Grade: 9 Subject: Political Science Notes
Ls: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
Q1. What is a simple definition of Democracy?
Ans: Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.
Q2. What are the features of Democracy?
Ans: Mentioned below are the 4 main features necessary to define democracy.
a) In Democracy the final decision making power must rest with those elected by the people. By
electing the representatives they transfer the power to the representatives.
b) A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a
fair chance of losing. In true democracy those who are in power will not misuse the power or
play foul tricks to win the election. They respect the judgement of the people.
c) In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. It is
otherwise Universal Adult Franchise.
d) A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights. In a
democratic country everyone should be equal in the eyes of law. No one can do anything
against the laws of the country and against the rights of the citizens.
Q3. Why Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy?
Ans: General Musharraf, an army head who imposed himself as the head of a democratic
government
a) In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup and overthrew a democratically elected
government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country.
b) Later he conducted a referendum which was based on malpractices and fraud. He changed his
designation as President in 2002.
c) In August 2002 he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the constitution of Pakistan.
According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.
d) The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by
military officers.
e) After passing this law, elected representatives have some powers but the final power rests with
military officers and General Musharraf himself. Because of these reasons Pakistan under General
Musharraf should not be called a democracy.
Q4. Should we consider the elections held in China and Mexico are democratic elections?
Give reasons.
Ans: The election held in China cannot be considered democratic because:-
a) In China, single party system is practiced.
b) Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
c) Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were
allowed to contest elections.
d) The government is always formed by the Communist Party of China.
The election held in Mexico cannot be considered democratic because:-
a) Since its independence in 1930, every election was won by a PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
Opposition parties did contest elections, but the PRI uses many dirty tricks to win elections.
b) All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
c) Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI. Media largely ignored the
activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.
d) Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made
it difficult for people to cast their votes. The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its
candidates.
Q5. When did Zimbabwe gain independence? Which party ruled and who was the leader? Why is
Zimbabwe not considered a democratic country?
Ans: Zimbabwe attained independence from white minority in 1980. Since its independence the
country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, Robert
Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence. Zimbabwe is not considered a democratic
country because of the following reasons:-
a) President Mugabe is popular, but also uses unfair practices to win elections. Over the years his
government has changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President
and make him less accountable.
b) Opposition party workers are harassed and their meeting disrupted. Public protests and
demonstrations against the government are declared illegal. There is a law that limits the right
to criticize the President.
c) Television and Radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling party’s version.
There are independent newspapers, but the government harasses those journalists who go
against it. The government has ignored some court judgements that went against it and has
pressurised the judges.
Q6. Which are the countries that deny equal right to vote? How?
Ans: The countries that have denied equal rights to its citizens are:
a) In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.
b) Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it
difficult to get the right to vote.
c) In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an
Indian-Fijian.
Q7. What are the arguments put forward for democracy?
Ans: Though democracy is not the best form of government but has many merits like:
a) A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of
government.
b) Democracy improves the quality of decision making by consulting various people and institutions.
c) Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. In any society where people
belong to different regions, speak different languages, practice different religions and have different
castes.
d) Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens by providing equality, fundamental rights and freedoms.
e) Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.
Q8. What are the arguments against democracy? (De-merits of democracy)
Ans: The arguments against democracy are:-
a) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
b) Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope of morality.
c) So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that leads to delays in taking decisions.
d) Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
e) Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
f) Ordinary people do not know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.
Q9. What are the two types of democracy?
Ans: 1. Direct democracy- In which all the citizens of the country assemble in a place and directly
take part in decision making.
2. Indirect democracy or Representative Democracy-In which people elect their representatives
and those elected representatives make major decision. The majority of people rule through their
elected representatives.
Q10. Why has Representative Democracy become a necessity in the present world?
Ans: Almost all of the democratic countries in the world are representative because:
a) Modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them
to sit together and take a collective decision.
b) Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the
decisions.
Q11. What is an ideal standard democracy?
Ans: Though democracy does not have all the solutions but it aims at-
a) True democracy will come to a country only when no one goes hungry to bed.
b) In a true democracy every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision making with equal
right to vote, equal information, basic education, equal resources and a lot of commitment.
