State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Various functions political parties perform in a democracy are:
1) Candidates are forwarded by parties to participate in elections. They may be chosen by the members of the party or by the leaders of the party.
2) Parties are forwarded by various policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.
3) Parties play a vital role in making laws for a country. Laws are usually debated and passed in the legislature.
4) Parties are formed and run governments. They hire leaders and train them to be ministers and run the government in their own way.
5) Parties which lose the election form the opposition. The opposition raises various views and criticize the failures of the government.
6) Parties form public opinion. They have lakhs of members all over the country which play a great role in influencing people's thinking.
7) Parties provide access to government machinery and welfare schemes.Thus it becomes easier for a person to meet a local party leader than a government official.
What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?
What are the characteristics of a political party?
A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a _____________________.
What is a political party?
What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party?
A. Bahujan Samaj
B. Revolutionary democracy
C. Integral humanism
D. Modernity
Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
A. Kanshi Ram
B. Sahu Maharaj
C. B.R. Ambedkar
D. Jotiba Phule
Consider the following statements on parties.
A. Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people.
B. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.
C. Parties are not necessary to run governments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List I |
List II |
||
1. |
Congress Party |
A. |
National Democratic Alliance |
2. |
Bharatiya Janta Party |
B. |
State Party |
3. |
Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
C. |
United Progressive Alliance |
4. |
Telugu Desam Party |
D. |
Left Front |
In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Writing your own definition of a good democracy.
What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Locate the following States on a blank outline political map of India:
Manipur, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Goa.
Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions.
Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.
Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties?
What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
Features of a democracy.
How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
When does a social difference become a social division?
Match List I (forms of power- 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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
(a) | D | A | B | C |
(b) | B | C | D | A |
(c) | B | D | A | C |
(d) | C | D | A | B |
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.
Mattai – Power sharing is suited only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ousep – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions.
Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar to and one feature that is different from that of Belgium.
Consider the following two statements.
A. In a federation the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.
B. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.
C. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
D. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been devolved to the local government bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B and C (b) A, C and D (c) A and B only (d) B and C only
In the context of assessing democracy which among the following is odd one out. Democracies need to ensure:
A. free and fair elections
B. dignity of the individual
C. majority rule
D. equal treatment before law
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List 1 | List 2 |
---|---|
1. Union of India | A. Prime Minister |
2. State | B. Sarpanch |
3. Municipal Corporation | C. Governor |
4. Gram Panchayat | D. Mayor |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
(a) | D | A | B | C |
(b) | B | C | D | A |
(c) | A | C | D | B |
(d) | C | D | A | B |
State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.