CLASS 9 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

ELECTORAL POLITICS

Answer the Following :

Q1. Why do we need elections?

Ans. A rule of the people is possible without any elections if all the people can sit together every
day and take all the decisions. This is not possible in any large community. Nor is it possible for
everyone to have the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters. Therefore in most
democracies election are needed to rule through their representatives.

Q2.What is election?

Ans. A mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and
change them if they wish to do so. This mechanism is called elections. Therefore election are
considered essential in our times for any representative democracy.

Q3. What are the privileges of the voters in an election?

Ans.1.In an election the voters make many choice.

2.They can choose who will make laws for them.

3.They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.

4.They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

Q4.What are the minimum condition of democratic election?

Ans.1.Everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.

2.Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to
the voters.

3.Election must be held regularly after every few years.

4.The candidates preferred by the people should get elected.

5. Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they
really wish.

Q5. Highlight the merits and demerits of political competition.

Demerits:1.It creates sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality.

2.Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.

3.Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.

4.Pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated.

5.Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena. They do not like
the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition.

Q6.Our constitution makers were aware of political problems .Yet constitution opted for
free competition in elections as the way to select our future leaders.

Ans.1.They did so because this system works better in the long run. In an ideal world all political
leaders know what is good for the people and are motivated only by a desire to serve them.

2. Political leaders all over the world like all other professionals , are motivated by a desire to
advance their political careers.

3.They want to remain in power or get power and positions for themselves. They may wish to
serve the people as well , but it is risky to depend entirely on their sense of duty.

4.Besides even when they wish to serve the people, they may not know what is required to do so,
or their ideas may not match what the people really want.

Q7. What is the difference between general and by election?

Ans. Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (State legislative assembly) elections are held regularly after
every five years. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time ,either on the same day
or within a few days this is called a general elections.

Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or
resignation of a member this is called a by-election.

Q8.What is electoral constituencies?

Ans. The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called
electoral constituencies.

Q9. Who is an MP Or MLA

Every vote should have equal value.

Similarly, each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies. In this case,
the elected representatives is called the Member of Legislative assembly or an MLA.

Q10.Why are seats reserved in constituencies by the constitution.

Ans. The Constitution makers, however, were worried that in an open electoral competition,
certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha elections
and have resources. education and contacts to contest and win elections against others. Those
who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections.

So the makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the
weaker section.

Q11. For whom constituencies are reserved?

Ans.1.Constituencies are reserved for weaker people who belong to the Scheduled Castes(SC)
and Scheduled Tribes(ST). In the Lok Sabha 84 Seats are reserved for the Scheduled castes and
47 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

2.This system of reservation was extended later to weaker sections at the district and local level.

Q12.What do you mean by voter’s list?

Ans. The list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to
everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voter’s
List.

Q13.What is EPIC and its function’s?

Ans. 1.A new system of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been introduced .The
Government has tried to give this card to every person on the voters list. The voters are required
to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else.

2.For voting the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card, the driving
licence or the passport.

Q14. Who can become a candidate in an election?

Ans. Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in elections. The only difference
is that in order to be a candidate the minimum age is 25 years, while it is only 18 years for being
a voter.
2.There are some other restrictions on criminals etc. but these apply in very extreme cases.

3.Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s
nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.

Q15. Enlist detail that are to be declared by a candidate before elections?

Ans. A new system has been introduced on direction from the Supreme Court. Every candidate
has to make a legal declaration giving full details of

1.Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.

2.Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family and

3. Educational qualifications of the candidate.

This information has to be made public.

Q16. What is the main purpose for elections?

Ans. The main purpose of election is to give people a chance to choose the representatives, the
government and policies they prefer. Therefore it is necessary to have a free and open discussion
about who is a better representative, which party will make a better government or what is a
good policy.

Q17. What is an election Campaign?

Ans.1.Election campaigns take place for a two-week period between the announcement of the
final list of candidates and the date of polling.

2.During this period the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election
meetings and political parties mobilise their supporters.

3. This is also the period when newspapers and television news are full of election related stories
and debates.

Q18. According to the election law what are the candidates and political parties not
supposed to do?

Ans. According to our election law no party or candidate can:

1.Bribe or threaten voters.

2.appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.

4.Spend more than Rs. Lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or Rs.10 lakh in a
constituency in an assembly election.

Q19.What are the consequences if political parties go against the law

Ans. If they do so their election can be rejected by the court even after they have been declared
elected .

1. All the political parties in our country have agreed to a Model Code of Conduct for election
campaigns.

2.According to this no party or candidate can use any place of worship for election propaganda.

3.Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for elections .

4.Once elections are announced Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take
any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public policies.

Q21.Explian the process how votes are casted?

Ans. 1.The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or ‘poll’ their vote.that day is
usually called the election day.

2.Once the voter goes inside the booth, the election officials identify her, put a mark on her
finger and allow her to cast her vote.an agent of each candidate is allowed to sit inside the
polling booth and ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way.

Q22.What do you mean by ballot paper?

Ans. A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting candidates along
with party name and symbols listed.

Q23.How do voters caste their vote (nowadays)?

Ans. Nowadays electronic voting machines(EVM) are used to record votes.The machine shows
the names of the candidates and the party symbols independent candidates too have their own
symbols. Independent candidates too have their own symbols, allotted by election officials. All
the voter has to do is to press the button against the name of the candidate she wants to give her
vote.

Q24.List a few unfair practices that takes place in election?

Ans. A few unfair practices that takes place in elections are

2.Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party,

3.Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties.

4.Intimidation and rigging on the polling day.

Q25.Who conducts the Election ?

Ans.1.Elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission.

2.The chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India.

Q26. What are the powers of election commission?

Ans. Powers of the Election Commission of India are

1.EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement
of elections to the declaration of results.

2.It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.

3.During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines,to
prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections,or to
transfer some government officials.

4.When on election duty government officers work under the control of the EC and not the
government.

When election officials come to the opinion that polling was not fair in some booths or even an
entire constituency, they order a repoll.

Q27.What is the importance of voters participation in election?

Ans. 1.People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout. In India the
turnout has either remained stable or actually gone up.

2.In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared as
the rich and privileged sections.

3.The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over the years.One out
of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

Q28. What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?
Ans. The challenges to free and fair election in India are

1.Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a
big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independent.

2.In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push race
and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties.

3.Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these
families.

4.Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite
similar to each other both in policies and practice.

5.Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger
parties.

These challenges exist not just in India but also in many established democracies.