Q1: Which one of the following is an example of outcomes of a democracy that produces an accountable government?
(a) Open to public debates on major policies and legislation
(b) Open in promoting economic development
(c) Open in reducing economic inequalities
(d) Open to rulers elected by the people
Ans: (a)
Q2: Which one of the following is the most popular form of government in the contemporary world?
(a) Dictatorship
(b) Monarchy
(c) Military rule
(d) Democracy
Ans: (d) Democracy
Q3: Which one of the following features is common to most of the democracies?
(a) They have formal Constitution
(b) They hold regular elections
(c) They have political parties
(d) All of the above
Ans: (d) All of the above
Q4: In which one of the following countries is democracy not preferred over dictatorship?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) Pakistan
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) India
Ans: (b) Pakistan
Q5: Which one of the following is not the way to resolve a conflict in a democracy?
(a) Mass mobilisation
(b) Using Parliament
(c) Doing justice
(d) Armed revolution
Ans: (d) Armed revolution
Q6: ‘Equal treatment of women’ is a necessary ingredient of a democratic society. This means that:
(a) women are actually always treated with respect.
(b) it is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights.
(c) most societies across the world are now increasingly women dominated.
(d) women are now treated as equals in the political arena.
Ans: (b) it is now easier for women to legally wage struggle for their rights.
Q7: Democratic government is better than non-democratic because
(a) it is a legitimate form of government.
(b) overwhelming support for the idea all over the world.
(c) it leads to a just distribution of goods and opportunities.
(d) it ensures faster economic growth.
Ans: (a)
Q8: Consider the following statements. Which of these do not hold true for non-democratic regimes?
(a) These do not have to bother about public opinion.
(b) These take less time at arriving at a decision.
(c) Principle of individual dignity has legal force.
(d) These often suppress internal social differences.
Ans: (c)
Q9: In a democracy, a citizen has the right and means to examine the process of decision¬making: This is known as
(a) Dictatorship
(b) Transparency
(c) Legitimacy
(d) Equality
Ans:(b)
Q10: To measure democracies on the basis of expected outcomes, which of the following practices and institutions would one look for?
(a) Regular, free and fair elections
(b) Open public debate on major policies
(c) Citizens’ right to information about the government
(d) All of the above
Ans: (d)
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Q1: Which forms of government is responsible towards public welfare.
Ans: Democracy
Q2: The most important outcome of democracy is being a _______________
Ans: Accountable and Responsive government
Q3: Democracy is based on the idea of _____________
Ans: Deliberation and negotiation
Q4: In a democratic government, a citizen has the right and the means to examine the decisions taken by the govt. It is known as _________
Ans: Transparency
Q5: “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” is said by……….
Ans: Abraham Lincoln
Q6: Which country in South Asia does not prefer democracy over dictatorship?
Ans: Pakistan
Q7: What is the government ruled by a King called?
Ans: Monarchy.
Q8: When was democracy introduced in India?
Ans: 1950.
Q: Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that :
(i) Democracy and development go together.
(ii) Inequalities exist in democracies.
(iii) Inequalities do not exist under dictatorship.
(iv) Dictatorship is better than democracy.
Ans: (i) Democracy and development go together.
Q9: Correct the following statement and rewrite: Democracy remains democracy only as long as some citizens have on opportunity to enjoy economic and political power at some point of time.
Ans: Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has opportunities to contest elections and to develop his/her economic condition.
Q10: Do economic inequalities exist in a democratic system ? Explain the extent of such inequalities.
Ans: Yes, economic inequalities can exist in a democratic system. There is a gap between various Social groups. Few rich people have the majority share of wealth and a large section is deprived and poor.
Q11: What are the conditions under which demo-cracies accommodate social diversities?
Ans: Democracy accommodates social diversity as it allows for equal and fair representation to all irrespective of caste, creed, colour, gender, language, race or religion. It also ensures that the government should not be formed just by the majority, but it should also have the representation of minorities and the will of the few should not be imposed on many.
Assertion and Reason Type Questions
Q1: In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct code.
Assertion (A): Democracies are based on political equality.
Reason (R): All individuals have equal weight in electing representatives.
(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 correct but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong but R is correct
Ans: A
Q2: Assertion (A): Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences.
Reason (R): They accommodate various social divisions.
(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 correct but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong but R is correct
Ans: B
Q3: Assertion (A) Democracy transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen.
Reason (R) Most individuals believe that their vote makes a difference to the way the governments run and to their own self-interest
(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 correct but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong but R is correct
Ans: A
Short Answer Type Questions
Q4: What are the reasons for which democracy should be supported ?
Ans: The reasons for which democracy should be supported are as follows :
(i) It promotes equality among citizens.
(ii) It helps in improving the dignity of an individual.
(iii) It helps in improving the quality of decision making.
(iv) It offers a way for resolving conflicts.
(v) It gives chances for rectifying mistakes.
Q5: Is democracy better than dictatorship ? Explain how.
Ans: Yes, democracy is better than dictatorship due to the following reasons :
(i) It promotes equality among citizens.
(ii) It helps in improving the dignity of an individual.
(iii) It helps in improving the quality of decision making.
(iv) It offers a way for resolving conflicts.
(iv) It gives chances for rectifying mistakes.
(vi) It offers equal status for women and the discriminated sections of the society.
Q6: Democracy accommodates social diversities. Support the statement with arguments.
Ans: Social differences exist in all societies but democracy accommodates social diversities because it gives equal rights and liberties to the people with diverse backgrounds. It also promotes healthy competition. Thus, it reduces the chances of any bloody conflict or tension between diverse social backgrounds. Moreover, it also helps in promoting dignity of an individual, respect for women and equal rights for discriminated sections of the society and make a harmonious society.
Q7: How democracy accommodates social diversity?
Ans: 1. It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.
2. It is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community. In terms of religion, or race or linguistics groups. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons or groups may and can form a majority.
3. Democracy remains a democracy only as long as every citizen has a choice of living in majority, at some point of time.
Q8: Does democracy ensure dignity and freedom of an individual ? Explain how.
Ans: Yes, democracy ensures dignity and freedom of an individual. Inequal treatment of individuals is a source of conflict. The respect for an individuals' freedom is the basis of democracy. Democracy ensures equal relationship between individuals without any chance for subordination or domination.
Q9: Is it right to say that democracies are not very successful in reducing economic inequalities ?
Ans: No, it is not right to say that democracies are not very successful in reducing economic inequalities. However, it has a slow procedure. In every society, wealth is accumulated within the hands of a few rich people, while most people are poor and deprived. However, democracy aims at minimising this gap by offering opportunities for upliftment of economically weaker sections of the society.
Q10: How can democratic reforms be carried out by movements?
Ans: The Democratic reforms can be carried out by various movements like party movements or an unofficial uprising of people, candle marches, boycott or other movements by NGOS, political activists, not-for-profit organisations or simply a group of citizens.
Q11: Explain how transparency is ensured in a democratic system.
Ans: Transparency is ensured in a democratic system by offering Right to Information (RTI) and E-governance to the citizens, through which they can examine the process of decision making.
Q12: How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Ans:
1. Democracy is a form of govt. in which people rule themselves through the representatives who are elected by them.
2. The elected members from the govt. and make policies and run the administration of the country.
3. The govt. elected by the people is also accountable to them.
Q13: List the various aspects and qualifications which help in giving a clear definition of democracy.
Ans:
1. The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions
2. Elections must offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the existing rulers.
3. Choice and opportunity should be available to all the people on an equal basis
4. Besides political rights, some social and economic rights are offered to the citizens by the democracy.
5. Power sharing is the spirit of democracy and is necessary between government and social groups in a democracy.
Q14: “Democratic governments are better than its alternatives”. Explain the statement?
Ans:
1. Democratic government is a legitimate government
2. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But it is the people’s own govt.
3. There is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world; in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries without democratic regimes.
Q15: How democracy accommodates social diversity?
Ans:
1. It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.
2. It is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community. In terms of religion, or race or linguistics groups. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons or groups may and can form a majority.
3. Democracy remains a democracy only as long as every citizen has a choice of living in majority, at some point of time.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1: “Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens.” Justify the statement.
Ans: 'Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens.' The statement is true. Respect from the fellow being is desired by everyone. Democracy ensures freedom and respect for every citizen. The democratic system offers political equality for all regardless of their caste, gender, class, race, colour or creed. In a democracy people are free to express themselves. The people elect their representatives based on their choices and are free to change the rule in case of dissatisfaction. Democracy ensures equal rights for women and offer many privileges for them in the form of welfare programmes and reservations. Attempts are also made to bring the deprived and discriminated sections of the society into mainstream by offering them with special privileges, welfare schemes and reservations. However, dignity and freedom of the citizens is ignored in other forms of government and decisions are imposed on to them without any room for change or rectification.
Q2: How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government? Discuss by giving five reasons.*
Ans: Democracy produces an accountable, responsive and legitimate government. Following are the reasons for it:
(i) In democracy, citizens have the right to elect their representatives and participate in the decision making process. Thus, democratic government is accountable to the people. Failure to fulfil their demands means losing their support.
(ii) There are norms and procedures which need to be followed while decision-making. The citizens also get the right to examine the process of decision making, i.e., there is transparency in the system.
(iii) A democratic government pays attention to the needs and demands of the people. Hence, it is responsive to the people.
(iv) Free and fair elections are held regularly. Open debates are conducted on major policies and legislations and the people also get Right to Information (RTI) to view the working of the government.
(v) It is a legitimate form of government. The decision-making procedure may be a slow procedure but the decision is acceptable by all. Hence, it is a legitimate form of government. Though, corruption might influence democracy and their might be delay in the system. Yet, it is people's own government and people trust that the system will provide them with justice.
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