Social Science Class 10 Civics Ch 1
EXERCISES, Page no - 10
1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies ? Give an example of each of these.
Answer :
There are certain forms of power sharing in modern democracies. Actually there is no single form in all the democracies which can be given about power sharing. All the forms of power sharing are different from each other from the point of view of their structures, objectives, results, etc. Some of these forms are given below :
1. Power is shared among different organs of government, and these organs are Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. Legislature is an organ of the government which makes laws for the country. Executive is that organ which executives or implements the decisions of legislature and judiciary is that organ of the government which uses those laws. It means that judiciary uses those laws, to give punishment to law breakers, which are implemented by executive and which are made by legislature. It is so because power is shared among different organs of government so that no organ should be able to execute its power on others.
Example : Powers in our country are divided among government, bureaucracy and courts by our constitution.
2. Power is shared 'among governments at different levels'. It means that in Federal system of government there is one central government which has the power to execute decisions on the whole country and there are many different provincial governments for different provinces of the country. This is known as Federal division of powers. In the some way this principle is also extended to lower levels of governments which are lower than the state governments. This is also known as vertical division of power.
Example : In India powers are divided among central government and state governments and these are divided by our constitution.
3. Third form of power sharing is that power is shared among different social groups of the country like linguistic groups and religious groups. This method of power sharing is used in many countries to give proper share of power to minority communities. In Belgium, 'community government' is formed to give proper share of power to all the three major and minor linguistic groups. Some countries also have made constitutional arrangements to provide representation to socially weaker sections of the society.
Example : Community government of Belgium is an example of this type of power sharing.
4. Fourth and last form of power sharing is that the power is shared among different political parties and pressure groups. In the multi-party system, every party contests the election to grab the power of the country and every party is free to get as many votes as it can. Any party can win majorty in the election. There is a trend these days that every election brings new party to the power. Many countries also come forward to make a coalition government.
Example : In India there is a multi-party system like Congress, B.J.P., B.S.P. etc., and every party has a fair chance to contest election and win majority in the country.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer :
In any country, which has many ethnic, religious and linguistic groups, power sharing is very much necessary because it gives equal amount of power to every group. This is very much necessary that every group should get enough representation in running affairs of the country and it should not feel neglected. There are two sets of reasons which could be given in favour of power sharing and these are :
(i) Prudential Reason - Pridential reason of power sharing says that power sharing reduces the chances of conflict between social groups in the country where a number of different linguistic, ethnic and religious groups reside. Because the result of social conflict comes in the form of political instability and violence, this power sharing helps in a number of ways to increase the stability of political order. If any majority group of the country tries to impose its will on the minority group then it can increase the tension in the country and it increases tension in those groups. Power sharing means the joint exercise of power. If power is exercised jointly then it will become more constructive for the country in the long run. If the majority will become opressive against minority then it also brings ruin to majority as well.
(ii) Moral Reason - Second reason of power sharing is moral reason and this reason of power sharing is good for mdoern democracies. In democracy power is shared between them who
- exercise the power which is vested in their hands and
- on whom this power is being exercised.
In democracy people have the last say because they are responsible in giving and taking of power. Basic principle of moral reason says that all political parties get power in coalition government, decentralization of power, protection of rights of minority groups and everyone has the say in the decision making process.
These are the two main reasons of power sharing. Power sharing not only manages to reduce conflict between groups in a deeply divided society but it also ensures the equal representation of all the groups in the goverance of the country. So prudential reason says that better results can be taken by power sharing and moral reason says that power sharing is valuable for the country.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why ? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in socities which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi - Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph - Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Answer :
This process of power sharing has nothing to do with the size of the country. Any country where a number of groups based on religion, ethnicity, etc. lives, needs to have a process of power sharing. Power sharing is very much necessary in the deeply divided socities because it not only reduces the social unrest in the different groups but it increases political stability as well. Every social ethnic and religious group have its vested interests and the representation of every group is necessary in the working system to reduce tension and to increase belief in different groups. Political stability and maintenance of peace has nothing to do with the size of the country. They both are required in every country. So we agree with the 'Ouseph's views that every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or don't have social division. Other factors which are involved in power sharing are cultural, social, regional, linguistic differences and multi-ethnicity in the country.
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town's schools. He said that the ban would help all non - Dutch speakers integrate in thsi Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium's power sharing arrangements ? Give your reason in about 50 words.
Answer :
No, the step taken by Mayor of Merchtem is not according to the spirit of power sharing arrangement of Belgium. 59% people of Belgium speak Dutch and 40% people of Belgium speak French. His steps of banning French in town's schools will lead to the minglement of both the groups and it will increase the sense of suspicion and distrust among the French speaking people. It is against the spirit of power sharing of Belgium because that spirit has tried to accomodate every linguistic group of Belgium in the process of power sharing so that every one could be able to live in peace with each other. This ban on French language can increase civic strife in different groups and it will lead to the division of Belgium society on linguistic basis.
5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudntial reasons for power sharing offered in this.
"We need to give more power to the Panchayts to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our constitution. Panchayti Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy - in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayti Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy."
Answer :
Many prudential reasons are given in this passage about power sharing and these reasons are given below :
(i) Reducing corruption - This passage says that if the power will be given in the hands of the people then they will become responsible in taking their decisions and it will lead to reduce corruption in the country.
(ii) Increasing Administrative efficiency - This passage says that if people will be involved in power sharing process then it will lead to increased administrative efficiency because people themselves will take their own decisions.
(iii) Reducing middlemen - This passage says that this system will reduce the middlemen to a great extent between the people and executives and between the planning and implementation of the schemes.
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below. Power sharing :
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibilty of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accomodates diversities
E. increases instabilty and divisiveness
F. promotes people's participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
| (a) | A | B | D | F |
| (b) | A | C | E | F |
| (c) | A | B | D | G |
| (d) | B | C | D | G |
Answer :
Power sharing :
- Reduces conflict among different communities
- decreases the possibilty of arbitrariness
- accomodates diversities
- promotes people's participation in government
7. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch - speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French - speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala - speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D
Answer :
(a) A, B, C and D
8. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists :
| List I | List II | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Power shared among different organs of government | A. Community government |
| 2. | Power shared among governments at different levels | B. Separation of powers |
| 3. | Power shared by different social groups | C. Coalition government |
| 4. | Power shared by two or more political parties | D. Federal government |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (a) | D | A | B | C |
| (b) | B | C | D | A |
| (c) | B | D | A | C |
| (d) | C | D | A | B |
Answer :
option (c) is correct
9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below :
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false ?
(a) A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true
Answer :
Option is (b) is correct.