JAIRAM PUBLIC SCHOOL, SALEM-8
(CBSE-Senior Secondary
Student Name: Sub :Social
Std : IX Date: 26.06.2023
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Ln- 1. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
DEMOCRACY
Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people
FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY:
The rulers ae elected by the people.
Free and fair elections are held
Each adult irrespective of religion, caste, colour, wealth have one vote, one value.
The elected rulers take decisions within limits set by constitutional laws.
The Rights of the citizens must be protected through constitution.
There must be an independent Judiciary
MAJOR DECISIONS BY ELECTED RULERS:
. In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf:
Led military coop in October 1999.
became the chief executive of the country.
He changed his designation to president.
In 2002 he held a referendum through which he granted 5yrs extentension
In 2002 ‘legal framework’ was passed which gave the power to dismiss National and
provincial assemblies.
Free and fair electoral competition:
China:
Elections are held regularly after every five years.
People elect the members of the Parliament called National People’s Congress
The Parliament has the power to elect the President of the country.
Only the members of the Chinese Communist party or its eight allied parties can
contest elections, and form the Government.
Mexico:
elections are held after every six years,
until 2000, election was won by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
PRI used dirty tricks to win election
Teachers in schools were forced to influence parents to vote for the IRP,and
large sums were spent on campaigning for IRP candidates.
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In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one
value:
Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality.
Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote.
In Estonia people belonging to the Russian minority found it difficult to get the right to
vote.
In Fiji, an indigenous Fiji has more voting value than that of an Indian-Fijian.
The feature of democracy highlights that , each adult citizen must have one vote,
and each vote must have one value.
Rule of laws and respect for rights:
Since independence Zimbabwe was ruled by ZANU-PF.
Its ruler Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country. He is popular but also use
unfair practices in Election.
Elections were held regularly and won by ZANU-PF.
Opposite party workers were harassed and public demonstrations were declared
illegal.
Television and radio are controlled by the Government.
The Government has some court judgement that went against it.
He was force out of office in 2017.
Why Democracy?
Arguments against Democracy:
Unstable: Different leaders are elected after a certain time interval.
Lack of morality: Democracy involves political competition and power play
Delay: Due to many people involved
Bad decisions: Elected leaders are unaware of the best interests of people
Corruption: Due to electoral competition
Decision: Ordinary people should not decide for themselves because they do not
know what is good for them.
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Arguments against Democracy:
More accountable: Leaders need to respond to the needs of the people. Due to this, an independent
and democratic country, like India has responded better to foodscarcity than China.
Provides method to deal with differences and conflicts: In a socially diverse countrylike India,
difference and conflicts are likely to occur. Only when one knows thatno one is a permanent winner
or loser, we can peacefully resolve clashes.
Improved quality of decision making: Due to consultation and discussion in a democracy and
involvement of many people it is easier to point out mistakes in any decision.
• Enhancement of dignity of citizens: Since everyone is treated equally and each person in a
democracy is a ruler himself, people are responsible for their own conduct.
• Correction of mistakes: In a democracy, mistakes cannot be hidden for wrong but are
publically discussed and corrected.
Answer the following Questions:
1. A) Define Democracy. B) What do you mean by ‘Legal Framework Order’?
2. Describe the origin of the word democracy.
3. Mention any two features of Democracy.
4. ‘In a Democracy, the majority of the people rule through their representatives’. Give
reasons.
5. By whom is the President of China appointed?
6. Which is the most common form of Democracy in today’s worls?
7. Distinguish between Democratic and Non-Democratic form of elections.
8. Explain the major features of democracy.
9. ‘Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.’Explain.
10.Which is the most common form of democracy? Why is this form of democracy
necessary?
11.Explain the major features of democracy.
12.“Elections in China do not represent people’s verdict” (Or)
“ In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s
parliament,still it cannot be called a democratic country”. Give reasons.
13.“Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect
its President. The country has never been under a military or dictator’s rule. But still it
cannot be called a democratic country.”Give reasons.
14.“The example of Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a
democracy, but it is not sufficient”. Explain.
15.“A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable
form of government”.Justify the statement.
16.“Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for
morality” Justify the statement.
17. “Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens”. Explain.
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18.“Democracy is the most popular form of government emerging in the modern times ,
still the shortcomings cannot be ruled out”. Justify the statement with reasons.
19. “China’s famine of 1958-61 was a result of government policies.” Explain.
Multiple Choice questions: (MCQs)
1. The word “Democracy‟ comes from the Greek word –
(a) Democracia (b) Demokratia (c) Demos (d) Kratia
2. What kind of government is there in Myanmar?
(a) Government elected by the people (b) Communist government
(c) Army rule (d) Monarchy
3. The head of the government in Nepal is the:
(a) President (b) Prime Minister (c) King (d) Vice President
4. Who led a military coup in Pakistan in 1999?
(a) Benazir Bhutto (b) Nawaz Sharif
(c) Pervez Musharraf (d) None of the above
5. 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)
6. “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)
7. How many members are elected to the National People‟s Congress from all over China?
(a) 3050 (b) 3000 (c) 4000 (d) 2000
8. 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
9. Which party always won elections in Mexico since its independence in 1930 until 2000?
(a) Revolutionary Party (b) Mexican Revolutionary Party
(c) Institutional Revolutionary Party (d) Institutional Party
10. Democracy must be based on
(a) One-party system (b) Free and fair election
(c) Choice from only the ruling party (d) All the above
11. When did Zimbabwe attain independence and from whom?
(a) 1970, from Black minority rule (b) 1880, from White minority rule
(c) 1980, from Americans (d) 1980, from White minority rule
12. Which party has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence and who is its ruler?
(a) ZANU-PF, Robert Mugabe (b) ZANU-PF, Kenneth Kaunda
(c) Zimbabwe Freedom Party, Nelson Mandela (d) Zimbabwe Party, P Johnson
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13 Which of these features is/are necessary to provide the basic rights to the citizens?
(a) Citizens should be free to think (b) should be free to form associations
(c) Should be free to raise protest (d) All the above
14. Which organ of the government is required to protect the rights of the citizens?
(a) Executive (b) Legislature (c) Independent judiciary (d) Police
15. What is Constitutional Law?
(a) Provisions given in the Constitution (b) Law to make Constitution
(c) Law to set up Constituent Assembly (d) none of the above
16. Which of these is permitted under the Rule of Law?
(a)Prime Minister can be punished for violating the Constitution
(b)Police has a right to kill anybody.
(c)Women can be paid lesser salaries
(d)President can rule for as long as he wants.
17. Some of the drawbacks of democracy is
(a) Instability and delays (b) corruption and hypocrisy
(c) Politicians fighting among themselves (d) all the above
18. In which of these cases can democracy not provides a complete solution?
(a) Removing poverty completely (b) Providing education to all
(c) Giving jobs to all (d) All the above
19. In which period did China face one of the worst famines that have occurred in the world?
(a) 1932-36 (b) 1958-61 (c) 2001-2002 (d) 2004-2007
20. A democratic government is better than a non-democratic government because
(a) It may or may not be accountable (b) It always responds to the needs of the people
(c) It is a more accountable form of government (d) None of the above
21. Democracy improves the quality of decision-making because
(a)Decisions are taken by educated people
(b)Decisions are taken by consultation and discussion
(c)Decisions are taken over a long period of time
(d)All decisions are approved by judiciary
22. How does democracy allows us to correct its own mistakes?
(a)Mistakes are hidden and cannot be corrected
(b)Re-electing the same government to enable it to correct its mistakes
(c)The rulers can be changed (d)none of the above
23. The most common form that democracy takes in our time is that of
(a) Limited democracy (b) representative democracy
(c) Maximum democracy (d) none of the above
24. Which body in Indian political system is an example of direct democracy?
(a) Zila Parishad (b) Panchayat Samiti
(c) Gram Sabha (d) Vidhan Sabha Q
25. Which of these is an example of perfect democracy?
(a) USA (b) UK (c) India (d) None of the above
26. Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia women did not have the right to vote.
(a)2013 (b) 2014 (c) 2015 (d) 2016
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27. What kind of oppression did Mugabe give his people?
(a)Opposition party workers were harassed and their meeting disrupted.
(b)Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal
(c)There was a law that limited the right to criticise the President (d) All
28. What requirements do the people of the state need before elections?
(a) They should be free to think (b) To have opinions (c) To form associations (d) All
29. Democracy is better than other forms of government because
(a) It allows change (b) Allows voting
(c) Allows right to opinion (d)It allows us to correct its own mistakes
30. What is the Chinese Parliament called?
(a) National People’s Congress (b) Chinese Communist Party
(c) The Communit party of China (d)Peoples Congress
Directions:
In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason(R).
Read the statements carefully and mark your answer as per the codes provided below.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false. d) Both A and R are false.
31. Assertion(A):A referendum was held in Pakistan in the year 2002.
Reason(R) :Pervez Musharaff was granted five years extension as president.
32. Assertion(A):Pakistan is considered as a democratic country.
Reason (R) :In Pakistan the final powers rested with military officers.
33. Assertion (A):Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
Reason (R) :Democracy provide method to deal with differences and conflicts.
34. Assertion(A) :Democracy is a magical solution for all the problems.
Reason (R) :Democracy as a form of Government only ensures that people take their own
decisions.
35. Assertion(A):A democratic Government can do whatever it likes, simply it has won an
election.
Reason (R) :Democratic government rules within the limits set by constitutional law and
Citizen rights.
36. Assertion (A) : Saudi Arabia has monarchy rule and an undemocratic country.
Reason (R) : Saudi Arabian people has no say in decision making.
37. Assertion (A) : At times Democracy leads to bad decision
Reason (R) : Elected leaders are unaware of the best interest of the people.
38. Assertion (A) : Democracy is better than other forms of Government .
Reason (R) : It allows us to correct our own mistakes.
39. Assertion (A) : Democracy enhance the dignity of the citizens
Reason (R) : Democracy is based on the principle of political equality stating the poorest and
rich has the same status.
40. Assertion (A) : Democracy is an accountable one it has responsible and legitimate
Government
Reason (R) : Democracy has regular and free election, decision making is based on norms
and procedures
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