Class 9 Civics L 2 What is Democracy ? Why Democracy?

 

What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Important Questions Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What is representative democracy?
Answer:
Under representative democracy all the people do not rule or take decisions but a majority or elected representatives are allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people.

Question 2.
Which is the most common form of democracy in today’s world?
Answer:
Representative Democracy.

Question 3.
Name any two characteristics of democracy.
Answer:

• People choose their rulers.
• People have freedom to express their views.  
• Question 4.

Why are quality decisions a possibility in a democracy?
Answer:
A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings.

Question 5.
Whose rule is democracy considered to be?
Answer:
People’s rule e.g., Salvador Allende’s rule in Chile.

Question 6.
With whom does the final decision-making power rest in a democracy?
Answer:
Elected representatives of the people.

Question 7.
Under which form of government political equality given importance?

Answer:
Democratic.

Question 8.
In spite of having a vast social diversity, what keeps the people of India together?
Answer:
Democracy.

Question 9.
What should be done in a democracy if mistakes are committed?
Answer:
There should be public discussion on these mistakes.

Question 10.
When do we say that elections are fair?
Answer:
The elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives.

Question 11.

‘In a democracy, the majority of the people rule through their elected representatives.’ Give reasons. HOTS
Answer:

• Modem democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together, and take a collective decision.
• Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.

Question 12.
How does democracy in a country enhance the dignity of an individual? State three points.
Answer:

• Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. So all the citizens whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated have the same status.
• People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.
• The ruler has to rule or work according to the wishes and the needs of the people. If the people do not like the ruler they can change him through election.

Question 13.

When does a citizen have an equal role in decision-making?
Answer:
If a decision involves many persons, discussions and meetings.

Question 14.
What is Referendum?
Answer:
A direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to either accpet or reject a proposal.

Question 15.
When did the World Trade Organization set up?
Answer:
1955.

Question 16.
Which form of government is considered nbn-democratic?
Answer:
Military rule or monarchy.

Question 17.

By whom was the ‘Legal Framework Order’ issued in Pakistan?
Answer:
General Pervez Musharraf.

Question 18.
After how many yeafcs does Mexico hold elections for electing its president? ‘
Answer:
After every six years.

Question 19.
During which period did China record its worst famine in the I world’s history?
Answer:
During 1958-1961.

Question 20.
Before contesting elections in China, whose approval does a candidate need to have?
Answer:
The Chinese Communist Party.

Question 21.
Which country does not give voting rights to minorities?
Answer:
Estonia.

Question 22.
By whom is the President of China appointed?
Answer:
Members of the National People’s Congress.

Question 23.
Name any two countries where free and fair elections are not held.
Answer:
China and Mexico.

LONG QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question 1.
Define Democracy. Sate two merits and demerits of democracy.
Answer:
Democracy is a form of government which is chosen by the people to work for their welfare and can be changed by them.
Merits:

• Democracy is the best form of government as the rulers are accountable to the people and have to fulfil their needs.
• Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. This reduces the chance of hasty and irresponsible decisions from being taken and improves the quality of decision making.

Demerits:

• Leaders keep changing in democracy. This leads to instability.
• Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.

Question 2.

How elections in India are different from Mexico?
Answer:

• Both the countries have a multi-party system. In case of India, political parties in power often loose elections whereas in case of Mexico PRI did not loose a single election for more than 70 years.
• Elections in India are held after every 5 years whereas in case of Mexico elections are held after 6 years.
• Government officials work under the Election Commission during the election days whereas this is not true for Mexico.

Question 3.
Assess any three conditions that apply to the way a democratic government is run after the elections.
Answer:

• People should have the freedom to express their views. They should have freedom to form associations and to protest also.
• Country is governed by the constitutional law. Everyone should be equal in the eye of law.
• People’s rights should be respected and it must be protected by an independent judiciary whose orders are obeyed by everyone.




Question 4.
What does direct democracy imply? Why can it not be practised in the present day world?
Answer:
(i) Direct democracy implies to the democracy in which every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision-making.
(ii) (a) Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically not possible for them to sit together and take a collective decision. Even the majority does not rule directly but through their elected representatives.
(b) Moreover, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.

Question 5.

‘Democracy is all about political competition and powerplay. There is no scope for morality’. Justify the statement by giving arguments against democracy.
Answer:

• Political parties and candidates use all the dirty tricks to win elections.
• Many of them use money and muscle power during the elections.
• Political parties or candidates demand votes on the basis of caste, religion etc.

Question 6.
Explain the major features of democracy.
Answer:

• Final Authority with the People’s Representatives: In a democracy the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.
• Free and Fair Elections: A democracy must be based on a free and fair elections where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
• One Person, One Vote, One Value: In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.
• Rule of Law and Respect for Rights: A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizen’s rights.

Question 7.
‘Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.’ Explain. VBQ
Answer:

• Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.
• A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings. When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision.
• As most of the decisions are taken by discussions, this reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.
• If the decision is not according to the wishes of the people, they have the right to protest, and even can force the government to withdraw it.

Question 8.
“Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.” Explain. HOTS
Answer:
There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in a democracy. No form of government can guarantee that. The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is a room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed. This cannot happen in a non-democratic government.

Question 9.
Why is democracy called a “Government by discussion”?
Answer:

• Democracy provides all the citizens some basic rights through which they can give their opinion.
• Democracy provides h chance to all the citizens to choose their representatives, and change them, if they do not work according to their wishes.
• In the Parliament, all the members have the right to give their opinions,
• Democracy provides the citizens a right to follow any religion.

Question 10.
Which is the most common form of democracy? Why is this form of democracy necessary?
Answer:
The most common form of democracy is representative democracy.

• Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together, and take a collective decision.
• Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills
• to take part in all the decisions.

Question 11.
‘Is it good to elect a President for life or is it better to hold regular elections after every five years’? Express your view with reasons to support them.
Answer:
No, it is not good to elect a President for life. But, it is certainly better to hold regular elections after every five years.
Reasons:

• Regular elections provide an opportunity to the people to change the government if it does not act as per the wishes of the people.
• Regular and fair election is an important aspect of democracy.

Question 12.
“A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.” Explain.

Answer:

• Democratic government is an accountable government i.e., it is responsible for its actions, decisions and policies including the administration. The government is answerable to the Parliament or we can say to the people. If government is not working according to the needs and expectations of the citizens the Parliament can move a no confidence motion against the government.
• More than three crqre people lost their life in 1958-61 famine in China but India, whose economic condition was poorer as compared to China, did not have a famine of the kind China had.
• The existence of democracy in India made the Indian government respond to food security in a way that the Chinese government did not.