Political Science Chapter 1

Power Sharing
Very Shor Answer Questions :

1.Which language was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956? (2012)
Answer: Sinhala

2.Apart from the Central and the State governments, which is the third type of government
practised in Belgium? (2012)
Answer: Community government

3.Define majoritarianism. (2013)

Answer: Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and wishes of
the minority community.

4. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish
Sinhala Supremacy? (2014)
Answer:In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

 The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University
positions and government jobs.

5. What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium? (2014)
Answer: People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

6. What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)

Answer: The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is shared among different organs
of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government
placed at the same level to exercise different powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also
called a system of checks and balances. This system ensures that none of these organs can exercise
unlimited power. Each organ checks the other.

7.After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of which community? (2015)
Answer: Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the democratically elected
government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.

8. Define the term ‘Ethnic’.

Answer: Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. People
belonging to an ethnic group need not have the same religion or nationality.

9.What is vertical division of power?

Answer: When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the
Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level.
This division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Short Answer Questions (SA)

10. Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the
problem of cultural diversity. (2012)
Answer:Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of
cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:

1. Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings and
interests of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and
French speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.
2. Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre. Along with
the State Government, both communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community
Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language related issues.
3. Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all linguistic
groups to live together within the same country.

Sri Lanka:

1. In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil
speaking (18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over
Tamils, refusing to share power.
2. Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political, educational,
religious, employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.
3. In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus
disregarding Tamil.

11. How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the spirit of
democracy? (2012)
Answer: Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict
between social groups. Conflict between social groups leads to violence and political instability.
Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may undermine the unity of the
nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority, it often brings ruin to the
majority as well.

A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live
with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate
government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Prudential
reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas moral reasons emphasize the
act of power sharing as valuable.

12.Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan
government. (2013)
Answer: Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected
government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences
of these majoritarian policies:
 1. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala
leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them
equal political rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.
2. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics, in getting
jobs and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities
became extremely strained as a result.
3. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional
autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.
4. Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to
distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War.
As a result, thousands of people of both communities were killed and many families were
forced to leave the country as refugees and lost their livelihoods.

13. Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?

Answer: Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore.

 59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch
language.
 Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent
of the Belgians speak German.
 Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the population is French-speaking and
20 per cent is Dutch-speaking.

14. How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?
Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.
Or, Why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped to prevent conflict and
division of the country on linguistic lines?
Answer:
The power-sharing arrangements made by the Belgian leaders were different and more innovative
than any other country. To recognise the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities,
they amended their Constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.
The major elements of the Belgian Model are:

1. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal
in the Central Government. No single community can take decisions unilaterally.
2. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
3. Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the communities have equal
representation.
4. A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’, is elected by people belonging to one
language community — Dutch, French and German speaking —no matter where they live.
This government can decide on cultural, educational and language related issues.

15. What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in a country rules? Give reasons
to justify your answer.
Answer: A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it
wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is majoritarianism.
Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.

 The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political
power.
  A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to accommodate it, is good for
democracy.
 Power in the hands of one community will make the other community feel marginalised,
deprived and discriminated.
 The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of conflict and defiance of
State power as in Sri Lanka.

Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks

16. Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan
Tamils? (2014, 2015)
Or
Mention the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government
adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy:

1. In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

2. The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University
positions and government jobs.
3. The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of Buddhism.

The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders
were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political
rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional
autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust
between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War.

17.“Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the statement. (2015)
Answer: A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise. Power sharing
ensures that people have the right to be consulted and have equal participation in the government.

1. In a democracy, each individual has a say in governance through their elected representatives.
This is the essence of power sharing that grants equal rights to each citizen.
2. Sharing of power ensures that respect for diversity and desire for living together becomes a
shared ideal amongst different communities in a country. It actually makes the country united
and the administration easier.
3. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing would bring out better outcomes by helping to
reduce the possibility of any conflict between the social groups.
4. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order through unity of the nation.

18. Describe the vertical and horizontal forms of power sharing exercised in India.
Answer: Vertical distribution of power. Power can be shared among governments at different levels
—a general government for the entire country and governments at provincial or regional level. This
is the federal form of government.
When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central
Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This
division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical division of
power.

The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This federal division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is also called the vertical division of
power. Example: A key change in the Constitution of Belgium in 1993 was that the regional
governments were given constitutional powers that were no longer dependent on the Central
Government. Thus, Belgium shifted from a unitary to a federal form of government.

Horizontal distribution of power. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the
legislature, executive and judiciary. This is horizontal distribution of power. It ensures that power is
shared among different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows
different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

In a democracy, ministers and government officials exercise power. They are responsible to the
Parliament or State Assemblies. The judges appointed by the executive can check the functioning of
executive or laws made by the legislature.

The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances.

This system ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the
other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

Example: In India the judiciary has an independent status. The Supreme Court is the apex court of
justice. The Parliament is the legislative body where the laws governing the country are made and
the Executive is the implementing body.