Class 9 Civics Chapter 3 Question Answers - Electoral Politics

Q1: What is called election?
Ans: The mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so is called election.

Q2: Mention one demerit of an electoral competition.
Ans: Electoral competition creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.

Q3: Mention one merit of an electoral competition.
Ans: Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders. It helps to force political parties and leaders to serve the people.

Q4: What are called electoral constituencies?
Ans: The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.

Q5: Who is called of Member of Parliament or a M.P.?
Ans: The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament or a M.P.

Q6: How many seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates?
Ans: One-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Q7: What is called the Electoral Roll or the Voters’ List?
Ans: In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll or the Voters’ List.

Q8: In our country, who can vote in an election?
Ans: In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his/her caste, religion or gender.

Q9: Name the card the voters are required to carry when they go out to vote. Why should they carry this card?
Ans: The voters are required to carry Election Photo Identify Card or EPIC when they go out to vote. They should carry this card so that no one can vote for someone else.

Q10: What are the proofs of identity other than EPIC that the voters can show for voting?
Ans: The proofs of identity other than EPIC that the voters can show for voting are—the ration card or the driving licence.

Q11: What is called party ‘ticket’?
Ans: Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.

Q12: What is the main purpose of election?
Ans: The main purpose of election is to give people a chance to choose the representatives, the government and the policies they prefer.

Q13: Which slogan was given by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977?
Ans: Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977.

Q14: Name the leader who used the slogan ‘Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus’ in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.
Ans: N.T. Rama Rao.

Q15: Why is it necessary to regulate election campaigns?
Ans: It is sometimes necessary to regulate election campaigns to ensure that every political party and candidate get a fair and equal chance to compete.

Q16: What is a ballot paper?
Ans: A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting candidates along with party name and symbols are listed.

Q17: Which machine is used to record votes nowadays?
Ans: Nowadays electronic voting machines are used to record votes.

Q18: What does electronic voting machine or EVM show?
Ans: The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols.

Q19: Who is declared elected?
Ans: The candidate who secures the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared elected.

Q20: Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner or CEC?
Ans: The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner.

Q21: How is people’s participation in election measured?
Ans: People participation in election is usually measured by voters turnout figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who actually cast their votes.

Q22: Who vote in large proportion in India?
Ans: In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in large proportion.

Q23: Under whose control do government officers work when on election duty?
Ans: When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the Election Commission and not the government.

Q24: What do candidates do during the period of election campaigns?
Ans: During the election campaigns, the candidates contact their voters, political leaders, address elections meeting and political parties mobilise their supporters.

Q25: What is called a general election?
Ans: Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election.