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Q.1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
(2) Power sharing among governments at different levels :
(3) Power sharing among different social groups :
(4) Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements : In a democracy political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. Sometimes power is shared by different political parties having different ideologies. Such alliances form coalition government. Q.2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context. [CBSE Sept. 2010] More Resources for CBSE Class 10 Q.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. If there are different communities in a country they should try to accommodate each other as has been done in Belgium – where the French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the central government. Q.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. Formulae Handbook for Class 10 Maths and Science Q.5. Read the following passage, and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this. (c) Improving the efficiency of the system by reducing the number of middlemen, and transferring the planning and implementation to the people concerned through the Panchayats. Multiple Choice Questions Previous Year’s Questions (d) To increase percentage of voters. 2. Which major social group constituted the largest share in population of Sri Lanka? [CBSE (CCE) 2011] (a) Sinhalas (b) Sri Lankan Tamils (c) Indian Tamils (d) Muslims 3. Which of the following is an example of horizontal sharing of power? [CBSE (CCE) 2011] (a) Power sharing between different states. (b) Power sharing between different organs of the government. (c) Power sharing between different levels of the government. (d) Power sharing between different political parties. 4. Which of the following statements is NOT true? [CBSE (CCE) 2011] (a) In Belgium, leaders realised that unity of the country is possible only by sharing power. (b) In Sri Lanka, the majority community wants to force domination over others. (c) In Sri Lanka, the demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by Tamils has been granted. (d) Division of Belgium along linguistic lines was averted due to power sharing. 5. Who elects the communist government in Belgium? [CBSE (CCE) 2011] (a) People belonging to one language community only. (b) By the leader of Belgium. (c) The citizens of the whole country. (d) The community leaders of Belgium. NCERT Questions 6. 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 government ensured the dominance of the Sinhala speaking majority. C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharingto 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 are correct ? (a) A, B, C and D (b) A, B, and D (c) C and D (d) B, C and D 7. Match List I (forms of powe- sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using codes given below the lists :
(a) (i) – D, (ii) – A, (iii) – B, (iv) – C (b) (i) – B, (ii) – C, (iii) – D, (iv) – A (c) (i) – B, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – C (d) (i) – C, (ii) – D, (iii) – A, (iv) – B Additional Questions 8. The Community Government signifies: (a) The powers of government regarding community development. (b) The powers of the government regarding law making for the community. (c) The powers of the government regarding cultural, educational and language related issues. (d) The government enjoys privileges to safeguard the interest of a particular community. 9. System of ‘checks and balances’ means: (a) Horizontal distribution of powers. (b) Separation of powers. (c) Put a check on the exercise of unlimited powers of the organs of government by maintaining a balance of power among various institutions. (d) Federal division of powers. 10. A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is (a) Community Government (b) Federal Government (c) Majoritarian (d) Prudential 11. Power sharing is : (a) the very spirit of democracy. (b) separation of powers at different levels. (c) system of checks and balances. (d) a type of balancing powers. 12. Vertical division of power is : (a) a system in which each organ of government checks the others. (b) a type of distribution in which power is shared among different organs of government. (c) a type of distribution of power which involves the higher and lower levels of government. (d) a type of government elected by people. 13. Coalition government is the government: (a) based on prudential and moral reasons. (b) government of the majority community. (c) the government elected by the people. (d) an alliance government formed by two or more parties, if no single party gets a majority in the election. 14. The word ‘ethnic’ signifies : (a) different religions. (b) social division on shared culture. (c) a violent conflict between opposite groups. (d) a careful calculation of gains and losses. 15. Which are the important features of prudential reason ? (i) Emphasises intrinsic worth of power sharing. (ii) Based on careful calculation of gains or losses. (iii) Based on moral consideration. (iv) Stresses on beneficial consequences. (a) (ii) and (iii) (b) (i) and (iv) (c) (ii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iii) 16. Which statement justifies the ethnic complexity of Sri Lanka? (a) Sinhalese – 80%, Tamils – 20% (b) Sinhalese – 60%, Tamils – 40% (c) Sinhalese – 74%, Tamils – 18% (d) Sinhalese – 76%, Tamils – 18% 17. Consider the statements on Ethnic composition : (a) The Ethnic composition of Belgium is very complex because of diverse language speaking people like Dutch speaking, French speaking and German speaking. (b) French speaking community was in minority and more powerful. (c) Dutch speaking community was in majority and less powerful. (d) There was conflict between the French and the Dutch communities. 18. Prudential reasons of power sharing stresses on: (a) The stability of political order. (b) To reduce the possibility of conflict between social group. (c) A fair chance/share to minority. (d) All the above. 19. The majority of population in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium speaks : (a) French (b) Dutch (c) German (d) Roman 20. The proportion of Tamils in Sri Lanka’s total population is about: (a) 8 percent (b) 18 percent (c) 28 percent (d) 38 percent 21. In India, power sharing mechanism does not directly involve: (a) Judiciary (b) Legislature (c) Executive (d) Industry 22. Power sharing does not: (a) accommodate diversities. (b) speed up the decision making process. (c) increases conflict among different commuriities. (d) All the above. 23. Coalition Government implies : (a) power sharing among different organs of the government. (b) power sharing by different communities. (c) power sharing by two or more political parties. (d) power sharing within the government at different levels. 24. The religion of state in Sri Lanka is : (a) Buddhism (b) Christianity (c) Hinduism (d) Islam. 25. A strategy under which all the major segments of the society are provided with a permanent share of power in the governance of the country is known as: (a) secularism (b) power sharing (c) majoritarianism (d) minoritism. 26. The majority of the population in Belgium lives in: (a) Wallonia region and speaks French (b) Wallonia region and speaks Dutch (c) Flemish region and speaks Dutch (d) Flemish region and speaks French 27. Belgium successfully solved its problem by : (a) rejecting the policy of majoritarianism. (b) developing a power sharing mechanism. (c) respecting the interest of different communities. (d) All the above. 28. The power of different levels of government shows: (a) separation of powers. (b) community Government. (c) coalition Government. (d) the federal division of power. 29. Match the following : A. Ethnic Composition (i) A violent conflict between opposite groups within a country. B. Majoritarianism (ii) Based on prudence, i.e., a careful calculation of gains or losses. C. Civil War (iii) A social division based on shared culture. D. Prudential reason (iv) A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country. E. Vertical division (v) Power is shared among power different organs of the government. F. Horizontal (vi) Power is involved in the division of the higher and lower power levels of government. (a) A – (iv), B – (iii), C – (ii), D – (i), E – (v), F – (vi) (b) A – (iii), B – (iv), C – (i), D – (ii), E – (vi), F – (v) (c) A – (i), B – (ii), C – (iii), D – (iv), E – (v), F – (vi) (d) A – (ii), B – (iv), C – (iv), D – (v), E – (vi), F – (i) 30. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using codes given below: A. Power sharing is good for democracy. B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Which of the 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. 31. Indicate true and false for given statements and give valid reasons: (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 domination of the Sinhala speaking majority. (c) The Transformation of Belgium from a unitary government to a federal one presented possible division of the country on linguistic lines. (d) The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power to protect their culture, language, and equality of opportunity in education and jobs. Answer: (a) False – because French people tried to impose their domination. (b) True – As Sri Lanka followed the majoritarian concept. (c) False – But it helped in power-sharing on linguistic lines. (d) True – As Tamils were alienated from the mainstream of power-sharing. ANSWERS |