MCQs on Power Sharing

1. Which of the following features are common to Indian and Belgian form of power-sharing
arrangements?
A. Power is shared among governments at different levels.B. Power is shared among different
organs of government.
C. Power is shared among different social groups.
D. Power is shared among different parties and takes the form of competition.
(a) A, B, C, D
(b) B, C and D
(c) A and C
(d) A, C and D

2. In dealing with power sharing, which one of the following statements is NOT correct about
democracy?
(a) People are the source of all political power. !
(b) In a democracy, people rule themselves j through institutions of self-governance.
(c) In a democracy, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.
(d) In a democracy, if the power to decide is dispersed, it is not possible to take quick decisions
and enforce them.

3. 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:
(a) Power Sharing
(b) Central Government
(c) Majoritarianism
(d) Community Government

4. A system of ‘checks and balances’ is another name for which one of the following power-
sharing arrangements:
(a) Power sharing among different social groups.
(b) Vertical division of power or power shared among different levels of government.

(c) Horizontal division of power or power shared among different organs of the government.

(d) Power sharing in the form of political parties, pressure groups and governments.

5. Which one of the following statements about power-sharing arrangements is correct?

(a) Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic
divisions.
(b) Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
(c) Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social
divisions.
(d) Power-sharing is not necessary at all.
6. Consider the following statements about the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka:
A. Major social groups are the Sinhala- speaking (74%) and Tamil-speaking (18%)?
B. Among the Tamils, there are two sub-groups, Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
C. There are about 7% Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
D. Most of the Sinhala-speaking are Hindus or Muslims and most of the Tamil-speaking are
Buddhists.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) A, B, C
(b) A, B, D
(c) B, C, D
(d) A, B, C, D

7. Prudential reasons of power sharing stress on the facts that:

A. It ensures the stability of political order.
B. It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
C. It gives a fair share to minority.
D. It is the very spirit of democracy.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) A, B
(b) A, C and D
(c) All are correct
(d) A, B & C

8. Belgium Shares borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and ……?
A. England
B. Norway
C. Luxembourg
D. Italy

9. In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent people speak………?

A. French
B. Dutch
C. German
D. English

10. 20 % of the people of Brussels Speak………?

A. Dutch
B. English
C. German
D. Italian
11. Brussels presented a special problem:What was it?
A. Dutch-speaking people constituted a minority in the country, but a majority in the capital
B. Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital
C. Other foriehn languages were seeping in
D. English was becoming dominant

12. What percentage of Srilankan Population is Tamil Speaking?

A. 50%
B. 20%
C. 18%
D. 16%

13. The people whose forefathers came from India to Srilanka as plantation workers during the
colonial period are called…….
A. Sri Lankan Tamils
B. Indian Tamils
C. Tamil Indians
D. Indian Sri Lankans

14. Most of the Sinhalese Speaking people in Srilanka are…………?

A. Hindus
B. Christians
C. Muslims
D. Buddhists

15 When did Sri Lanka emerge as an independent country?

A. 1949
B. 1950
C. 1948
D. 1951
 16. In ……….an Act was passed to recognise Sinhalese as the only official language, thus
disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhalese
applicants for university positions and government jobs?
A. 1956
B. 1957
C. 1958
D. 1959

17. All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the
…………among the Sri Lankan Tamils?
A. Protests
B. Favouritism
C. Feeling of alienation
D. Subordination

18. By the 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding ……..?
1.
A. Certain rights
B. Independent Tamil Eelam (state)
C. Sovereign State
D. Priority in Jobs for Tamils

19. When did the Civil War of Sri Lanka end?

A. 2010
B. 2009
C. 2005
D. 2011

20. How many times was the constitution of Belgium amended between 1970 and 1993?
A. Three times
B. Two times
C. Four times
D. Once
21. The Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking
ministers ……….. in the central government?
A. Shall be equal
B. Dutch speaking shall be more
C. French speaking will be more
D. None of the above

22. The ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community –
Dutch, French and German-speaking. What powers does it hold?
A. Cultural, educational and language-related issues.
B. Political issues
C. Defence related issues
D. All of the above

23. Give reason as to why power sharing can be good for a country?
A. it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
B. is a good way to ensure the stability of political order
C. It does not lead to confusion in managing the state
D. A & B

24. Give one moral reason as why power sharing is good?

A. it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
B. It does not lead to confusion in managing the state
C. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
D. power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order

25. The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to …….?

A. Democracy
B. Dictatorship
C. Monarchy
D. Undivided political power under one sect

26. Give an example of horizontal distribution of power?

A. governments at the provincial or regional level.
B. legislature, executive and judiciary
C. among different social groups
D. political parties, pressure groups and movements
27. Which is a federal division of power?
A. governments at the provincial or regional level.
B. legislature, executive and judiciary
C. among different social groups
D. political parties, pressure groups and movements

28. Where power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature,
executive and judiciary, what is the functioning of this system called?
A. Horizontal system
B. system of checks and balances
C. System of shared duties
D. System of limited power

29. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri
Lanka.
1. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the
minority French-speaking community.
2. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-
speaking majority.
3. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their
culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
4. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible
division of the country on linguistic lines
Which of the statements is correct?
A. All of the above
B. 1, 2 and 4
C. 3 and 4
D. 2, 3 and 4

30. In Sri lanka, there are about….. percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 7
D. 12
 31) Assertion (A): In Belgium, the leaders realized that the unity of the country is
possible by respecting the feelings and interest of different countries.
Reason: Belgium favored Dutch speaking community.

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (B)

32.) Assertion (A): Horizontal distribution of power allows different organs of the
government placed at same level to exercise different powers.
Reason(R): The separation ensures that different organs can exercise unlimited power

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (C) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.

33.) Assertion (A): In a democracy, everyone has voice in the shaping of public policies.
Reason: India has federal system.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (C) Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.

 34.) Assertion (A): Power sharing is good for democracy.
Reason (R): It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between the social groups.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (A)

35.) Assertion (A): Power Sharing is good.

Reason: It leads to ethical tension.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (B)

36.) Assertion (A): French speaking community in Belgium was rich and powerful.
Reason: Belgian Government favoured French speaking community.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (A)
37.) Assertion (A): Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1949.
Reason(R): The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over
government by virtue of their majority
a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (D) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.

38.) Assertion (A): Community government in Belgium is elected by one language

community.
Reason: Community government helped in resolving conflict between different linguistic
groups.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (B)

39) Assertion (A): Community government in Belgium allows to share power among religious
and linguistic groups.
Reason(R): In India there are legal and constitutional arrangements whereby socially weaker
sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (B)
40) Assertion (A): Power sharing can help to prevent conflict in society.
Reasoning (R): Power sharing ensures that different social groups are included in decision-
making processes, reducing marginalisation and fostering inclusivity.

a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but(R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(c)(A) is true but Reason (R) is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer- (c) Both A and R are true and R explains A.