Question1 Why did the Dutch-speaking people resent in Belgium?

Answer:
Because the minority French-speaking community of is Belgium was
relatively rich and powerful.

Question 2.
Why was the conflict more acute in Brussels?
Answer:
The conflict between the two communities was more acute in Brussels
because the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the
country, but a minority in the capital.

Question 3.
Who are the majority and minority social groups of Sri Lanka?
Answer:
Sinhla speaking people 74% Tamils 18% er ar Christians – 7%.

Question 4.
Define majoritarianism.
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.

Question 5.
When was the demand for independent Tamil state raised?
Answer:
By 1980s several political organizations were formed demanding an
independent Tamil Eelam in north-eastern Sri Lanka.

Question 6.
Why was Belgium Constitution amended four times?
Answer:
Between 1970 -1993, the constitution of Belgium was amended four
times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to
live together within the same country.

Question 7.
What do you mean by “Community government”?
Answer:
  The “Community government” in Belgium is elected by people
belonging to one language community Dutch, French and
German-speaking no matter where they live.
 This government has the power regarding cultural, educational
and language-related issues.

Question 8.
What is civil war?
Answer:
A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that
becomes so intense that it appears like a war.

Question 9.
What is the main difference between prudential reasons and moral
reasons?
Answer:
While prudential reasons stress its beneficial consequences, moral
reasons emphasise the intrinsic worth of power-sharing.

Question 10.
Which government can be called legitimate?
Answer:
A legitimate government is one where groups through participation,
acquire a stake in the system.

Question 11.
What do you mean by prudential?
Answer:
Prudential means based on prudence or on careful calculation
contrasted with those decisions based purely on moral considerations.

Question 12.
Define ‘horizontal distribution of power’.
Answer:
When power is shared among different organs of government, such as
legislature, executive and judiciary, this is called horizontal distribution
of power because it allows different organs of government placed at
the same level to exercise different powers.

Question 13.
What do you understand by federal government?
Answer:
When power is shared among governments at different levels, for
example, a general government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial, sub-national or regional level. Such a
general government for the whole country is called federal
government.

Question 14.
Describe ‘federal division of power’.
Answer:
In those countries where there are different levels of governments, the
constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of
governments. This is called federal division of power.

Question 15.
Explain ‘Vertical division of power’.
Answer:
The federal division of power can be extended to levels of government
lower than he state government such as the municipality and
panchayat. All such divisions involving higher and lower levels of
government are called “vertical division of power”.

Question 16.
Why the provision of “reserved constituencies” have been made in our
country?
Answer:
Arrangements such as provision of reserved constituencies in and the
parliament of our country is meant to give space in the government
and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise feel
alienated from the government.

Question 17.
Describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.
Answer:
The ethnic composition of Belgium, a small country in Europe is very
complex. Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent live in the
Flemish region and speak Dutch language.

Another 40 per cent live in the Wallonia region and speak French.
Remaining I per cent of the Belgians speak German. In the capital city
Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch-
speaking.

Question 18.
What was the main reason of tension between the Dutch and the
French-speaking people of Belgium?
Answer:

 The minority French-speaking community of Belgium was

relatively rich and powerful,
 This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community who got the
benefit of economic development and education much later.
 This led to tensions between the Dutch and the rrench speaking
communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

Question 19.
How was the majoritarian dominance established in Sri Lanka?
Answer:

 Sri Lanka got independence in 1948. The leaders of Sinhla

community wished to secure dominance over government by
virtue of their majority.
 The democratically elected government adopted a series of
majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy in Sri
Lanka.
 In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only
official language, thus disregarding Tamil
 The Sinhala speaking people were given preference in university
position and government jobs.

Question 20.
Explain the outcomes of Belgian model of governance?
Answer:

 The Belgian model is very complicated even for the Belgian

people. But these arrangements have so far worked well, They
helped avoid civic strife between the two major communities and
a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
 When many countries of Europe came together to form the
European Union, Brussels who chosen as its headquarters.
Question 21.
“Belgium and Sri Lanka both are democracies, yet they dealt with the
question of power-sharing differently.” Justify.
Answer:

 Belgium and Sri Lanka, both are democratic Yet they dealt with
the question of power-sharing differently
 In Belgium, the leaders have realized that the unity of the country
is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of
different communities and regions.
 Such a realization resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements
for sharing power.
 Sri Lanka shows us a contrasting example. It shows us that if a
majority community wants to force its dominance over others and
refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country.

Question 22.
Write a short note on checks and balances.
Answer:
Power-sharing among different organs of government, such as the
legislature, executive and judiciary allows different organs of
government placed at the same level to exercise different power. Such
a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited
power.

Each organ checks the others. This results in balance of power among
various institutions. For example, even though the ministers and
government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the
parliament or state legislatures. Similarly, although the judges are
appointed by the executive, but they can check the functioning of
executive or laws made by legislatures. This arrangement is also called
a system of checks and balances.

Question 23.
What do you mean by Pressure groups or interest groups?
Answer:
Pressure groups or interest groups are those organized groups which
influence the government decisions. They demonstrate the demands of
the industrialists, traders, farmers, working-class and other
professional people.
They use various methods with a view to influencing public opinion.
They organize big demonstrations and rallies and get newspapers
columns written by prominent people to arouse public opinion for or
against a particular Bill or Law. Makenzie defined it as, “the organized
groups possessing both formal structure and real common interests, in
so far as they influence the decisions of public bodies.”

Question 24.
Analyse the results of majoritarian dominance in Sri Lanka.
Answer:

 In 1956, the Government of Sri Lanka passed an Act to recognize

Sinhla as official language. The state declared to protect and
foster Buddhism. The governments followed preferential policies
that favoured Sinhla applicants for university positions and
government jobs. All these, government measures, coming after
one another, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among
Sri Lankan Tamils.
 They felt that none of the major political parties led by the
Buddhist Sinhalese were sensitive to their language and culture.
 They fell that the constitution and government policies denied
them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting
jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests,
 It resulted in strained relations between the Sinhalese and Tamil
communities.
 The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and started struggling for
the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional
autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and
jobs.
 Their demand for more autonomy to provinces with more Tamil
populations was repeatedly denied. By 1980s, several political
organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil
Eelam in north-eastern Sri Lanka.

Question 25.
How did the Belgian leaders solve the problems of regional differences
and cultural diversities?
Answer:

 The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional

differences and cultural diversities.
 They amended their constitution four times between 1970 to
1993, so as to work out an arrangement that would enable
everyone to live together within the same country.
The arrangement is very innovative. Some important elements of the
Belgian model is a follows:

(a) Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-

speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Some
special laws require the support of majority of members from each
linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions
unilaterally.

(b) Many powers of the central government have been given to state
governments for the two regions of the country. The state
governments are not subordinate to the central goverment.

(c) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities

have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted
equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking
community has accepted equal representation in the central
government.

(d) Apart from the central and the state government there is a third
kind of government. This ‘community government7 is elected by
people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and
German-speaking- no matter where they live. This government has the
power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.

Question 26.
Why power sharing is desirable for democracy?
Answer:
(a) Prudential Reasons: Two different sets of reasons can be given in
favour of power-sharing. Firstly power-sharing is good because it helps
to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social
conflict often 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 may look like an
attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the
unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for
the minority; it often brings rum to the majority as well.

(b) Moral Reasons: There is a second, deeper, reason why power

sharing is good for democracies. Power-sharing is the very spirit of
democracy, A democratic rule involves sharing power with those
attected 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 groups, through participation,
acquire a stake in the system. While prudential reasons stress its
beneficial consequences, moral reasons emphasise the intrinsic worth
of power-sharing.

Question 27.
“The idea of power-sharing had emerged in opposition to the notions of
undivided political power.” Justify.
Answer:

 The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the

notions of undivided, political power.
 For a long time it was believed that all power of a government
must reside in one person or group of persons located one place.
 It was felt that if power to decide is dispersed, it would not be
possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.
 But these notions have changed with the emergence of
democracy. One basic principle of democracy is that people are
the source of all political power.
 In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of
self-governance.
 In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse
groups and views that exist in a society and everyone has a voice
in the shaping of public policies. Therefore it follows that in a
democracy political power should be distributed among as many
citizens as possible.

Question 28.
“Power can be shared among governments at different levels.” How?
Answer:

 Power can be shared among governments at different levels: for

example, a general government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial, sub-national or regional level.
Such a general government for the entire country is usually
called federal government.
 In India, we refer to it as the Central government. The
governments at the provincial or regional level are called by
different names in different countries. In India, we call them State
governments.
  This system is not followed in all the countries. There are many
countries where there are no provincial or state governments.
 But in those countries, where there are different levels of
governments, the constitution clearly lays down the powers of
different levels of government. This is what they did in Belgium,
but was refused in Sri Lanka. This is called federal division of
power.
 The same principle can be extended to levels of government
lower than the State government, such as the municipality and
panchayat. All such divisions of power involving higher and lower
levels of government are called vertical division of power.

Question 29.
How can we share power among different social groups?
Answer:
Power can be shared among governments at different levels, such as
the religious and groups. ‘Community government in Belgium is a good
example of this arrangement. In some countries, there are
constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker
sections and women are represented in the legislatures and
administration. There is a system of ‘reserved constituencies’ in
assemblies and the parliament of our country.

This type of arrangements is meant to give space in the government

and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel
alienated from the government. This method is used to give minority
communities a fair share of power.

Objective Type Questions

Four Choices are given to the following questions.

Choose the correct option as your answer.

Question 1.
When the power is shared among different organs of government this
is called:
(a) Vertical distribution of power
(b) Horizontal distribution of power
(c) Triangular distribution of power
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(b) Horizontal distribution of power

Question 2.
Although the judges are appointed by the executive, but they can
check the functioning executive laws made by the legislatures This
arrangement is also called:
(a) A system checks
(b) A system of balances
(c) A system of checks and balances
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(c) A system of checks and balances

Question 3.
What is the population of Belgium
(a) 35 lakh
(b) 58 lakh
(c) 80 lakh
(d) more than 1 crore
Answer:
(d) more than 1 crore

Question 4.
How many people speak Dutch in Belgium:
(a) 59
(b) 40
(c) 8
(d) 10
Answer:
(a) 59

Questions 5.
What is the percentage of people living in Waillona region and
speaking French?
(a) 59
(b) 20
(c) 40
(d) 10
Answer:
(c) 40
Question 6.
Which community is relatively rich and powerful in Belgium?
(a) Dutch
(b) French
(c) Danish
(d) Spanish
Answer:
(b) French

Question 7.
Who constituted a majority in Belgium :
(a) The French
(b) The Dutch
(c) The Spanish
(d) Anglo-Indians
Answer:
(c) The Spanish

Questions 8.
What is the percentage of Sinhla speakers in Sri Lanka:
(a) 74%
(b) 18%
(c) 7%
(d) 55%.
Answer:
(a) 74%

Questions 9.
Tamil natives of Sri Lanka in:
(a) Indian Tamils
(b) Anglo Tamils
(c) Muslim Tamils
(d) Sri Lanka Tamils.
Answer:
(d) Sri Lanka Tamils.

Questions 10.
How many people in Sri Lanka speak Tamil:
(a) 18%
(b) 74%
(c) 55%
(d) 7%.
Answer:
(a) 18%

Question 11.
What is the official language of Sri Lanka:
(a) Tamil
(b) Sinhla
(c) Hindi
(d) English
Answer:
(b) Sinhla

Question 12.
Which community in Sri Lanka is in majority:
(a) Tamil
(b) Christian
(c) Sinhla
(d) Indians
Answer:
(c) Sinhla

Question 13.
In which year several political organization were formed demanding an
independent Tamil:
(a) 1980s
(b) 1990s
(c) 1970s
(d) 1950s
Answer:
(a) 1980s

Question 14.
How many times was the Belgian constitution ainended between
1970¬1991 :
(a) Three times
(b) Eight times
(c) Ten times
(d) four times
Answer:
(d) four times
Question 15.
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are
(a) Democracies
(b) Autocracies
(c) Monarchies
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Democracies.