Social Science Civics Class 10 Ch 5
Exercises, Page - 69
1. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics ?
Answer :
Pressure groups are organized and unorganized groups which try to inflence government policies and try to promote its interests. Movements also try to inflence politics but they both do not take part in direct elections. They both try to influence the politics in one way or the other. They affect the politics in the following ways :
- These pressure groups and movements start to campaign on any particular issue so that the public support could be gained. These both take the help of mass media so that more attention could be given to them by public.
- They generally call for a strike, they march the protest and try to disrupt the governmental programmes. They often call for a strikes and dharnas to raise their voice. Most of the federations, unions are used to take this route to influence governmental policies.
- Generally business groups form a lobby of the people with common objectives so that the government could be pressurised to change its policies.
2. Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties ?
Answer :
Generally pressure groups are those groups of people who try to influence government policies. They have some of their aims and then try to achieve those aims by exerting pressure on the government. Its main aim is to influence the government policies. Generally the members of these groups are those people who have some of their common interests, goals, aims, etc. They never try to contest the elections but they have their own ideas. The forms of relationships between pressure groups and political parties are given below :
- In many cases these pressure groups are being formed or led by the political parties. Then these pressure groups act as extended arms of political parties. For example, labour unions formed by different political parties.
- Many a time movements gave birth to political parties. If the struggles of aims becomes too long then many a time it takes the form of political party. For example, the roots of DMK and AIADMK can be seen from the movements.
- Many a time political parties and interest groups stand against or in front of each other. Then their relations are not direct but dialogue and negotiations are there. Their views and ideas are opposite to each other.
Answer :
Pressure group is a group of people who try to achieve their aims by influencing the governmental policies. People with common aims, occupations, etc. form these groups. In start, it seems that these pressure groups are not good for democracy because they try to influence the governmental policies to achieve aims of one particular group. In democracy government will have to take care of interests of all the sections of society. Another factor against it is that these groups are trying to get powers but without taking any responsibility. Like political parties, these groups are not bound to face the people in elections and they are not accountable to any one. They are not getting any support or money from the masses. Many a time due to their wealth, but little public support, they try to gain public sympathy in favour of their narrow agenda.
But on the other hand pressure groups and movements are very much necessary for the democracy. If everyone in the country is getting equal opportunity then these are not unhealthy for society. Generally government comes under pressure of these rich and influential people. Movements and public interest groups can play a useful role to reduce this undue control and they can tell the government about needs of the ordinary people from time to time.
Even different sectional interest groups can play an important role in it. If any interest group tries to influence the government to achieve its aims, then another interest group can also counter-attack first group and can create hurdles in the desires of first group. From this government can come to know about the needs of the people and government can accomodate all of them with conflicting interests.
4. What is a pressure group ? Give a few examples.
Answer :
Pressure groups are organized and organized groups which try to influence government policies and try to promote its interests. They have some of their aims and they try to achieve those aims by exerting pressure on the government. Generally, the members of these groups are those people have some of their common interests. They never try to directly contest the elections like political parties, but they try to control the power with their influence. They do not aim directly to control the political power.
Examples - Narmada Bachao Andolan, Anti-Liquor Movement, Movement for Right to Information are some of the examples of pressure groups.
5. What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party ?
Answer :
A pressure group is an organized and unorganized group which tries to influence government policies and tries to promote its interests. They have some of their aims and then try to achieve those aims by exerting pressure on the government. Generally the members of these groups are those people who have some of their common interests.
But political party is an organized body which tries to attain political power of the country by contesting direct elections and by winning the ideology. Members of one political party have their common goals and common ideology.
The main difference between pressure group and political party is that pressure groups never try to contest the elections but they want to control the powers from the back door. But on the other hand, political party directly contests the elections to take power in its hands. Pressure group can be organized as well as unorganized but political party is always an organized group.
6. Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers are called __________ groups.
Answer : Interests
7. Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a pressure group from a political party ?
(a) Parties take political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about political issues.
(b) Pressure groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve larger number of people.
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
(d) Pressure groups do not seek to mobilise people, while parties do.
Answer :
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
8. Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists :
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (b)
9. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists :
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (a)
10. Consider the following statements about pressure groups and parties.
A. Pressure groups are the organised expression of the interests and views of specific social sections.
B. Pressure groups take positions on political issues.
C. All pressure groups are political parties.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) A, B and C
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) A and C
Answer :
(b) A and B
11. Mewat is one of the most backward areas in Harayana. It is used to be a part of two districts, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The People of Mewat felt that the area will get better attention if it were to become a separate district. But political parties were indifferent to this sentiment. The demand for a separate district was raised by Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti in 1996. Later, Mewat Vikas Sabha was founded in 2000 and carried out a series of public awareness campaigns. This forced both the major parites, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, to announce their support for the new district before the assembly elections held in February 2005. The new district came into existence in July 2005.
In this example what is the relationship that you observe among movement, political parties and the government ? Can you think of an example that shows a relationship different from this one ?
Answer :
This example tells us that there were two pressure groups in Mewat who raised the demand of better attention for the people. Even another pressure group Mewat Vikas Sabha has started a campaign for it. So due to the campaigns of pressure groups, political parties were forced to support that movement so that they can get maximum votes in the coming elections. Due to their efforts government made it a district which shows that government was unable to ignore the demand of pressure groups and political parties.
Another example of this type is from neighbouring state Punjab where Kisan unions had demanded free electricity an power. Both the main parties SAD and INC also agreed to that demand and promised to do the same if came to power. It shows that pressure groups play an important role in changing or making the policies of government.