distributed among citizens.

Question. Assertion : Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethnical tension among different communities.
Reason : Both the countries resolved the conflict by power sharing arrangement which gave equal representation to all the communities.
Answer : (c) Belgians adopted a power sharing model where all the communities got equal representation; this helped in solving tension between different communities. However, Sri Lanka tried to promote the supremacy of Sinhala community which eventually led to civil war. Thus the reason is false.

Question. Assertion : There was a feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
Reason : The Sri Lankan government denied their equal political rights and discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities.
Answer : (a) An act was passed in 1956 to recognize Sinhala as an official language. The government of Sri Lanka favoured people from Sinhala community for higher education and government jobs. It led to resentment among Sri Lankan Tamils as government was not sensitive towards their culture and language.

Question. Assertion : Community government in Belgium is elected by one language community.
Reason : Community government helped in resolving conflict between different linguistic groups.
Answer : (a) Community government is elected by people of one language community, i.e. French, Dutch and German speaking. Such a government has power related to culture, education and language issues. It helps in resolving conflicts between different ethnical groups by safeguarding the interest of its
group.

Question. Assertion : French speaking community in Belgium was rich and powerful.
Reason : Belgian Government favoured French speaking community.
Answer : (c) There was ethnic tension between French speaking and Dutch speaking communities in Belgium. For resolving, the government adopted a power sharing arrangement where all the communities got equal representation.

Question. Assertion : Power Sharing is good.
Reason : It leads to ethnical tension.
Answer : (c) Power Sharing is good because it helps in reducing the chances of conflict between different social groups and ensures stability of the political system.

Question. Assertion : Tyranny of majority is highly desirable.
Reason : It helps in making the political order more stable.
Answer : (d) Tyranny of majority community is oppressive for the minority community and can also ruin the majority. It is a source of dissatisfaction and tension which is a source of political instability.

Read the extract and answer the questions that follows :
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 to exercise different power. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. In ademocracy, even though ministers and government official exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. 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.
Power can be shared among governments at different level - a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Governments. 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. But in those countries like ours, where there are different levelsof governments, the constitution clearly lays down the power of different division of power. The same principle can be extended to level of government lower than the state governments, such as the municipality and panchayat. Let us call division of power involving higher and lower levels of governments vertical division of power.
Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups.
‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries, there are constitutional and legal arrangement whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration. Last year, we studied the system of ‘reserved constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament of our country. 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.

1. What is the horizontal distribution of power sharing?
Answer : An arrangement of power sharing in which power shared among different organs (legislature, executive and judiciary) of the government, is called as horizontal distribution of power sharing.

2. What is the federal division of power ? Explain with example.
Answer : (i) In some countries like India and Belgium, power is shared among governments at different level i.e. general government for the entire country and separate governments for regional or provincial level. This kind of power sharing is known as federal division of power sharing.
(ii) In the federal division of power, a general government for the entire country is called the central or union government while the regional government are called by different names in different countries. In India we call them the State Governments.

3. How does power sharing occur in the community government ?
Answer : (i) A ‘community governments’ is chosen by those people who belong to a particular language or religious community. In this government power is shared among different social groups. For Example Belgium.
(ii) A community government solves issues related to the cultural, education and language. This government prevents social conflicts a among different religious and linguistic communities.
Source/Extract Based Questions

Read the source given below and answer the following questions.
Thus, two different sets of reasons can be given in favour of power sharing. 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. Imposing the will of majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. There is a 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. Let us call the first set of reasons prudential and the second moral. While prudential reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasons emphasise the very act of power sharing as valuable.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:

Question. Which statement best defines the term prudential?
(a) Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses
(b) Based on violence and political instability
(c) Decisions based on purely moral considerations
(d) Based on the decisions of the majority
Answer : A

Question. What undermines the unity of the nation in the long run?
(a) Power sharing
(b) Participation of people
(c) People aquiring stake in the functioning of the government
(d) Imposing the will of the majority community over the others
Answer : D

Question. Why is power sharing encouraged?
(a) Reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups
(b) It ensures the stability of political order.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Only (b)
Answer : C

Question. Give the moral reason behind power sharing.
(a) It ensures stability of political order
(b) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed
(c) It reduces the possibilty of conflict between social groups
(d) Tyranny is not only oppressive for the minority but brings ruin to the majority too.
Answer : B

Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follow :
Source A – Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
In 1956, an act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus, disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
Source B – Accommodation in Belgium
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 Germanspeaking — no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.
Source C – Why power sharing is desirable?
There is a 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.

Source A – Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Question. Why did the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated?
Answer : The Sri Lankan Tamils 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.

Source B – Accommodation in Belgium
Question. What is the need of a ‘community government’?
Answer : The ‘community government’ has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues. It is elected by people belonging to one language community—Dutch, French and German-speaking— no matter where they live. This reflects that all the citizens were equally represented and no one was discriminated against.

Source C – Why power sharing is desirable?
Question. What is a legitimate government?
Answer : A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow: 
In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. 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.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option

Question. What is Majoritarianism?
(a) Rule of the Sinhala’s
(b) Rule of the Majority over the minority.
(c) Rule of the stronger political party.
(d) Rule of the common men.
Answer : B

Question. Choose the correct option : Power sharing is desirable because it helps :
(a) To increase pressure on government.
(b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.
(c) To generate awareness among people.
(d) To increase percentage of voter.
Answer : B

Question. Which major social group constituted the largest share in population of Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhalas
(b) Sri Lankan Tamils
(c) Indian Tamils
(d) Muslims
Answer : A

Question. The word ‘ethnic’ signifies :
(a) Different religions.
(b) Social division on shared culture.
(c) A violent conflict between opposite groups.
(d) A careful calculation of gains and losses.
Answer : B

More Questions and Answers for NCERT Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing ... 

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Identify the form of power-sharing that is represented by the community government in Belgium.
Answer. Power sharing among the different social groups like the linguistic and the religious groups. 

Question. Give one Prudential reason for which power sharing is desirable.
Answer. Power sharing is desirable as it helps in reducing the conflicts between the social groups. 

Question. apart from state and central governments,which is the third type of government practised in Belgium?
Answer. Community government 

Question.What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium?
Answer. People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French 

Question. Define the term Ethnic?
Answer. Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. 

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Describe the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka.
Answer. Sri Lanka is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean about 80 km, in the East of the Southern tip of India. It is home to more than two crore people. Sri Lanka has been a centre of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. It is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation. Beside Buddhism, (69.1%) religions like Hinduism (7.1%), Christianity (6.2%), Islam (7.6%) and others are also there. Here, the major social groups are the Sinhala speakers (74%) and Tamil speakers (18%). Among Tamils there are two sub-groups (i) Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) (ii) Indian Tamils (5%). Sri Lankan Tamils are the
natives of the country and the rest who migrated from India during colonial times are called Indian Tamils. The main languages spoken by the people in Sri Lanka  are Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Question. Explain the differences between horizontal power sharing and vertical power sharing.
Answer. In modern democracy, power sharing arrangement can take many forms. It can be horizontal or vertical.
The difference between the two arrangement are :
(i) Under the horizontal power sharing, power is shared among the different organs of the government such as the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. In case of vertical power sharing, power is shared among the different levels of the government.
(ii) Under the horizontal distribution of power, the organs of the government are placed at the same level to exercise different powers. But the vertical division of power involves the higher and lower levels of the government.
(iii) In horizontal distribution of power, each organ check the other organ. But in vertical power sharing the lower organ works under the higher organs.

Question. Why horizontal distribution of power often is referred to as the system of checks and balances? Explain.
Answer. Under horizontal distribution of power, power is shared among totally different organs of the government like legislature, executive and judiciary. This method is also known as the system of checks and balances. The reasons are enumerated as :
(i) All three organs of the government are placed at an identical level.
(ii) The power distribution ensures that no organ fully exercise unlimited power.
(iii) Each organ exercises a check on the others.

Question. What was the problem of Belgian model ?
Answer. The arrangement that the Belgian leaders worked out is different from any other country and is very innovative.
Some basic elements of the Belgium model of power sharing are enumerated ahead :
(i) The Belgian constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(ii) Many powers have been given to the State Governments because the State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
(iii) Brussels has a separate government, in which both the communities have equal representation.
(iv) There is a third type of government—‘Community Government’ which is elected by the people belonging to one language community (may be Dutch, French and German) and has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.

Question. What led to the ethnic tension in Belguim ? Why was it more acute in Brussels ?
Answer. The minority French speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. So the Dutch speaking community, who got the benefits of economic development and education much later showed the resentment between the Dutch speaking and the French speaking communities during the 1950s and the 1960s. The conflict between the two communities was more severe in Brussels because the Dutch speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.

Question. What is majoritarianism ? How has it increased the feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils ?
Explain with examples.
Answer. Majoritarianism is a philosophy which asserts that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority. It means submission of the minority group by the majority group for all the decisions affecting their lives. A series of majoritarian measures were adopted by the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka after its independence in 1948. It adopted majoritarianism to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus, disregarding Tamil. The government followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution advocated
that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism. All these measures taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

Question. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. Justify this statement with three suitable points.
Answer. Power sharing is true spirit of democracy because :
(i) It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
(ii) It is a good way to ensure the stability of the political order.
(iii) Here, people have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. Thus, a legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

Question. Explain two reasons why power sharing is desirable in a democracy.
Answer. Two reasons can be given in favour of power sharing : 
(i) In a democracy, people are the source of all political power. In a good democracy, proper respect should be given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society. So, political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Social conflict leads to violence and political instability. Tyranny of the majority is bad for both minority and majority as well.
(ii) A legitimate government is one where citizens participate in the system. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be ruled. In a democracy, people enjoy this benefit. A democratic rule involves sharing power among its citizens. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It
implies maximum popular participation through decentralisation of powers, so that people would be consulted on how they are to be governed.

Question. Explain the three ways by which Belgium has accommodated the existing regional differences and cultural diversities.
Answer. When the Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities, they amended their constitution four times in order to accommodate these differences.
The following are the ways in which Belgium has accommodated the existing regional differences and cultural diversities.
- Equal number of ministers: The Government of Belgium has equal number of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers. This has been done to give equal power to the majority and the minority language speaking groups.
- Setting up of Community Government: A third kind of government, named the community government, is introduced in addition to the Central and the State Government. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and lingual issues. This government comprises members from all the three communities—Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking.
- Fair share of power: Many powers of the Central government have been given to the state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central government but are independent.
- Equal representation: In the State Government of Brussels—the capital city—both the Frenchand Dutch-speaking communities have equal representation. 

Question. Highlight the measures adopted by the Belgium Constitution for the prevention of conflicts in Belgium.
Answer. When the Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities, they amended their constitution four times in order to accommodate these differences.
The following are the ways in which Belgium has accommodated the existing regional differences and cultural diversities.
- Equal number of ministers: The Government of Belgium has equal number of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers. This has been done to give equal power to the majority and the minority language speaking groups.
- Setting up of Community Government: A third kind of government, named the community government, is introduced in addition to the Central and the State Government. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and lingual issues. This government comprises members nfrom all the three communities—Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking.
- Fair share of power: Many powers of the Central government have been given to the state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central government but are independent.
- Equal representation: In the State Government of Brussels—the capital city—both the Frenchand Dutch-speaking communities have equal representation.

Question. Explain the three measures taken by Sri Lanka, as per the Act passed in 1956.
Answer. The measures taken by Sri Lanka are :
(i) Goverment adopted majoritarian measure to establish Sinhala Supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language thus disregarding Tamil.
(ii) The governments followed preferential politics that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(iii) A new Constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhiusm.

Question. “The assertion of social diversities in a democratic country is very normal and can be healthy.” Justify the statement with arguments.
Answer. (a) Assertion of social diversity in a democracy can be seen as very healthy and normal. Here each social class expresses their feelings and thoughts.
(b) It creates a spark in other social class too to express their aspirations and demands.
(c) This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and attract the attention of the government action.
(d) Expressions of different social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one other thereby reducing their intensity. This often leads to strengthening of democracy.

Question. Which type of powers does community Government of Belgium enjoy?
Answer. The government has power regarding culture, education and issues related to language.

Question. Why is power sharing a necessity?
Answer. The first reason is power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order as social conflict often leads to violence and political instability. Imposing the will of the majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not only oppressive for the minority but it also brings ruin to the majority. Another important reason is that the very spirit of democracy is power sharing. 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.

Question. "The outcome of politics of social divisions depends on how the political leaders raise the demands of any community". Explain the statement.
Answer. (i) It is easy to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(ii) The demand for only the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka was at the cost of interest and identity of Tamil community.
(iii) In Yugoslavia, the leaders of the different ethnic communities presented their demands in such a way that these could not be accommodated within a single country.

Question. State any two measures adopted by Sri Lanka in 1956 as part of their majoritarian policy.
Answer. Majoritarianism measures adopted in Sri Lanka are :- 1. They declared Sinhala as an official language.

Question. In modern democracies, power is often shared among different organs of the government. Explain.
Answer. Power is shared between different organs of the government such as Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
This system of power sharing is referred to as a system of 'checks and balances' because :
(i) All three organs are placed at the same level of power.
(ii) The power distribution ensures that no organ enjoys unlimited powers.
(iii) Each organ exercises a check on the other. Thus there is a balance of power.

Question. Three factors are crucial in deciding the outcome of politics of social division. What are they?
Answer. The three factors that are crucial in deciding the outcome of politics of social division are :
(a) People’s perception : This is the most important factor which decides the outcome of politics of social divisions. If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it can lead to social divisions and violence. It is much easier if the people see that their identities are multiple and are complementary with the national identity. A majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian nationalist or citizens as they are Dutch or German speaking. This feeling binds them together. Similarly in India; though - India is a multi-cultural country, but the feeling of nationalism binds us together.

(b) Raising of demands by political leaders : The outcome of politics of social division also depends on how political leaders raise the demands of any community. It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community. The Sinhalese leaders of Sri Lanka wanted to fulfil their demand at the cost of other communities, and this led to the civil war.

(c) Reaction of Government: The outcome also depends on how the government reacts to the demands of different groups. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if they try to suppress such a demand with force and in the name of national unity, this can lead to civil war or division of country, and that is what happened in Sri Lanka.

Question. Which one of the following measures does not establish Sinhala supremacy in Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhala is the only official language.
(b) Preferential policies for government jobs.
(c) The state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
(d) Equal political rights to Sri Lankan Tamils.
Answer.(d) Equal political rights to Sri Lankan Tamils.

Question. Describe the power sharing arrangement made in Belgium. Why Power Sharing is Desirable?
Answer. The main elements of the power-sharing model evolved in Belgium are :
(i) Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(ii) Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments of the two regions of the country. The State Governments are not subordinated to the Central Government.
(iii) Brussels had a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutchspeaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.
(iv) Apart from the central and the state government, there is a third kind of government called the Community Government.
(v) This Community government is elected by people belonging to one language community such as – Dutch, French and German speaking. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.

Question. Explain any three forms of power sharing.
Answer. In modern democracies, power sharing can take the following forms:
1. Organs of Government: In democracy, power is shared among Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This is known as distribution of power, it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. No organ can exercise unlimited power as each organ checks the others. 
2. Governments at different levels: In federal form of government, power is shared between the central and state governments. In India there is another lower level of government, the-local self government. This is called vertical division of government.
3. Social Groups: Power may also be shared among different social groups such as religious and linguistic groups.

Question. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government.
Answer. Consequences of majoritarian policies adopted by Sri Lankan Government :
(i) Tamils felt the government was not sensitive about Tamil language and culture.
(ii) Tamils felt discriminated against in jobs and education.
(iii) Tamils felt the government was practicing religious discrimination.

Question. How is the idea of power sharing emerged? Explain different forms that have common arrangements of power sharing.
Answer. The idea of power sharing has emerged contrary to the notions of undivided political power. Earlier it was believed that all powers of a government must reside in one person or group located at one place. It was felt that if the power to decide was dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them. But these notions have changed with the emergence of democracy. We have learnt that power sharing actually empowers individuals and communities.
The two important reasons for sharing power are as follows:
1. Prudential reason : Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. We know that social conflict often leads to violence and political instability. Thus power sharing can ensure the stability of political order. Imposing the will of majority community over others undermines the unity of the nation.
2. Moral reason : Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It must involve sharing of 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. This can only be achieved when the citizens have a stake in the system. For example in India people elect their representative through direct franchise. After that, people’s representatives elect the government to make or amend rules & regulations and to carry out day to day functioning of governance. In India we have a central government, a state government and a local government (panchayat or municipalities) Forms of Power Sharing :
• Horizontal Power sharing : Power is shared among different arms of the government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This ensures that none of the arms of the government has unlimited power. Each organ acts as a check for the others. This leads to a balance of power among various institutions. For example, though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. 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.
• Vertical Power sharing : Power sharing among governments at different levels – A government for the entire country is called ‘Central or Union or Federal government’. The government in a particular state is called ‘State government’ in India. In such cases the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This is what was done in Belgium but not done in Sri Lanka. This is called federal division of power.
• Empowering Social groups : Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. I System of ‘reserved constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament of our country is an example of empowering minority community.
• Political parties and Pressure groups : Power sharing is also seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and social movements control or influence those in power. In a democracy acquiring power can take the form of competition among different parties. Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups. This kind of sharing can be direct as in a coalition government when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. 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.

Question. Explain any one benefit of ‘Power Sharing’.
Answer. Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between different social groups. A social conflict often leads to violence and political instability power sharing helps to ensure the stability of political order.

Question. Describe the power sharing arrangement made by Belgium.
Answer. The main elements of the Belgium model of power-sharing includes : (i) Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus no single community can make decisions unilaterally. (ii) Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. (iii) Brussels had a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Explain two reasons as to why power sharing is desirable.
Answer. There are many reason as to why power sharing is important in a democracy. The following are the two main sets in which the reasons can be broadly divided.
Prudential reason:
- Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
- It is a good way to ensure the stability of political order as social conflict often leads to violence and political stability.
Moral Reason:
- Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. The concept of democracy is a system of government of the people, by the people and for the people, which emphasizes on distribution of power among people.
- It involves sharing powers with those affected by its exercise and who have to live its effects, so that the people would be consulted on how they are to be governed

Question. How is the idea of power sharing emerged? Explain different forms that have common arrangements of power sharing.
Answer. Power sharing has emerged as a strong substitute to the idea of undivided political power, which belived in giving power to one person or group of a people located in one place. The core principle of power sharing is that people are the source of all political powers. Common forms of power sharing are :
(i) Vertical division of power : The sharing of power can be done at the different levels of the government – a central government for entire country and governments at provincial or regional level. This type is usually called federal government.
(ii) Horizontal division of power : In this form, the power is divided among different organs of government such as legislature, the executive and the judiciary. It places different organs of the government at the same level.
(iii) Power is also shared among different social groups such as religious and linguistic groups eg : community government.
(iv) Various power sharing arrangement can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.

Question. Describe any three demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
How did they struggle for their demands?
Answer. Disillusioned by the government’s Majoritarian Policy, the Sri Lankan Tamil started their struggle. They wanted
(i) Recognition of Tamil as an official language,
(ii) Regional autonomy
(iii) Equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. These were there three demands. But i.e., the demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils for more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils were repeatedly rejected. By the 1980s, several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamil launched their own political party LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). The conflict between the two communities turned into widespread conflict and it soon turned into a Civil War. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities have been killed and this caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural and economic life of the country.

Question. Highlight the measures adopted by the Belgian constitution for the prevention of conflicts in Belgium.
Answer. The arrangement that the Belgium leaders worked out is different from any other country and is very innovative.
(i) Belgian constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(ii) Many powers have been given to the State Governments because the state governments are not subordinates to the Central Government.
(iii) Brussels has a separate government, in which both the communities have equal representation. 
(iv) There is a third type of government, ‘community government’ which is elected by the people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French or German) and has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.

Question. What were the reasons for the alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils ? What was the effect of this on the country ?
Answer. Majoritarianism is a philosophy, which asserts that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority. It means submission of the minority group to the majority group for all the decisions affecting their lives. A series of majoritarian measures were adopted by the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka after its independence in 1948. It adopted majoritarianism to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus, disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new Constitution advocated that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism. All these measures taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Question. Describe the tension that existed between the Dutch and the French speaking people in Belgium.
Answer. (i) The economic difference between the Dutch speaking and French speaking people is the fundamental reason behind the tension.
(ii) The French speaking community is in minority. The French people are comparatively richer and powerful, whereas the Dutch speaking community is not only in majority but also is poor.
(iii) This is subsequently resented by the Dutch speaking community as it has affected their economic development and education.
(iv) The tension between the two communities assumes a severe form in Brussels. The Dutch speaking people are in majority within the country, however, they constitute a minor proportion in Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium.
(v) Between 1970 and 1993, the Belgium government amended their constitution four times to make an arrangement that would enable them to live together.