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Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries ? Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.
a) Country A : People who do not accept the country’s official religion, do not have a right to vote.
(b) Country B : The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
(c) Country C : Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
(d) Country D : There is no independent election commission.
(a) Undemocratic
(b) Not sure
(c) Undemocratic
(d) Undemocratic.
Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
(a) People feel free and equal in a democracy
(b) Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others
(c) Democratic government is more accountable to the people
(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others.
Democracies are more prosperous than others is not a good argument in favour of a democracy.
For example democracy exists in India. But majority of the people are very poor, whereas non-democratic countries like China and Mexico are more prosperous.
Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.
(a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large scale rigging was reported.
(c) Women’s representation in the parliament has never reached 10 per cent. This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women.
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Democratic Element |
Undemocratic Element |
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A. A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament. B. The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency. C. Women’ organisation demand one-third seats for women. |
In order to conform to the regulation decided by the world trade organisation.
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Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.
Free Press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country.
Government fears its defeat in the next elections.
People are free to believe in and practice any religion.
D.
People are free to believe in and practice any religion.
There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?
Filling a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
Organising public meetings against government’s policies.
Paying money to government officials to get water.
D.
Paying money to government officials to get water.
Write a response to the following argument against democracy.
Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.
Rule of army is against the principles of democracy. In a democracy elected representatives of the people should be the ruler.
Write a response to the following argument against democracy.
Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
Rule of the wise seems better but not democratic.
Rule of the majority is the basic principle of democracy.
Write a response to the following arguments against democracy.
If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.
Country should not by ruled by religious leaders.
The democratic state should be a secular state. Religion and Politics should be independent of each other.
Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
Father to daughter : I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to do.
It is not in accordance with democratic principles.
Democratic values demand that father should not impose his will on the children. Daughter has right to be consulted.
Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
Teacher to student : Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
This statement is against the democratic values.
It is the right of the students to clear the doubts from the teachers.
Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
Employee to the officer : Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.
This statement is based on democratic value.
Working hours should be according to the law. In a democratic country rule of law is a basic principle of democracy.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
Democratic. Where citizens have the right to vote and elections are held regularly, it is democracy.
But elections should be free and fair.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
Undemocratic. In a democracy no other country or agency can dictate the government to reduce its expenses on any activities which are necessary for the welfare of the people.
It is the basic duty of the democratic government to provide education and health to all the citizens.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 per cent people of that country.
It is not democratic.
In a democracy education should be imparted in a language understood by the students.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
It is not democratic.
People have a right to protest against the policies of the government. Peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes are democratic method of protest.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.
It is undemocratic.
For democracy it is essential that radio and television should be autonomous.
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In 2004 a report published in U.S.A. pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that :
If an average Black family earns $ 100 then the income of average White family is $ 162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black Family.
In a President’s election nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in families with income over $ 75,000 have voted. These people are the top 20 % of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 15,000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income.
About 95% contribution to the political parties comes from the rich. This gives them opportunity to express their opinion and concern, which is not available to most citizens.
As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns—coming out of povery, getting job, education, health care and housing from them. Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business and the most rich.
Write an essay on ‘Decmocracy and Poverty’ using the information given in this report but using examples from India.
The term democracy is derived from which of the following Greek words
Demos and Kratos
Casta
Famulus
Pocta
A.
Demos and Kratos
Which of the following is the basis of democracy?
Equality
Liberty
Fraternity
All the above
D.
All the above
Direct democracy is that government in which
all the citizens cannot participate in administration.
all the citizens directly take part in administration.
all the citizens indirectly participate in administration.
the representatives of the public run the administration.
B.
all the citizens directly take part in administration.
Which one of the following is the main characteristic of Indirect democracy?
People themselves run the administration.
The representatives elected by the people run the administration.
Every citizen takes part in making laws.
The power of administration is rested with the scheduled castes.
B.
The representatives elected by the people run the administration.
Which of the following is a merit of democracy?
The President gets unlimited powers.
It looks into the welfare of the general public.
Even the uneducated people get a share in administration.
Only those persons are elected representatives who are well experienced in the art of administration.
B.
It looks into the welfare of the general public.
In India exists
Indirect democracy
Direct democracy
Referedum
Initiative
A.
Indirect democracy
Which one of the following is not the method of direct democracy?
Referendum
Initiative
Landsgemeinde
Political Parties
D.
Political Parties
Which of the following is not the principle of democracy?
Equality
Rule of Law
Rule of Majority
Rule of Minority
D.
Rule of Minority
From which words the term ‘Democracy’ is derived?
The term ‘Democracy’ is derived from the Greek words-Demos and Kratos.
What is meant Democracy?
Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.
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What was Lincoln definition of Democracy?
According to Abraham Lincoln, “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
What do you know about Direct Democracy ?
In Direct Democracy, the people directly participate in the government of the country.
Define 'Indirect Democracy'.
In Indirect Democracy, the administration is run by the people’s representatives.
Mention one demerit of Democracy.
Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
State any one condition essential for a successful Democracy.
Conscious voter is the essential condition for the success of democracy.
State the terms that are often used to describe non-democratic government.
Terms that are often used to describe non-democratic government are authoritarian, dictatorship and totalitarian.
Mention any two kinds of dictatorship.
They are:
(i)Military dictatorship.
(ii)Party dictatorship.
Mention any one demerit of Dictatorship.
Individuals are not granted civil liberties and other fundamental rights in dictatorship.
Mention any four devices employed in Direct Democracy.
The devices employed are Initiative, Referendum, Recall and Plebiscite.
Is it possible for all the voters in your parliamentary constituency to sit together and have a useful discussion?
It is not possible for the voters of parliamentary constituency to assemble at one place and have meaningful dialogue.
Which is the most popular form of Democracy in the world?
Representative type of democracy.
State one objective of Democracy.
The objective of democracy is to ensure equality to citizens.
Write any two hindrances in the path of democracy.
The hindrances are:
(i)Poverty
(ii)Illiteracy.
Mention two factors which are essential for the success of democracy.
The factors are:
(i) Adult Franchise
(ii)Independence of Judiciary.
In my village the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?
No, it is not democratic because regular meeting are essential for a democratic system.
Find out the total number of eligible voters in your Assembly constituency and your parliamentary constituency.
In our assembly constituency there are 1 lakh eligible voters whereas in parliamentary constituency there are 8 lakh voters.
Find out how many people can fit into largest stadium in your area?
In our area maximum fifty thousand people can fit into the stadium.
Define the term ‘Democracy’.
The term ‘Democracy’ is derived from the Greek words-Demos and Kratos, the former meaning ‘the people’ and latter ‘power’.
Democracy thus means ‘power of the people’ or ‘rule of the multitude.’
Describe any two basic principles of democracy.
The basic principles of democracy are described below:
(i)Sovereignty of People - Sovereignty resides in the people and the administration is run in accordance with the wishes of the people.
(ii)Free and Fair Election - The process of electing leaders are be free and fair, without any malpractices.
Discuss Direct Democracy.
Direct Democracy:
(i)It is considered as real or true democracy. In this system there is no difference between the rulers and ruled. In such a system of government the people directly participate in the government of the country.
(ii)The entire population forms an assembly for the purpose of making laws. People discuss the problems of the state and control the state machinary.
(iii)It is harder to practice direct democracy completely in the contemporary world. Modern devices of direct democracy are Initiative, Referendum, Recall and Plebiscite.
What do you know about Indirect Democracy?
Indirect democracy:
(i)Indirect democracy is also known as representative democracy.
(ii)In this type of democracy, the administration is run by the people’s representatives.
(iii)These representatives are elected by the people on adult franchise basis for a fixed period and after the expiry of their term, fresh elections are held.
State any five demerits of democracy.
The demerits of democracy are stated below:
(i)Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
(ii)Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
(iii)So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
(iv)Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
(v)Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
Mention the merits of Democracy.
The merits of democracy are mentioned below:
(i)A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.
(ii)Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings. When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision.
(iii)Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. Different groups can live with one another peacefully. In a diverse country like India, democracy keeps our country together.
(iv)Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. Democracy is based on the principle of political equality, on recognising that the poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated.
(v)Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is a room for correction.
Differentiate between Direct and Indirect Democracy.
The differences are:
(i)In direct democracy people participate in the government of the country, while in indirect democracy people indirectly participate in the government through representatives.
(ii)In direct democracy the institutions of initiative, referendum and recall exist whereas there are no such institutions in indirect democracy.
Explain any two devices employed in Direct Democracy.
The devices employed are:
(ii)Initiative - This device gives power to the voters to get the laws passed in accordance with their wishes.
(ii)Referendum - The method of referendum gives the final authority to the people to accept or reject the laws passed by the legislature.
Mention any four rights which are guaranteed in a democracy.
The following rights are guaranteed in democracy :
(i) Right to vote
(ii) Right to contest elections
(iii) Freedom of speech and expression
(iv) Freedom of press
Distinguish between democracy and dictatorship.
Mention the four features of democracy.
The features of democracy are following:
(i)Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
(ii)Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.
(iii)This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.
(iv)The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights.
Mention the arguments put forth against democracy.
The argument against the democracy are mentioned below:
(i)Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
(ii)Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
(iii)So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
(iv)Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
(v)Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
‘Democracy is better than any other form of government.’ Explain.
Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the people.
(i)A nondemocratic government may and can respond to the people’s needs, but it all depends on the wishes of the people who rule.
(ii)If the rulers don’t want to, they don’t have to act according to the wishes of the people. A democracy requires that the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people.
(iii)A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government
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