Glossary and Important Information - Democracy in The Contemporary World | Civics for Class 9 PDF Download

Glossary and Important Information

1. Democracy: A form of government which is chosen by the people to work for their welfare and can be voted out by them.
2. Dictatorship: It is form of government in which a person or group of persons possess absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.
3. Solidarity: A trade union movement founded by Lech Walesa which helped to end communist rule in Poland.
4. Decolonisation: The process of transfer of power from the colonial powers to independent nations governments in Asia and Africa.
5. United Nations Organisation: An organisation founded in 1945 that includes most countries in the world and serves as a international forum to settle international disputes.
Fig. United Nations

6. Veto: The special right to override the decision of the Security Council enjoyed by the five permanent members of the Security Council of United Nations.
7. Constitutional Monarchy: A government headed by a king or queen whose powers are limited by a constitution.
8. Revolution: The term means a recognised momentous change in the situation. A revolution can result in the sudden overthrow of an established government or system by force and bloodshot e.g., the French Revolution.
9. Glorious Revolution: In 1688 William III of Orange, the son-in-law of James II and ruler of Holland, became King of England without any bloodshed. The unpopularity of James II prompted a group of politicians to invite William III to England. Ultimately due to evens following this revolution, England more or less became a constitutional monarchy.
10. World Trade Organisation: It was set up in 1995 by members of the United Nations to promote trade between countries.
11. Trade Union: An association of workers for the purpose of maintaining or improving their working conditions.
12. Strike: Mass refusal by workers or employees to perform work due to certain grievances or because demands are not being met.
13. Referendum: A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to accept or reject a particular proposal. This is also called as Plebiscite.
14. Political Prisoners: Persons imprisoned or detained or kept under house arrest, because the government considers their ideas and activities a threat to its authority.
15. Coup: The sudden overthrow of a government which may or may not be violent in nature.
16. Coalition: An alliance of people, associations parties or nations which may be temporary or a matter of convenience.
17. Censorship: A condition under which the freedom of expression is taken away. Anything that the government finds objectionable cannot be published.