WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?

WHY DEMOCRACY
STD 9 Social Studies Total Marks : 170

* Multiple choice questions. [20]

1. The opening sentence of the passage implies that __________________.

(A) The responsibility of educating a democracy lies with its leaders.
(B) Leaders in democracy with imperfectly educated voters have to shoulder great responsibility.
(C) A well educated democracy is based on responsible leadership.
(D) In a democracy with uneducated masses the leaders are highly duty conscious.
2. President of Pakistan, General Musharraf led a military coup in _____________.
(A) April, 1999 (B) March, 2000 (C) October, 1999 (D) November, 1999

3. Democracy stands much superior in promoting _____ and ______of the individual:
(A) Differences and independence. (B) Political and social divisions.
(C) Non-democratic regimes and freedom. (D) Dignity and freedom.

4. Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting ______________.
(A) Equality. (B) Dignity of the rulers.
(C) Corruption. (D) Inequalities.

5. The decisions in a democracy are based on ____________.

(A) Prejudices. (B) Norms and procedures.
(C) Distribution of population. (D) Choices of political parties.

6. For the success of Indian Democracy, the most important factor is _______.
(A) Eradication of poverty. (B) Development of education.
(C) Development of agriculture. (D) Development of industries.

7. In which one of the following countries women do not have the right to vote?
(A) Pakistan. (B) Nepal. (C) Afghanistan. (D) Saudi Arabia.

8. Which reason is accountable for the death of nearly three crore people in China's famine of 1958-61?
(A) Absence of democracy. (B) Presence of democracy.
(C) Weak economic set-up. (D) Government's negligence.

9. Which one of the following form of governments is best to maintain unity in the diversity?
(A) Autocracy. (B) Democracy. (C) Monarchy. (D) Communism.

10. In a complex social machine _________________ the statement implies that:

(A) It is difficult for an individual to challenge a complicated social machinery.
(B) In a society which works like a machine an individual cannot be permitted to have his own political
ambitions.
(C) In a mechanical age a person cannot have individual aspirations.
(D) An individual finds it hard to formulate his own opinion in a complicated social structure.
11. In democracy, the ultimate power is with the ______________.
(A) Executive. (B) Legislature. (C) Political parties. (D) People.

12. Which party always won elections in Mexico since its independence in 1930 until 2000?
(A) Revolutionary party. (B) Mexican revolutionary party.
(C) Institutional revolutionary party. (D) Institutional party.

13. Mark the Legitimate form of government ____________.

(A) Autocracy. (B) Democracy. (C) Theocracy. (D) Monarchy.

14. Mark the most accountable, responsible and legitimate form of government:
(A) Communism. (B) Democracy. (C) Autocracy. (D) Monarchy.

15. Which of these is an example of perfect democracy?

Page 1
 (A) USA (B) UK
(C) India (D) None of the above.
16. What do we mean by a democratic decision?
(A) Decision taken by a Parliament.
(B) Decision taken by an executive.
(C) Decision taken by the head of a state.
(D) Decision taken by discussions and consultations.
17. Which type ofconstitution helps in the making of a successful democracy?
(A) Partially Written. (B) Unwritten.
(C) Written. (D) Partially Unwritten.

18. Why decision making is delayed in a democratic system?

(A) Inefficient political system.
(B) Democracy is based on deliberations and negotiations.
(C) Misrnanagement of democratic institutions.
(D) Corruption.
19. Democracy reduces the chances of _______ decisions.
(A) Right. (B) Wrong. (C) Manipulated. (D) Undemocratic.

20. Which form of government is found in most of the countries of the world?
(A) Dictatorship. (B) Democracy.
(C) Absolute monarchy. (D) Rule of the army.

* Answer The Following Questions In One Sentence.[1 Marks Each] [20]

1. What happened after passing this legal framework order?

2. Who took the final decision in Pakistan even after elections?
3. How President Mugabe changed the constitution of Zimbabwe?
4. What is the electoral system in Fiji?
5. When did Parvez Musharraf come to power in Pakistan?
6. Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give
reasons to support your decision:
Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the
country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
7. Give a simple definition of democracy.
8. Give one argument against democracy.
9. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
10. Why were every elections won by PRI in Mexico?
11. Give any one demerit of democracy.
12. What was the 'Legal Framework Order' passed by Pervez Musharraf in August 2002?
13. Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify
each of these countries. Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.
Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.
Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
Country D: There is no independent election commission.
14. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children
marry where the parents tell them to.
15. When did Zimbabwe attain independence?
16. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
This statement also is not under democratic setup. The student have right to ask question. This is
undemocratic if his right is denied.

Page 2
17. What is the name of the Chinese Parliament?
18. How is a democratic decision usually taken?
19. Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give
reasons to support your decision:
All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
20. Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give
reasons to support your decision:
The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get
permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.

* VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS [10]

1. Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two
separately for each statement:
A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the
regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
2. When did General Musharraf bring back army rule in Pakistan?
3. What is democracy in simple term?
4. Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two
separately for each statement:
The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging was reported.
5. Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two
separately for each statement:
Women’s representation in the parliament has barely reached 10 per cent. This led women’s
organisations to demand one-third seats for women.

* Answer The Following Questions In Short.[3 Marks Each] [45]

1. "China's famine of 1958-61 was a result of government policies." Elucidate it.

2. Suggest any one common feature of democracy.
3. What according to you is the broader meaning of democracy?
4. What does a candidate need before contesting elections in China?
5. Political parties in Bangladesh have agreed that a neutral government should rule the country at the
time of elections. How will this ensure free and fair electoral competition?
6. Give arguments against democracy.
OR
What are the drawbacks of a democracy?
OR
What are the demerits of a democracy?
7. The Institutional Revolutionary Party in Mexico never lost any election till 2000. What were the
reasons behind it?
8. Define the term ‘Democracy’.
9. Despite holding regular elections, Mexico cannot be called a democratic country? Why?
OR
Why was every election won by the party called PRI in Mexico? Any three reasons.
10. Explain the statement-‘There should be sufficient room for normal political activity before election'.
11. ‘Despite being a better form of government, democracy does not prove a magical solution for all
problems’. Do you agree? Explain with any three arguments.
12. How does democracy improve the quality of decision making?
13. Name the political party of Mexico which won every election till 2000.
14. Why is democracy considered the best form of government?
15. Explain with an example how popular governments can be undemocratic and popular leaders can be
autocratic.

* Answer The Following Questions In Brief.[5 Marks Each] [75]

Page 3
1. Under what conditions is a government run after the elections?
2. Suggest the strongest argument in favour of democracy.
3. Giving an example of Zimbabwe, show how laws were made by one single ruler.
4. Which methods were employed by PRI to win elections in Mexico? What were its results?
5. It is said that democracy is not an ideal form of government. How should democracy be improved to
make it an ideal form of government?
6. In which countries, even today, there is denial of equal right to vote?
7. Why do we need to define democracy accurately?
8. What have you understood by the term ‘Democracy’?
9. “Democracy is better than other forms of governments because it allows us to correct its own
mistakes. Do you agree with it or not?
10. Once elected by the people, what kind of duties are needed to be performed by the office bearers?
11. Which type of government is present in Mexico?
12. How can you say that Pakistan was not exercising democracy when General Musharraf was ruling?
13. State the main features of democracy.
14. According to you, what is the strongest argument for democracy? How does it make the people the
rulers?
15. In 2004 a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities
in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to
influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that:

If an average Black family earns 100thentheincomeof averageW hitef amilyis 162. A White family
has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family.

In a President’s election ‘nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in families with income over

75, 000havevoted. T hesepeoplearethetop20 15,000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the
population in terms of their income.

About 95% contribution to the political parties comes from the rich. This gives them
opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, which is not available to most citizens.

As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns
− coming out of poverty, getting job, education, health, car and housing for them.
Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business persons and the rich.
Write an essay on ‘Democracy and Poverty’ using the information given in this report but using
examples from India.
----- -----

Page 4