Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 HOTS Questions - Democratic Politics - I

136)  Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these. Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country. There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country. It is very easy for the party in power to win an election. Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.

Answer:(a) No, this conclusion is wrong because the Election Commission is indeed powerful enough to ensure free and fair elections. The Election Commission has complete control over all the functionaries connected with the conduct of elections. It can order repoll if there is report of rigging.
(b) This conclusion is right. Nowadays the people are more aware and more and more people have started to cast their vote and the voting percentage has gone up. Ruling parties often lose elections due to change in voting preference by the people.
(c) This is a wrong conclusion, because the party in power often lose elections. It is always the anti-incumbency factor working against it.
(d) This conclusion is right. Though the role of money and muscle power has been reduced but there is still need to control it further. Because some politicians and political parties are still able to take advantage of money power in elections. Many candidates with criminal records use muscle power to threaten and terrorise other candidates and voters which needs to be checked. 

137) Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements? Women always vote the way men tell them to. So, what is the point of giving them the right to vote? Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition. Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.

Answer:(a) Women should not be denied the right to vote because they are as intelligent as men and can take their own decision without being influenced by the men folk of their families. Moreover voting is done by secret ballot which means you do not have to disclose whom you voted for.
(b) Party politics and competition in election certainly creates tension in society. But elections should not be decided by consensus but by competition. In modern states, where population is very large, it is not possible to have consensus on election. It is just impracticable.
(c) Only allowing graduates to stand as candidates for elections is wrong. It is not necessary that a graduate person will be more sensitive to the needs of the people or that he will turn out to be an honest and sincere person. To prescribe educational qualifications (graduate level) would go against the spirit of democracy. In India, it will deprive a large section of the country's citizens the right to contest elections. However, it is better to have educated politicians, but being graduate should not be a compulsion. 

138) Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case? During an election in Nigeria, the officer incharge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than 5 lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another. Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhary will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin. In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr Bush in the Presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.

Answer: (a) If the malpractice has been proved in a court, the elections should be declared null and void and re-election should be held in that constituency. The officer in charge of the counting should be given strict punishment for committing such irregularity.          The system of counting should be such that the counting officer can not be able to do this. In India, this is not possible as counting agents of all the candidates are present in the counting centre and counting of votes takes places in their presence.
(b) To issue such a pamphlet is definitely an election malpractice. The circulation of such a pamphlet should be checked immediately. The source of the pamphlet a person, candidate or political party should be found out and punished, as it violates the principle of democratic elections.
(c) Since each state in the USA has it own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections, the decisions taken by the state of Florida must be according to the election laws passed by that state. No one could challenge those decisions as those must have been taken in accordance with the laws made by that state. In India, since states are not authorised to make their own laws for election, such a situation can not arise.   

139) Read the above headlines carefully and identify which powers are used by the Election Commission in each instance to ensure free and fair elections. 

Answer:(a) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
(b) Election Commission regulates campaigns to ensure that every political party or candidate gets a fair and equal chance to complete. It also ensures that no party or candidate can spend more than Rs. 25 lakh for election in a Lok Sabha Constituency and Rs. 10 lakh for election in an Assembly Constituency.
(c) During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to  follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections or to transfer some government officials.
(d) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections.
(e) Election Commission enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. It is not supposed to work on the advice of the Home Minister. During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of the governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections or to transfer some government officials.
(f) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of elections and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. It also includes the powers relating to the identification of the voters.
(g) During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections or to transfer some government officials.
(h) Election Commission implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
(i) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. It also includes power regarding the control of the exist polls.
(j) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections and order to repoll to the declaration of results.
(k) It implements election laws and the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it. Thus, every party or candidate can get a fair and equal chance to compete. Note In the examination, this question will not be asked completely, only its one or two sub-parts will be asked. 

140) (a) Right (b) Wrong (c) Wrong (d) Inadequate information (e) Wrong (f) Inadequate information

Answer: (a) Right  (b) Wrong (c) Wrong (d) Inadequate information (e) Wrong (f) Inadequate information 

141) 

Answer: 

142)   Party agents are present in the polling booth to ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way and the rival candidates are not able to adopt any unfair practices. They are also present in the counting centres to ensure that the counting is done properly without any unfair me

Answer: Party agents are present in the polling booth to ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way and the rival candidates are not able to adopt any unfair practices. They are also present in the counting centres to ensure that the counting is done properly without any unfair me 

143)   (a) (i) She should ensure that every political party and candidate gets free and fair chance. (ii) No one uses government resources for election campaign (iii) None of the candidates spends more money that specified.
(b) (i) Identification of voters is properly checked. (ii) Candidate or party does not force any voter. (iii) Mark is applied on each voters' finger. (iv) EVMs are sealed properly 
(c) (i) All EVMs are opened and votes are counted. (ii) Counting is done properly.

Answer:(a) (i) She should ensure that every political party and candidate gets free and fair chance.
(ii) No one uses government resources for election campaign
(iii) None of the candidates spends more money that specified.
(b)
(i) Identification of voters is properly checked.
(ii) Candidate or party does not force any voter.
(iii) Mark is applied on each voters' finger.
(iv) EVMs are sealed properly
(c)
(i) All EVMs are opened and votes are counted.
(ii) Counting is done properly. 

144)   Yes, booth capturing often takes place in this visible form. Booths are captured by the political parties before the voters reach there. There are less visible ways of booth capturing also. Sometimes, booths are captured by political parties with the help of election officials to cast bogus votes.

Answer: Yes, booth capturing often takes place in this visible form. Booths are captured by the political parties before the voters reach there. There are less visible ways of booth capturing also. Sometimes, booths are captured by political parties with the help of election officials to cast bogus votes. 

145)   (a) Unfair electoral practice (b) Fair electoral practice (c) Unfair electoral practice (d) Unfair electoral practice

Answer: (a) Unfair electoral practice (b) Fair electoral practice (c) Unfair electoral practice (d) Unfair electoral practice 

146) The Election Commission in India is very powerful so that it is able to perform its functions efficiently in a proper manner. This is good for democracy. Because only a powerful and independent Election Commission can ensure free and fair elections by preventing malpractice and unfair means in the elections.

Answer: The Election Commission in India is very powerful so that it is able to perform its functions efficiently in a proper manner. This is good for democracy. Because only a powerful and independent Election Commission can ensure free and fair elections by preventing malpractice and unfair means in the elections.

147) Family politics or Dynastic politics is not a new phenomenon in Indian politics, but it has become an increasingly wide reaching one in recent times. It is more or less found in each and every state and party in India. Almost every political party in India has leaders whose sons and daughters have entered politics, most of them without much political experience.

Answer: Family politics or Dynastic politics is not a new phenomenon in Indian politics, but it has become an increasingly wide reaching one in recent times. It is more or less found in each and every state and party in India. Almost every political party in India has leaders whose sons and daughters have entered politics, most of them without much political experience. 

148) This decision of the court preventing Chinappa and Satbir from contesting elections does not go against the principles of democratic elections because both have been found guilty of breaking the law, by the court. Criminals should not be allowed to hold position of power because they are not good citizens and could harm interests of the people.

Answer:This decision of the court preventing Chinappa and Satbir from contesting elections does not go against the principles of democratic elections because both have been found guilty of breaking the law, by the court. Criminals should not be allowed to hold position of power because they are not good citizens and could harm interests of the people. 

149) During elections most of the leaders make many big promises to the people (voters) to win their support and vote. However, after the elections, the political leaders forget their promises and most of them do not fulfil their election promises.

Answer:During elections most of the leaders make many big promises to the people (voters) to win their support and vote. However, after the elections, the political leaders forget their promises and most of them do not fulfil their election promises. 

150) 

Answer: