Glossary and Important Information - What is Democracy ? Why Democracy ? | Social Studies (SST) Class 9 PDF Download

Glossary 

• Dictatorship: In it all the powers are in the hands of a single individual or a small group of individual and the dictator is not answerable to anybody.
• Democracy: It is a form of government in which the ruling power is vested in the hands of the people and the government is answerable to the people who can change it through constitutional means.
• Communist State: A state-run by the communist Party without allowing other parties to fight elections.
• Coalition: A combination of parties to share power in the government.
• Political Prisoners: Prisoners held in prison or detained for opposing the government.
• Dictator: Head of the state who arbitrarily rules the country.
• Constitution: Rules of laws according to which the government of the state runs.
  

Important Information

What is Democracy?

• A form of government where rulers are elected by the people.
• Common feature: government chosen by citizens.

• Examples:
  - Democratic: India.
  - Non-democratic:  Myanmar (military rule), Chile under Pinochet, Saudi monarchy.

Simple Definition:
Democracy is a government in which supreme power lies with the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives under a free and fair system.

Features of Democracy 

1. Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

• Final decision-making power rests only with elected representatives.
• Example: Pakistan (Musharraf’s military rule) failed this test.

2. Free and Fair Electoral Competition

• Real choice between political alternatives; ruling party must risk defeat.
• Example: China (only Communist Party allowed); Mexico (PRI monopoly) — both undemocratic.

3. One Person, One Vote, One Value

• Political equality — each adult citizen has an equal vote.
• Violations: Saudi women (no vote till 2015), Estonia (minority exclusion), Fiji (unequal vote value).

4. Rule of Law & Respect for Rights

• Government must act within constitutional limits and respect citizens’ rights.
• Example: Zimbabwe under Mugabe — elections held but rights suppressed, judiciary controlled.

Why Democracy?

Arguments against democracy

• Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
• Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
• So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.

Arguments for democracy

• A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.
• Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
• Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
• Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
• Democracy allows us to correct our own mistakes.

Broader Meanings of Democracy 

• The most common form today is representative democracy, where elected leaders rule on people’s behalf.
• Democratic principle: consultation and consent of all affected people.
• Applies to families, schools, organisations — not only governments.
• True democracy is an ideal: equal opportunity, education, participation, and voice for all.
• Every democracy must constantly improve to become a “good democracy.”