Important Questions: Election & Representation | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Differentiate between Direct democracy and Indirect democracy.
Ans: Indirect democracy people participate directly in the affairs of the state. They discuss, debate, and take the final decisions directly in the issues of administration while in Indirect democracy people participate in the affairs of the state through their representatives. Direct democracy is possible only in the smaller states while Indirect democracy is run in bigger states in sizes and populations.

Q2: What is Adult Franchise?
Ans: The right to vote for every adult person irrespective of his caste, color, region religion, language, and sex is known as Adult Franchise. The age of adulthood may be different for different societies. In Britain, it is 17 years. In India the age of adulthood is 18 years initially it was 21 years. In this principle, fall faith has been, expressed in the sense of decisions and capabilities, and capacities of every adult.

Q3: What is Functional Representation?
Ans: When the whole area of the state is divided into occupational considerations and every occupational group elects their own representative, it is known as Functional Representation. In such a system businessmen elect their own representatives, farmers elect their own representatives and women elect their own representatives.

Q4: What is the First Part of the Past System?
Ans: In this system of election whoever has more votes than all the other candidates, is declared elected. The winning candidate need not secure a majority of the votes. In the electoral race, the candidate who is ahead of others and who secures the winning post first fall is the winner. This method is also known as the plurality system.

Q5: Why the FPTP system (First point the post system), was adopted in India?
Ans: India FPTP system was adopted in India because of two factors.

• India has a single-member constituency where the P.R. system cannot be used.
• The second reason is FPTP system is simple while the PR system is complex, so for the people of India who are maximum illiterate PR system would
• In the FPTP system, people have a clear choice to opt.
• FPTP system offers a choice of candidates.

Q6: Write five steps of the election process.
Ans:

• Preparation of electro constituencies and voter’s lists.
• Notification and filing of nominations.
• Scrutiny, withdrawals, and finalization of the candidates.
• Preparation of Ballot papers.
• Preparation of necessary arrangements and conduct of the elections.
• Counting of the votes and declaration of the results.

Q7: Write some electrical reforms.
Ans: To remove the electoral defects certain measures have been taken up and certain reforms have been suggested by different committees and commissions. The main reforms are as under:

• Use of EVM (Electronic Voting Machines.)
• Compulsory use of photo identity cards
• Women should be given reservations in Parliament and Assemblies.
• There should be state funding to check the use of black money in the elections.
• The number of political, parties should be checked.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q8: What is the election? What are the requisites of an election?
Ans: The election is a method of choosing one’s representative. In a representative democracy, the election becomes a necessity because people cannot take part in administration directly. It is an elected representative who works on behalf of the common people. There is a number of requisitions for an election.

These requisites are under:

• It is to be decided that who will be eligible for vote.
• There should be free and fair elections for which a competent body has to be constituted to conduct free and fair elections.
• The basis of constituency formation has to be decided
• The method of election has to be decided.
• Election results are decided.

Q9: Describe various steps in the Election Process of India.
Ans: Following are the stages of the Election process in India:

• Formation & Electoral Territorial constituencies by the commission.
• Updating and finalizing the voter’s list
• Notification of declaration of Elections
• Nomination of candidates
• Scrutiny of the forms of candidates
• Time for withdrawal of the candidature
• Finalization of the total candidates in the Electron and publication of such a list.
• Printing of the ballot papers
• The proportion of EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) or the ballot box.
• Constitution of Polling booths in different constitutions
• Constitution of polling parties
• Preparation of poHingJiags with necessary election material for each polling booth.
• Conducting of the elections
• Counting of the votes
• Declaration of the result.
• Settlement of Election petitions

Q10: Discuss the composition of the Election Commission of India.
Ans: Now Election Commission of India is a three-member body with one Chief Election Commissioner and two other election commissioners. Each election commissioner has equal power and pay. However, the Chief Election Commissioner provides the meetings of the commission and discharges the formal duties of the Election Commission. He also acts as spokesman of the commission. Every Election Commissioner enjoys a tenure of six years or up to the attainment of the age of 65 years whichever is earlier. To assist the Election Commissioner of India there is a chief electoral officer in every state. State Election Commissioner is responsible for conducting the local body elections and is independent of the Election Commission of India. When elections are declared every State and Central Government employee comes under the jurisdiction of the election Commissioner under the Representation of People’s Act 1951 which makes it obligatory for every employee to perform the election duty assigned to him by the commission.

Q11: Mention some Election defects in our Election system.
Ans: In spite of the smooth functioning of our electoral democracy, our electoral system is not free from defects. It has some structural and functional defects which are as under.

• The multiplicity of the political parties and candidates
• Rigging in the elections
• FPTP system is defective because it ensures the win of a candidate even if he or she does not get the majority of the votes.
• Booth capturing
• The minority is ruling over the majority
• Hung Assemblies and hung Parliament
• Impersonation
• Use of black money in the elections
• Crimmalisatiort Or politics.
• Lack of political training.

Q12: Explain the List System.
Ans: It is also another method of Proportional method of representation. It is also used in multi-member constituencies. In this system, each party is allotted the share of seats in the Parliament in Proportion to its share of votes. Each party fills its Quota of seats by picking many of its nominees from a preference list that has been declared before the elections. In this system, a party gets the same proportion of seats as its proportion of votes. The voter expresses his preference for the list of the party and not for the candidate. Here also a definite Quota is used.

Q13: Why Reservation is necessary?
Ans: Since Indian Society has been in grip of several socio-economic disparities and inequalities. Many social groups remained socially and politically and culturally backward. To ensure their representation in democratic institutions like Parliament, assemblies they provided the reservation of the same seats for Scheduled Castes (79) and Scheduled Tribes (41). The reservation was necessary for the fair and definite representation of their socially backward groups.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q14: Describe the election system in India.
Ans: India is-a representative democracy in which election is a must. To conduct free and fair elections at the different levels an Election Commission is provided by the Constitution (Art 324 of Indian Consitution). We have adopted Adult Franchise which means every person who is an adult (18 years of age) irrespective of his caste, color, status, and sex is eligible to exercise his franchise. We have adopted territorial representation instead of functional representation. All the persons of different castes, classes, and occupations living in a definite geographical area (Constituency) elect only one representative. Therefore it is a joint system. Another very important feature of our electoral system is the FPTP system (First Past the Post system) It means the person who gets the maximum votes among the contesting candidates is declared elected However for the same posts like President, Vice President, and Rajya Sabha. The Proportional Representation method (Single Transferable vote system is used.

Keeping our historical background in view constitution-makers reserved certain seats in Parliament and State Assemblies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to ensure their fair representation. However, women could not get any reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies. Efforts are going in this direction. Indian electoral system has been proved successful and up to the expectations of the Consitution makers. Since 1952, fourteen Lok Sabha elections have been constituted. Election Commissioner has worked in a free and fair manner even in most difficult situations. Its credibility and reputation. has been acknowledged in other countries also. It is not a perfect system, therefore some reforms are underway to make it more effective.

Q15: Explain the merits and demerits of Direct democracy and Indirect democracy.
Ans: Direct democracy is one form of a democratic form of government in which people participate directly in the process of governance. The people of state sit together in person, discuss the issues and make final decisions about old matters like policymaking, making rules, making appointments, and giving punishment. It has two important merits

• People take part in the discussion and decisions directly.
• The decisions are taken quickly and no time is wasted.

It has some demerits also which are as under:

• It is not feasible in bigger states,
• Common people are not competent to taken technical decisions. Indirect democracy is another form of democracy where people do not participate directly but indirectly i.e. through their representative. The elected representatives act on behalf of the people and take part in the matter of administration.

It has two main merits which are as under.

• It is possible in big states.
• Elected people are responsible to the people.

Its demerits are as under.

• A lot of expenditure has to be incurred on elections
• Representatives are unable to keep all the interest of the people.

Q16: What is the role of political parties in the elections?
Ans: In most democracies, the political parties are extra-constitutional growths and have emerged in the political process as a matter of Fundamental Rights. But political parties play a significant role in making the elections meaningful. Political parties offer attractive policies and programs before the voters and ask for their votes. Political parties offer choices before the voters. Political parties educate the people and promote the participation of the people in the election process. More responsible are the political parties more meaningful is the election. Political parties also help in the formation of governments. The negative aspect of the political parties is that they demand the votes on parochial likes hence divide the society. But we can say that political parties never became essential for the smooth conduct of the elections. They cannot be separated from the election process.

Q17: Write main functions of the Election Commissioner.
Ans: The Election Commissioner has a wide range of functions which are as under.

• The election Commissioner supervises the preparation of updated voter’s list in every state.,
• It also determines the timings of the election and prepares the schedules of the election. lt also notifies the schedule which includes filling up of nomination form, last date of scripting, last date of withdrawals, date of polling, date of counting, and the declaration to the result.

Its main duty is to conduct free and fair poll:

• It has the power to implement the model code of elections and it punishes those who try to violate it.
• It takes the decision regarding repel! in any constituency.
• The Election Commission accord recognition to political parties and allocates flaps, symbols to the candidates and political parties.
• Election Commission monitor and supervise the election and takes a decision about any dispute related, with the election.

Q18: Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India.
Ans: The Chief Election Commissioner has a wide range of powers so is its role and position. Once the years the Election Commission of India has emerged as an independent authority and has exercised its powers and authority to ensure free and fair elections. When Chief Election Commissioners like T.N. Susan, B.B. Lyndog were at the helm of authority it has acquired more and more teeth. It is widely agreed that Election Commission is more independent and assertive now than it was ever. The Election Commission has started using more effectively its powers that it has been given by the Constitution makers. Many political leaders call it judicial activism also but it is not so. Over the years Election Commission has conducted the election of 14 Lok Sabhas and-many more state assembly elections and bye-elections have been conducted. Election Commission has conducted the elections in the most difficult situations. Generally, its decisions have been accepted and its impartiality has never been questioned. Its authority has been appreciated even in other countries also.

Q19: Give some suggestions for election reforms.
Ans: On the basis of discussion and debate about various election reforms of different platforms and on the basis of the recommendation of various committees and commission some of the important suggestions for election reformers are as under:

• FPTP system is faulty, therefore it should be repeated by the PR system.
• There, should be reservation for women in Parliament and State assemblies as has been done in rural and urban local bodies.
• Roll of money should be checked for that there should be state funding.
• EVM (Electronic Voting Machines) should be used in all the constituencies.
• Candidates having criminal background should be strictly debarred to contest the elections.
• Campaigning on the basis of caste and religion should be punishable.
• A multiplicity of political parties and independent candidates should be checked.
• Election photo cards should be made compulsory so that impersonation could be checked.
• There should be a transparent audit of the funds of all political parties.
• The voter list should be made up to date.

Q20: Why have women not be given reservation in parliament and State Assemblies so far?
Ans: The issue of women’s reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies has been agitating the minds of the political leadership of almost all the political parties. No party opposes the reservation of women. Even several consti¬tutional amendments have been introduced in the Parliament but unfortu¬nately this bill could not become law because of the hypocrisy of the political leadership of all the political parties. In spite of the fact that almost all the political parties have given their issue place in their election manifesto when the bill is introduced for this purpose, most of the political parties take the opposite position and the result is that it remained only a cry. Many parties demand reservation within reservation i.e. separate reservation of SCs and SCs women. It is becoming of this situation it could not become a law.