Power SharingClass 10 Political Science NCERT Solutions
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Q1Exercises
What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Solution
In modern democracies, power-sharing arrangements can take many forms. The four main forms are:
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Horizontal distribution of power: Power is shared among different organs of the government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This system ensures that no single organ can exercise unlimited power and creates a system of checks and balances.
- Example: In India, the judiciary can check the functioning of the executive and the laws made by the legislature.
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Vertical distribution of power (Federal division of power): Power is shared among governments at different levels. This involves a general government for the entire country (federal or central government) and governments at the provincial or regional level (state governments).
- Example: In India, power is divided between the Central Government and the State Governments, with specific powers laid down in the Constitution.
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Power-sharing among different social groups: Power is shared among different social, religious, and linguistic groups. This arrangement gives minority communities a fair share in power and helps accommodate social diversity.
- Example: The 'community government' in Belgium, which is elected by people belonging to one language community and has power regarding cultural and educational issues.
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Power-sharing among political parties, pressure groups, and movements: In a democracy, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies. This can be direct, as in a coalition government, or indirect through the influence of pressure groups and movements.
- Example: When two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections and form a coalition government if they win, they directly share power.
Q2Exercises
State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Solution
One prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing are as follows:
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Prudential Reason: Prudential reasons for power sharing are based on a careful calculation of gains and losses, stressing that it leads to better outcomes. The primary prudential reason is that power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between different social groups. This ensures political stability and prevents violence.
- Example from the Indian context: The system of 'reserved constituencies' for socially weaker sections like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is a prudential arrangement. It gives them a stake in the governmental system, reduces feelings of alienation, and helps prevent social conflict.
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Moral Reason: Moral reasons emphasize that power sharing is valuable in itself. The main moral reason is that power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system and have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
- Example from the Indian context: The establishment of Panchayati Raj institutions, which devolve power to local levels of government like villages and municipalities. This is a moral implementation of democracy as it restores power to the hands of the people, allowing them to participate in decisions that affect their lives directly.
Q3Exercises
After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions. Mathayi - Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions. Ouseph - Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Solution
I agree with Ouseph's conclusion.
Reason: Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy and is not limited to societies with social divisions or to large countries. Even in a small or socially homogenous society, power sharing is essential. This includes the horizontal distribution of power among the legislature, executive, and judiciary, and power sharing among different political parties to prevent the concentration of power in a single hand.
Q4Exercises
The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town's schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium's power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Solution
No, this measure is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium's power-sharing arrangements.
Reason: The Belgian model is built on the principle of accommodation and respect for regional and cultural diversities. Banning a language, even for the stated purpose of integration, goes against this spirit. It imposes the will of one linguistic group on another, which could create the very civic strife that the Belgian power-sharing model successfully avoided.
Q5Exercises
Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this. "We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy - in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy."
Solution
A prudential reason is one that is based on a careful calculation of gains and losses, leading to a better outcome. From the given passage, a prudential reason for giving more power to the panchayats is that it is a way to "reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency." This is a practical benefit that makes the system work better.
Q6Exercises
Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people's participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
(a) A B D F (b) A C E F (c) A B D G (d) B C D G
Solution
The arguments in favour of power sharing are:
- A. reduces conflict among different communities
- B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
- D. accommodates diversities
- F. promotes people's participation in government
Therefore, the correct answer is (a) A, B, D, F.
Q7Exercises
Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka. A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community. B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority. C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs. D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines. Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a)
A, B, C and D
(b)
A, B and D
(c)
C and D
(d)
B, C and D
Solution
Let us evaluate each statement based on the chapter:
- Statement A is incorrect. The Belgian leaders took a path of accommodation, not domination.
- Statement B is correct. Sri Lanka followed a policy of majoritarianism to establish Sinhala supremacy.
- Statement C is correct. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched struggles for regional autonomy (a federal arrangement).
- Statement D is correct. The Belgian model of accommodation helped avoid civic strife and a possible division of the country.
Therefore, statements B, C, and D are correct. The correct answer is (d) B, C and D.
Q8Exercises
Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:
List I List II 1. Power shared among different organs of government A. Community government 2. Power shared among governments at different levels B. Separation of powers 3. Power shared by different social groups C. Coalition government 4. Power shared by two or more political parties D. Federal government
1 2 3 4 (a) D A B C (b) B C D A (c) B D A C (d) C D A B
Solution
Let's match the items from List I to List II:
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- Power shared among different organs of government corresponds to B. Separation of powers (Horizontal distribution).
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- Power shared among governments at different levels corresponds to D. Federal government (Vertical distribution).
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- Power shared by different social groups corresponds to A. Community government (as seen in Belgium).
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- Power shared by two or more political parties corresponds to C. Coalition government.
The correct matching is 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C. This corresponds to option (c).
Q9Exercises
Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below: A. Power sharing is good for democracy. B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Which of these statements are true and false?
(a)
A is true but B is false
(b)
Both A and B are true
(c)
Both A and B are false
(d)
A is false but B is true
Solution
Let us evaluate the statements:
- Statement A is true. The chapter states that power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.
- Statement B is true. The chapter presents this as a key prudential reason for power sharing, as it helps ensure political stability.
Since both statements are true, the correct answer is (b) Both A and B are true.