Q 1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these
There are different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies. These are given below:
a. Horizontal distribution of power – Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Example – India
b. The federal division of power – Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Example – India (Union Government & State Government)
c. Community government – Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. Example – Belgium
d. Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups and movements – Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
Q 2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context.
While prudential reasons stress that power-sharing will bring out better outcomes. In India, the power is shared horizontally among various organs of government. The Legislature,
The executive and Judiciary are responsible for administering India. Reservation is applicable in India, where various sections are given benefits over others to avoid conflicts.
Moral reasons emphasize the very act of power-sharing as valuable. In India, citizens are conferred with fundamental rights, and directive principles of state policies are implied on the government.
Q 3. 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.
Ouseph’s conclusion is the right one. Every state should have some or the another form of power-sharing. Power-sharing ensures an optimum balance between different sections of society. The chances of conflict lessen, and so does the injustice. Hence, powersharing becomes the value of democracy. Also, power-sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
Q 4. 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 into 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.
The measure of the Mayor of Merchtem to ban on French-speaking in the town’s schools near Brussels is unfair. It does not keep with Belgium’s power-sharing arrangement. Powersharing helps maintain a balance between different sections of society, and in Belgium, there is a need to maintain the power-sharing between the Dutch and French to avoid civil unrest. Banning the French will promote the tendency of civil unrest. To promote peace among different communities, the Mayor should promote a bilingual education system in the town’s schools.
Q 5. 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.”
The prudential reason in the given passage is – “Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency.”
Q 6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power-sharing.
Identify those who 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 the 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 |
Q 7. 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
(d) B, C and D
Q 8. 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 |
| List I | List II |
| 1. Power shared among different organs of government. | B. Separation of powers |
| 2. Power shared among governments at different levels | D. Federal government |
| 3. Power shared by different social groups | A. Community government |
| 4. Power shared by two or more political parties | C. Coalition government |
Q 9.
1. Choose the correct option :
Power sharing is desirable because it helps :
(a) To increase pressure on government.
(b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.
(c) To generate awareness among people.
(d) To increase percentage of voters.
2. Which major social group constituted the largest share of the population of Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhalas
(b) Sri Lankan Tamils
(c) Indian Tamils
(d) Muslims
3. Which of the following is an example of horizontal sharing of power?
(a) Power sharing between different states.
(b) Power sharing between different organs of the government.
(c) Power sharing between different levels of the government.
(d) Power sharing between different political parties.
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
(a) In Belgium, leaders realised that unity of the country is possible only by sharing power.
(b) In Sri Lanka, the majority community wants to force domination over others.
(c) In Sri Lanka, the demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by Tamils has been granted.
(d) Division of Belgium along linguistic lines was averted due to power sharing.
5. Who elects the communist government in Belgium?
(a) People belonging to one language community only.
(b) By the leader of Belgium.
(c) The citizens of the whole country.
(d) The community leaders of Belgium.
6. 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 government ensured the dominance of the Sinhala speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharingto 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 are correct ?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B, and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D
7. Match List I (forms of powe- sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using codes given below the lists :
| List I | List II |
| (i) Power shared among different organs of government | A. Community government |
| (ii) Power shared among governments at different levels | B. Separation of Powers |
| (iii) Power shared by different social groups | C. Coalition government |
| (iv) Power shared by two or more political parties | D. Federal government |
(a) (i) – D, (ii) – A, (iii) – B, (iv) – C
(b) (i) – B, (ii) – C, (iii) – D, (iv) – A
(c) (i) – B, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – C
(d) (i) – C, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – B
Additional Questions
8. The Community Government signifies:
(a) The powers of government regarding community development.
(b) The powers of the government regarding law making for the community.
(c) The powers of the government regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
(d) The government enjoys privileges to safeguard the interest of a particular community.
9. System of ‘checks and balances’ means:
(a) Horizontal distribution of powers.
(b) Separation of powers.
(c) Put a check on the exercise of unlimited powers of the organs of government by maintaining a balance of power among various institutions.
(d) Federal division of powers.
10. A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is
(a) Community Government
(b) Federal Government
(c) Majoritarian
(d) Prudential
11. Power sharing is :
(a) the very spirit of democracy.
(b) separation of powers at different levels.
(c) system of checks and balances.
(d) a type of balancing powers.
12. Vertical division of power is :
(a) a system in which each organ of government checks the others.
(b) a type of distribution in which power is shared among different organs of government.
(c) a type of distribution of power which involves the higher and lower levels of government.
(d) a type of government elected by people.
13. Coalition government is the government:
(a) based on prudential and moral reasons.
(b) government of the majority community.
(c) the government elected by the people.
(d) an alliance government formed by two or more parties, if no single party gets a majority in the election.
14. The word ‘ethnic’ signifies :
(a) different religions.
(b) social division on shared culture.
(c) a violent conflict between opposite groups.
(d) a careful calculation of gains and losses.
15. Which are the important features of prudential reason ?
(i) Emphasises intrinsic worth of power sharing.
(ii) Based on careful calculation of gains or losses.
(iii) Based on moral consideration.
(iv) Stresses on beneficial consequences.
(a) (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i) and (iv)
(c) (ii) and (iv)
(d) (i) and (iii)
16. Which statement justifies the ethnic complexity of Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhalese – 80%, Tamils – 20%
(b) Sinhalese – 60%, Tamils – 40%
(c) Sinhalese – 74%, Tamils – 18%
(d) Sinhalese – 76%, Tamils – 18%
17. Consider the statements on Ethnic composition :
(a) The Ethnic composition of Belgium is very complex because of diverse language speaking people like Dutch speaking, French speaking and German speaking.
(b) French speaking community was in minority and more powerful.
(c) Dutch speaking community was in majority and less powerful.
(d) There was conflict between the French and the Dutch communities.
18. Prudential reasons of power sharing stresses on:
(a) The stability of political order.
(b) To reduce the possibility of conflict between social group.
(c) A fair chance/share to minority.
(d) All the above.
19. The majority of population in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium speaks :
(a) French
(b) Dutch
(c) German
(d) Roman
20. The proportion of Tamils in Sri Lanka’s total population is about:
(a) 8 percent
(b) 18 percent
(c) 28 percent
(d) 38 percent
21. In India, power sharing mechanism does not directly involve:
(a) Judiciary
(b) Legislature
(c) Executive
(d) Industry
22. Power sharing does not:
(a) accommodate diversities.
(b) speed up the decision making process.
(c) increases conflict among different commuriities.
(d) All the above.
23. Coalition Government implies :
(a) power sharing among different organs of the government.
(b) power sharing by different communities.
(c) power sharing by two or more political parties.
(d) power sharing within the government at different levels.
24. The religion of state in Sri Lanka is :
(a) Buddhism
(b) Christianity
(c) Hinduism
(d) Islam.
25. A strategy under which all the major segments of the society are provided with a permanent share of power in the governance of the country is known as:
(a) secularism
(b) power sharing
(c) majoritarianism
(d) minoritism.
26. The majority of the population in Belgium lives in:
(a) Wallonia region and speaks French
(b) Wallonia region and speaks Dutch
(c) Flemish region and speaks Dutch
(d) Flemish region and speaks French
27. Belgium successfully solved its problem by :
(a) rejecting the policy of majoritarianism.
(b) developing a power sharing mechanism.
(c) respecting the interest of different communities.
(d) All the above.
28. The power of different levels of government shows:
(a) separation of powers.
(b) community Government.
(c) coalition Government.
(d) the federal division of power.
29. Match the following :
A. Ethnic Composition (i) A violent conflict between opposite groups within a country.
B. Majoritarianism (ii) Based on prudence, i.e., a careful calculation of gains or losses.
C. Civil War (iii) A social division based on shared culture.
D. Prudential reason (iv) A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country.
E. Vertical division (v) Power is shared among power different organs of the government.
F. Horizontal (vi) Power is involved in the division of the higher and lower power levels of government.
(a) A – (iv), B – (iii), C – (ii), D – (i), E – (v), F – (vi)
(b) A – (iii), B – (iv), C – (i), D – (ii), E – (vi), F – (v)
(c) A – (i), B – (ii), C – (iii), D – (iv), E – (v), F – (vi)
(d) A – (ii), B – (iv), C – (iv), D – (v), E – (vi), F – (i)
30. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of the 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.
31. Indicate true and false for given statements and give valid reasons:
(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 domination of the Sinhala speaking majority.
(c) The Transformation of Belgium from a unitary government to a federal one presented possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
(d) The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power to protect their culture, language, and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
Answer:
(a) False – because French people tried to impose their domination.
(b) True – As Sri Lanka followed the majoritarian concept.
(c) False – But it helped in power-sharing on linguistic lines.
(d) True – As Tamils were alienated from the mainstream of power-sharing.
