WHAT IS DEMOCRARCY? WHY DEMOCRACY?
Q.1. Explain the major features of democracy.
Ans The main features of democracy are:
• In a Democracy the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people. By
electing the representatives they transfer the power to the representatives.
• A Democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair
chance of losing. In true democracy those who are in power will not misuse the power or play foul
tricks to win the election. They respect the judgment of the people.
• In a Democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. It is
otherwise Universal Adult Franchise.
• A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights. In a
democratic country everyone should be equal in the eyes of law. No one can do anything against the
laws of the country and against the rights of citizens
Q.2. Why Pakistan under General Musharraf cannot be called a democracy?
Ans People in Pakistan have elected representatives to the National and Provincial Assemblies but those
elected representatives are not the real leaders.
• The power to take final decisions rests with army officials and General Musharraf.
• They formally have an elected Parliament and government The work of the Civilian Cabinet is
supervised by the National Security Council which is dominated by military officials.
• The real powers in Pakistan are with military officers and not with locally elected representatives.
Q.3 Why China cannot be called a democratic country?
Ans In China, elections are regularly held after every five years.
• Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
• Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it
were allowed to contest elections held in 2002-03.
• The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
• This is the reason that China is not democratic, because in a democracy there exist free and fair
elections where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
Q.4.Despite holding regular elections, Mexico cannot be called democratic country. Explain with reasons
Ans The government is made by Institutional Revolutionary Party PRI
• Mexico was not a democratic government. It works against the principles of democracy.
• The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win the 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 PRI. 5.Opposition parties did
contest elections but never manage to win.
• Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them.
• Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made
it difficult for people to cast their vote.
Q5. How far the rule of law and respect for citizen’s rights are followed in Zimbabwe although Robert
Mugabe has been democratically elected?
Ans. Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority rule in 1980. Since then, the country has been
ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle.
• Its leader Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence.
• Elections were held regularly and always won by ZANU-PF.
• President Robert Mugabe was popular but also use unfair means in elections.
• Over the year his government has changed the constitution several times to increase the power of the
President and make him less accountable.
• Opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings disrupted.
• Public demonstrations and protests were declared illegal. There was a law that limits the right to
criticize the President.
Q.6. ‘Some countries are not ready to give voting rights to its citizens’. Explain.
Ans. 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.
Q7. Write any five arguments in favour of democracy. And five arguments against democracy
Ans The merits of democracy are:
o A democratic government is better government because it is more accountable form of
government. o Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
o Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
o Democracy allows people to correct their own mistakes.
o In a democracy people rule themselves as leaders and elected by them.
The demerits of democracy are:
• Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability. 2.Democracy is all about political
competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
• So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.
Q.9. Explain the broader meaning of democracy.
• Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life. There are different situations in
which the word ‘Democracy’ is used other than for the Government
Democratic family: Whenever a decision has to be taken, all members in the family sit together and
arrive at a decision. A boy’s opinion matters as much as his father’s.
Democratic class: Teachers allow students to speak and ask questions in the class. Students like to have
teachers with democratic temperament.
• True democracy ensures that no person goes hungry to bed.
• In a democracy every citizen must be able to play an equal role in decision making.
Every citizen needs to have basic information, equal resources and a lot of commitment.
Q.10. Explain the representative democracy. Why is the representative democracy the most
common form of government in modem times? Explain any four reasons.
• When the majority of people rule through their elected representatives, this is called
representative democracy.
• The most common form that democracy takes in our times is that of a representative democracy. In a
democracy, all the people do not rule. Direct rule by people is not possible.
• So, in a democracy, the majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people. Even
the majority does not rule directly. It rules through its elected representatives.
• A representative democracy becomes necessary. Modem democracies comprise a large number
of people. It is physically impossible for them to sit or collect together at a place and take a
collective decision. Even if they could collect together, all the citizens do not have the time, the
desire, or the skills to take part in all the decisions.
