9.Class.Chapter 2.Civics.Why Democracy.Answer /HW

9.Class.Chapter 2.Civics.Why Democracy. 

Answer /HW

CHAPTER – 2

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY.

EXERCISES :-

Q.1. 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.

a. Country A: people who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to

vote.

Answer – undemocratic

b. Country B: the same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.

Answer – not sure

c. Country C: Ruling party has lost in last three elections.

Answer – democratic

d. Country D: There is no independent election commission.

Answer – undemocratic

Q.2. 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.

a. Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the

Chief of Army.

Answer – undemocratic

b. Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.

Answer – democratic

c. Country R: The country’s leader cannot sign any treaty with another country without

taking permission from its neighbouring  country.

Answer – undemocratic

d. Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by the officials

of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.

Answer – undemocratic

Q.3. Which of these is not good argument in favour of democracy? Why?

A.   People feel free and equal in a democracy.

B.   Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others.

C.   Democratic government is more accountable to the people.

D.   Democracies are more prosperous than others.

Answer – Democracies are more prosperous than others is not a good argument in favour

of democracy. There are examples of countries being democratic but not as prosperous

as other countries which are not democratic. Democracy means that the normal citizen of

the country is the decision making process and electing the leaders. It does not mean

necessarily guarantee prosperity as there are other factors like – geography, economic

capacity, government policies, human resources, mineral resources, etc.

Q.4. Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write

out the two separately for each statement.

a. 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 Organization (WTO).

Answer – Democratic element – a minister said that some laws have to be passed by the

parliament.

Undemocratic element - to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade

Organization (WTO).

b. The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging

was reported.

Answer – Democratic element- the election commission ordered re-polling in a

constituency.

Undemocratic element – large-scale rigging was reported.

c. Women’s representation in parliament has barely reached 10 percent. This led women’s

organizations to demand one-third seats for women.

Answer – Democratic element – Women’s representation in parliament has barely

reached 10 percent.

Undemocratic element – Women’s organizations to demand one-third seats for

women.

Q.5. Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of

famine in a democratic country?

A.   Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.

B.   Free press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country.

C.   Government fears its defeat in the next Election.

D.   People are free to believe in and practice any religion.

Answer – The statement people are free to believe in and practice any religion is not a

valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country.

Q.6. There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provisions for

drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the

government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?

a.    Filling case in a court claiming that water is part of right of life.

b.    Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.

c.     Organizing public meetings against government’s policies.

d.    Paying money to government officials to get water.

Answer - The statement paying money to government officials to get drinking water is not

a democratic method.

Q.7. Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:

a. Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country. Therefore

army should rule the country.

Answer- the army is a disciplined organization. However, it is unfair if an army rule, as the

army was not chosen by the citizens and hence it will be an undemocratic practice.

b. Rule of majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the

wise, even if they are in small numbers.

Answers- Rule of majority is not the rule of ignorant people. It is democratic as it

represents the view of all sections of people. Restricting the rulers from a small section

comprising of ‘wise’ would defeat the purpose of representational democracy.

c. If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide

us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Answer- religion and politics are two different things. While religious leaders can guide

someone towards religious affairs, it cannot guide anyone for politics, which is an

important segment of a nation. Religious leaders are not elected by the people hence a

country should not be ruled by them.

Q.8. Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?

a. 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.

Answer- this statement does not keep democracy as a value, as the daughter is not

allowed to express her opinion.

b. Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the

classroom.

Answer- the statement does not keep with democracy as a value as, students are allowed

to ask questions. It is their right.

c. Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

Answer- the statement does keep with democracy as a value, as employee voices his

opinion for his right under the law. 

Q.9. Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a

democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.

a. All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.

Answer- it is a democratic country where citizens are allowed to vote and choose their

government.

b. The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan

was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.

Answer- while taking a loan from international agencies, the country is compromising on

the welfare of the people by reducing their expenditure on education and health which is

totally undemocratic.

c. People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one

language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of that country.

Answer- the provision of making education accessible in only one language is

undemocratic. It is fundamental right for people to have an education and it is

government’s duty to provide them in the language they know.

d. Several organizations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide

strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.

Answer- Right to assemble and peacefully demonstrate is a basic right of an individual.

Hence, arresting the protestors is undemocratic.

e. The government owns 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.

Answer- When the government owns the radio and television, it is debarring people from

availing their right to free press. It is undemocratic.

Q.10. 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 $100 then the income of average white family is $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

$75,000 have voted. These people are the top 20% of population in terms of their income.

On the other hand only 5 out of 10 people from families with income less than $15,000

has voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income.

§  About 90% 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 care 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 the India.

Answer- Democracy is said to be one of the best forms of government. People choose

democracy mainly to remove corruption, hunger and poverty. Poverty is regarded as one

of the worst affecting social evils. Population, corruption, economy and illiteracy are the

main factors which directly or indirectly lead to poverty.

Population is one of the major factor which lead to poverty. The increasing population

decreases the per-capital income of families. For example, there are four members in a

family. Among them only three earn money. They earn Rs.6000, Rs.5000 and Rs.5000

respectively. One doesn’t earn anything. Then the per-capital income of the family is

Rs.4000. if there were eight members in the same family, then the per-capital income was

supposed to be Rs. 2000 per person.

In India, the per-capital income is very less in compared to that of developed countries.

Democracy is still being unsuccessful in eradicating hunger and poverty. illiteracy is also

affecting poverty. Illiterates often get shabby professions like sweeping the floor, cleaning

and may be slaves in some unnoticed cases. This in turn leads to poverty and miserable

life.

It is very much important to remove poverty in a country. It promotes growth of the nation

economically. Eradication of poverty is necessary for the development of the nation.

INSIDE QUESTIONS / ANSWERS :-

1. What are the two types of governments?

Answer- the two types of governments are:-

a. Democratic Governments      b. Non-democratic governments

2. What is the simple definition of democracy?

Answer- Democracy is the form of government in which the rulers are elected by the

people.

3. Why do we need definition of democracy at all?

Answer- we need a definition only when we come across a difficulty in the use of a word.

We need a definition of rain to distinguish it from drizzle or cloudburst. The same is true

for democracy. We need a clear definition because people use it for different purposes,

because very different kind of Governments call themselves democracy.

4. Who led a military coup in Pakistan and when?

Answer- in Pakistan, general pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999.

5. Who declared himself the ‘chief executive’ of the country (Pakistan)?

Answer- Musharraf  overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself

the ‘chief executive’ of the country.

6. When he changed his designation to president?

Answer- Musharraf changed his designation to president in 2002 held a referendum in the

country that granted him a five year extension.

7. What was referendum composed of?

Answer- referendum was completely based on malpractices and fraud.

8. When ‘legal framework order’ was issued?

Answer- In august 2002 musharraf issued a ‘legal framework order’ that amended the

constitution of Pakistan.

9. What is the first feature of democracy?

Answer- In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those elected by

the people.

10. Why elections are held after every five years in china?

Answer- In china, elections are regularly held after five years for electing the country’s

parliament, called Quanguo renmin diabiao dahui (national people’s  congress).

11. What is the power of national people’s congress?

Answer- The national people’s congress has power to appoint the president of the country.

It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over the country. Some members are elected

by the army.