NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Political Science: Power Sharing
Exercise Questions
Question 1: What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer-
In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements commonly take four forms.
1- Power shared among different organs of government (Horizontal Distribution): This involves the legislature, executive, and judiciary, allowing them to exercise different powers while placed at the same level. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances, ensuring no single organ exercises unlimited power.
* Example: Although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of the executive or laws made by the legislatures.
2- Power shared among governments at different levels (Vertical Division/Federal Division): This includes a general government for the entire country (Central or Union Government) and governments at the provincial or regional level (State Governments).
* Example: The Constitution in India clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This principle was also followed in Belgium but refused in Sri Lanka.
3- Power shared among different social groups: This includes religious and linguistic groups, giving space in the government to diverse social groups who might otherwise feel alienated.
* Example: The 'community government' in Belgium is elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, or German) and has power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
4- Power sharing arrangements in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power: This competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
* Example: When two or more political parties form an alliance to contest elections and, if elected, form a coalition government. Interest groups like traders or industrialists also share power by bringing influence on the decision-making process.
Question 2: State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer-
Two different sets of reasons are given in favour of power sharing: prudential reasons and moral reasons.
-
Prudential Reason (Based on careful calculation of gains and losses): Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. This is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
- Example (Indian Context): India uses the system of 'reserved constituencies' in assemblies and the parliament, which is a constitutional arrangement whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented. This prudential arrangement prevents these diverse social groups from feeling alienated from the government.
-
Moral Reason (Emphasising the value of the act itself): Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.
- Example (Indian Context): The passage about Panchayati Raj (local self-government) suggests that giving power to Panchayats restores power to the hands of the people and establishes true democracy.
Question 3: After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Answer-
I agree with the conclusion drawn by Ouseph: Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Reason: Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It is necessary not just for prudential reasons (reducing conflict) but also for moral reasons. Even if a society is small or lacks ethnic divisions, democratic rule requires that power be shared among the legislature, executive, and judiciary (horizontal distribution) to ensure a balance of power and that none exercises unlimited power.
Question 4: The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer-
This measure is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium's power sharing arrangements.
Reason: The Belgian model was designed to ensure the unity of the country by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and cultural diversities. Banning a language, especially French, which is one of the major linguistic groups in Belgium, is a majoritarian measure that disregards the interests of the French-speaking community and goes against the mutual acceptability achieved by the amended constitution.
Question 5: Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Answer-
A prudential reason stresses that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, often contrasting with decisions based purely on moral considerations.
One prudential reason offered in the passage for giving power to Panchayats is that it helps to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. This is achieved because when people participate in the planning and implementation of schemes, they exercise greater control, which eliminates corrupt middlemen.
Question 6: Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
Answer-
Arguments in favour of power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities.
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness (implied by the system of checks and balances).
D. accommodates diversities.
F. promotes people’s participation in government.
Arguments against power sharing (not favoured): C, E, G.
The correct codes representing arguments in favour are (a) A B D F.
Question 7: Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
C. 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.
D. 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 given above are correct?
(a) A, B, C and D (b) A, B and D (c) C and D (d) B, C and D
Answer-
Statement A is false; the Belgian leaders accommodated differences, unlike the Sinhala majority in Sri Lanka.
Statements B, C, and D are correct, based on the text.
The correct statements are B, C, and D.
The correct option is (d) B, C and D.
Question 8: Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:
List I (Forms of Power Sharing) | List II (Forms of Government) |
---|---|
1. Power shared among different organs of government | B. Separation of powers |
2. Power shared among governments at different levels | D. Federal government |
3. Power shared by different social groups | A. Community government |
4. Power shared by two or more political parties | C. Coalition government |
Answer-
- Power shared among different organs of government B. Separation of powers (also known as horizontal distribution/checks and balances).
- Power shared among governments at different levels D. Federal government (also known as vertical division of power).
- Power shared by different social groups A. Community government (e.g., in Belgium).
- Power shared by two or more political parties C. Coalition government.
The matching sequence is 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C.
The correct option is (c) B D A C.
Question 9: Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?
(a) A is true but B is false (b) Both A and B are true (c) Both A and B are false (d) A is false but B is true
Answer-
Statement A: Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy, making it good for democracy. (True)
Statement B: Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. (True)
The correct option is (b) Both A and B are true.