CH - 1 Q&a
CH - 1 Q&a
CH - 1 Q&a
Important Questions
Civics Chapter-1
What is Democracy? Why Democracy
1 marks Questions
1. Who said these words, “Democracy is the rule of people, for the people and by the people”?
4. Which two countries of the world have allowed the ruling parties to contest elections?
5. Name the country where women are not allowed to take part in the election.
Ans. Zimbabwe.
7. What type of government would you like to have in your country?
Ans. Democracy.
Ans. 1980.
Ans. ZANU-PF.
Ans. In Fiji, the value of the vote of the indigenous Fiji is more in comparison to an Indian Fijian.
Ans. Because democratic decisions always involve many people, discussions and meetings.
17. After how many years does Mexico hold elections for electing its president?
18. Name the country that does not give voting rights to minorities.
Ans. Estonia.
Ans. India.
3 marks Questions
1. What amendments did Prvez Musharraf bring in the constitution of Pakistan by issuing a
legal framework order?
Ans. In August 2002 he issued a legal framework order that amended the constitution of
Pakistan.
According to this order, the president can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.The
work of the civilians’ cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by
military officers.
2. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharaff was a democratic country or non democratic.
Give reasons.
Ans. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharaff was a non democratic country.
He amended the constitution according to his own will and for his personal benefits.
He dismissed the national and provincial assemblies.
Final power rested with military officers.
3. ‘Some countries are not ready to give voting rights to its citizens’. Explain.
4. What dirty practices were used by IRP to win the elections in Mexico?
Ans. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win 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 the PRI.
Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.
5. Name any two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be considered as
democratic countries. Explain.
Ans. Mexico and China are two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be
considered as democratic countries.
In China before contesting elections a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist
Party. People have no choice. The government is always formed by the communist party. This is
against the democratic system of elections.
In Mexico, PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win 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 the PRI. Media largely ignored the activities of
opposition political parties except to criticise them. This is against the democratic system of
elections.
7. How does democracy provide a platform to deal with differences and conflict?
Ans. Democracy provides the method to deal with differences and conflict.
In any society people are bound to have differences of opinion and interests. These differences
are particularly sharp in countries like ours which have an amazing social diversity.
Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem. In democracy no one is the
permanent winner. No one is the permanent loser. Different groups can live with one another
peacefully.
Ans. Democracy provides the method to deal with differences and conflict.
Democracy allows us to correct our own mistakes.
Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
11. Under what conditions does the government run after the elections?
Ans. A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won an
election.
It has to respect some basic rules. In particular it has to respect some guarantees to the
minorities.
Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations. Every office bearer has certain
rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitution and the law.
Ans. All citizens have a political right to vote with equal value.
Elections were held regularly after every five or four years.
Elections are conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.
14. Write any three drawbacks of non democratic elections.
15. Is India a democratic country? Write any three arguments in favour of your answer.
Ans. Yes, India is democratic country. It is the largest democracy in the world.
In India people have the right to criticise the government and express their views freely.
People choose their own government.
The real and final power is in the hands of people.
There are free and fair elections.
16. Assess any three conditions that applied to the way a democratic government is run after
the elections.
Ans. (i) Sovereignty of the people. People are free from outside powers.
(ii) Rulers are elected by the people.
(iii) Free and fair elections.
18. Explain the difficulties faced by the people in a non democratic country.
Ans. People cannot change their rulers according to their own wishes.
People cannot choose their rulers also.
People cannot question the authority of the dictator.
People cannot criticise the government.
19. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Zimbabwe.
Explain.
Ans. Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights were not followed in Zimbabwe
Opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings disrupted.
Public demonstrations and protests were declared illegal.
There is a law that limits the right to criticise the President.
20. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Pakistan.
Explain.
Ans. Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Pakistan.
In August 2002 he issued a legal framework order that amended the constitution of Pakistan.
According to this order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by the National Security Council which is
dominated by military officers.
21. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in China.
Explain.
Ans. Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in China. The
Election procedure is not democratic in china.
The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country.
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 2001-03.
The government is always formed by communist party.
22. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Mexico.
Explain.
Ans. Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Mexico. The
Election procedure is not democratic.
The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win the elections.
All those who are employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for PRI.
Opposition parties did contest elections but never managed to win.
Ans. Every citizen must be able to play an equal role in decision making.
An equal right to vote is not enough; people need to have equal information, basic education,
and equal resources.
Good democracy will come only when no one goes hungry to bed.
When every person has employment and accessibility of basic needs.
Ans. Only elections are not sufficient to guarantee the existence of democratic government.
There should be a choice before the voters to elect the representatives. Election system should
not be like China.
One vote, one Person and one value. Elections should be based on this principle.
26. “Rulers and the rules, both are responsible for making an ideal democracy”. Explain.
Ans. It depends upon the citizens what type of representative they are elected.
It depends on the awareness and participation of people.
In a democracy every citizen must be able to play an equal role in decision making.
Both the rulers and the ruled should try to realise the ideals of democratic decisions.
27. The army is the most disciplined and corruption free organisation in the country. Therefore
the army should rule the country. Give a reason.
Ans. It is only in democracy that mistakes are admitted and all attempts are made to correct
these mistakes.
If mistakes are made it is only in democracy that they are admitted and then corrected.
In democracy thus there is a room for correction.
5 marks Questions
Ans. People have political rights. They take part in an election process on the basis of Universal
Adult Franchise.
Democratic government is accountable and responsive to the needs of people.
There are free and fair elections. People participate in them without any restriction.
People also participate in the functioning of decision making.
Representatives are elected for the fixed tenure of time.
People are not subjects of the ruler, they are rulers themselves.
Ans. (i) People do not enjoy political rights or they have every limited right.
(ii) Elections are not held in a free and fair manner. People face many restrictions.
(iii) People are not allowed to participate in the functioning of decision making.
(iv) Government is not accountable and responsive to the needs of people.
(v) People are never considered rulers or dignified citizens. They are treated as subjects.
Ans. In Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a
democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country.
He changed the designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that
granted him a five year extension.
Pakistani media human rights organisations and democracy activities said that the referendum
was based on malpractices and fraud.
In August 2002 he issued a legal framework order that amended the constitution of Pakistan.
According to this order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by the National Security Council which is
dominated by military officers.
4. How far is it correct to say that the government of PRI in Mexico was a non democratic
government? Give arguments.
Ans. The government made by the International Revolutionary Party of 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 are employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for PRI.
Opposition parties did contest elections but never managed to win.
Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.
Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another at the last minute, which
made it difficult for people to cast their vote.
5. 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 is popular
but also uses unfair means in elections.
Over the years 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 is a law that limits the right to
criticize the President.
Ans. In China elections are held regularly after every five years for electing the country’s
parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahu (National People’s Congress).
The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country.
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 2001-03.
The government is always formed by communist party.
10. Is it good to elect a President for life or is it better to hold regular elections after every five
years? Give reasons.
Ans. No, it is not good to elect a President for life. But it is certainly better to hold regular
elections after a fixed tenure, which should be of five years.
Rulers elected by the people can take final decisions on all the major issues.
Such elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.
This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.
The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and
citizens’ rights.
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