What is Democracy? Why democracy? - Class 9 Social Science - Chapter 1 - Notes, NCERT Solutions & Extra Questions
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Back Questions - What is Democracy? Why democracy? | Democratic Politics - I | Social Science | Class 9
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.
b Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
c Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
d Country D: There is no independent election commission.
a) Country A: This country restricts voting rights based on religion, which violates the principle of political equality. Therefore, it can be classified as undemocratic.
b) Country B: While the same party has been winning elections, this information alone doesn't indicate unfair practices without more context on the nature of the elections. Thus, the classification would be not sure.
c) Country C: The ruling party losing in the last three elections suggests a competitive political environment and the possibility of power changing hands, aligning with democratic principles. It can be classified as democratic.
d) Country D: The absence of an independent election commission raises concerns about the fairness and integrity of elections, leaning towards undemocratic practices.
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.
b Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.
c Country R: The country's leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.
d Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.
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Sign up nowWhich of these is not a 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.
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Sign up nowEach 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 Organisation (WTO).
b. The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging was reported.
c. Women's representation in the parliament has barely reached 10 per cent. This led women's organisations to demand one-third seats for women.
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Sign up nowWhich 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 elections.
d. People are free to believe in and practise any religion.
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Sign up nowThere are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision 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. Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
b. Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
c. Organising public meetings against government's policies.
d. Paying money to government officials to get water.
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Sign up nowWrite a response to the following arguments against democracy:
a. Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.
b Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
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.
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Sign up nowAre 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.
b. Teacher to student: Don't disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
c. Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.
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Sign up nowConsider 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.
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.
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.
d. 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.
e. 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.
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Sign up nowIn 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 dollars then the income of average White family is 162 dollars. 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 dollars have voted. These people are the top 20% of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 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 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 India.
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Ask Chatterbot AIExtra Questions - What is Democracy? Why democracy? | Democratic Politics - I | Social Science | Class 9
The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of:
A. Rajya Sabha
B. Lok Sabha
C. Supreme Court
D. Electoral College
The correct answer is A. Rajya Sabha.
The Vice President of India holds the ex-officio position as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. This means that by virtue of being the Vice President, he or she automatically assumes the role of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. This role is inherent to the office of the Vice President, defining the unique responsibilities associated with this position.
The word democracy may stand for a natural social equality in the body politic or for a constitutional form of government in which power lies more or less directly in the people's hands. The former may be called social democracy and the latter, democratic government. The two differ widely, both in origin and in moral principle. Genetically considered, social democracy is something primitive, unintended, proper to communities where there is general competence and no marked personal eminence. There will be no aristocracy, no prestige, but instead an intelligent readiness to lend a hand and to do in unison whatever is done. In other words, there will be that most democratic of governments - no government at all. But when pressure of circumstances, danger, or inward strife makes recognized and prolonged guidance necessary to a social democracy, the form its government takes is that of a rudimentary monarchy established by election or general consent. A natural leader emerges and is instinctively obeyed. That leader may indeed be freely criticized and will not be screened by any pomp or traditional mystery; he or she will be easy to replace and every citizen will feel essentially his or her equal. Yet such a state is at the beginnings of monarchy and aristocracy.
According to the author, a social democracy would adopt a formal system of government when:
A. Recognized leadership becomes necessary to support social programs.
B. People lose the instinctive ability to cooperate in solving social problems.
The correct answer is A. Recognized leadership becomes necessary to support social programs.
This choice aligns with the passage, which states that when a social democracy faces challenges such as pressure, danger, or internal conflict, it evolves into a more structured form of governance. The emergence of recognized and prolonged guidance implies the establishment of a formal system of government to maintain stability and order, highlighted by the selection of a leader through election or consensus. Thus, recognized leadership becomes crucial in such scenarios.
Option B suggests a loss of cooperative instinct among the people, which is not directly supported by the text. The text instead explains a natural and gradual shift towards formal governance when needed.
What do you mean by representative democracy?
Solution
Representative democracy refers to a system where citizens indirectly participate in governance by electing officials through a voting process. These elected representatives then convene to make decisions on behalf of the entire population.
"In which of the following meetings was the need to establish a body enforcing and maintaining peace and security in the world first discussed?
A) Atlantic Charter
B) Moscow Declaration
C) London Declaration
D) Dumbarton Oaks Conference"
The correct answer is C) London Declaration.
In June 1941, representatives from Britain, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia convened at St James’ Palace in London, UK. During this meeting, they highlighted the necessity of establishing a global organization dedicated to enforcing and maintaining peace and security. This significant discussion took place at the event known as the London Declaration of 1941.
Why is it difficult to shoot a fish swimming in water?
The primary reason it is difficult to shoot a fish swimming in water revolves around the physics of how bullets interact with different mediums. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors:
-
Viscosity and Density:
- Water has a higher viscosity and density compared to air, meaning it offers more resistance against objects moving through it, including bullets.
-
Bullet's Speed and Penetration:
- Due to this increased resistance, a bullet passing through water slows down significantly faster than it would in air. This rapid deceleration impacts the bullet's ability to maintain its trajectory and speed.
- A slower moving bullet has less penetrating power, making it difficult for it to effectively harm or pass through a fish's body.
In summary, the physical properties of water, specifically its higher viscosity and density, hinder a bullet's speed and penetration power, making it challenging to shoot a fish swimming in water.
Why cannot a clinical thermometer be used to measure high temperature?
Solution
A clinical thermometer is specifically designed to measure human body temperature, which ranges approximately from $$35^{\circ}C$$ to $$43^{\circ}C$$ (or $$95^{\circ}F$$ to $$109^{\circ}F$$). Due to this limited range, using a clinical thermometer to measure higher temperatures is not possible.
Mercury, the thermometric liquid used in clinical thermometers, has a boiling point of approximately $$357^{\circ}C$$. However, the constriction in the tube (known as the kink), which helps retain the mercury level after measuring a temperature, prevents its use in environments where temperatures exceed the maximum limit of the thermometer ($$43^{\circ}C$$ or $$109^{\circ}F$$).
In contrast, a laboratory thermometer, which ranges typically from $$-10^{\circ}C$$ to $$110^{\circ}C$$, can accommodate a much wider range of temperatures. This is possible because laboratory thermometers do not contain a constriction like clinical thermometers, allowing them to measure both higher and lower points efficiently.
Moreover, the characteristic properties of mercury such as not sticking to glass, being a good conductor of heat, and being clearly visible make it ideal for precise measurements but its high cost is a limitation. Alternatively, alcohol, used in some other types of thermometers, expands more significantly and does not have a high boiling point ($$78^{\circ}C$$), making it unsuitable for high-temperature measurements but beneficial for lower temperatures due to its low freezing point ($$-112^{\circ}C$$).
Thus, due to the specific design and properties of a clinical thermometer, it cannot be used to measure high temperatures - its structure and filling are optimized for accurately recording human body temperatures within a very specific range.
In which form of government do people have the right to say who should hold the government and how it should be used?
Democracy
Monarchy
Anarchy
Aristocracy
The correct option is Democracy.
In a democracy, people possess the right to determine who should govern them and how the government should function.
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Ask Chatterbot AIHOTS - What is Democracy? Why democracy? | Democratic Politics - I | Social Science | Class 9
How can the distinction between a 'minimal democracy' and a 'good democracy' inform our understanding of democratic societies today?
The distinction between a 'minimal democracy' and a 'good democracy' sharpens our understanding of democratic societies by setting a benchmark for evaluation. A 'minimal democracy' is characterized by essential features like elections where rulers are elected by the people, offering a fair chance of replacing current rulers, equal voting rights, and a government functioning within constitutional limits. Conversely, a 'good democracy' extends these notions towards higher ideals such as ensuring social justice, reducing inequality, embracing diversity, guaranteeing freedom of expression, and public participation in democratic processes beyond just voting. This distinction reminds us that while a country may fulfil the basic requirements of a democracy, striving towards the ideal of a 'good democracy' enhances the quality of governance, citizen dignity, and societal harmony.
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Discuss why merely holding elections is not a sufficient condition to label a government as a democracy. Provide examples from the chapter.
Merely holding elections is not a sufficient condition to label a government as a democracy because democracy entails more than just the act of voting. For instance, in China, elections don't offer a real choice to the people since all candidates need approval from the Chinese Communist Party, limiting political competition. Similarly, in Mexico under the PRI, elections were marked by unfair practices, inhibiting genuine electoral competition. A true democracy requires free and fair electoral competition where voters have real choices and the possibility of changing the current rulers. Additionally, democracy involves respecting citizens' rights, political equality, and the rule of law, ensuring that the elections lead to a government that adheres to constitutional limits and respects individual freedoms, not merely the holding of elections.
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Based on the following information, classify each of the countries as ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’, or ‘not sure’:
a. Country P: The press is not allowed to criticize the government, and all media are state-controlled.
b. Country Q: Elections are held regularly, but there is only one candidate who runs for president every time.
c. Country R: Every adult citizen of the country has the right to vote, and the elections are free and fair.
d. Country S: The judiciary is not independent, and the decisions of the courts can be vetoed by the executive branch.
a. Country P is classified as undemocratic because the press is not allowed to criticize the government, indicating lack of freedom of expression.
b. Country Q is classified as undemocratic due to the lack of political competition, even though elections are held.
c. Country R can be considered democratic as it has free and fair elections with universal adult franchise.
d. Country S is likely undemocratic because an independent judiciary is crucial for democracy, and veto power by the executive undermines this independence.
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Sign up nowWhich of the following is not an essential feature of a good democratic government?
a. Elections offer a real choice between political alternatives.
b. The ruling party has the power to dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
c. Public protests and demonstrations are allowed as forms of political expression.
d. The press is free to criticize the government and its policies.
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Ask Chatterbot AIShort Questions - What is Democracy? Why democracy? | Democratic Politics - I | Social Science | Class 9
What is the basic definition of democracy provided in the chapter?
The basic definition of democracy provided in the chapter is: democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This definition emphasizes the essential feature of democratic governance, where electoral process ensures that the authority to make decisions is vested in representatives chosen by the citizens.
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Ask Chatterbot AINotes - What is Democracy? Why democracy? | Class 9 Democratic Politics - I | Social Science
Understanding Democracy: Class 9 Notes on 'What is Democracy? Why Democracy?'
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IntroductionDemocracy is a cornerstone of modern governance and societal structure. This concept is crucial in understanding contemporary political systems, particularly for Class 9 students who delve into "What is Democracy? Why Democracy?". This article breaks down the essentials covered in the chapter, providing an in-depth look at democracy's definition, its distinguishing features, and arguments both for and against it.
What is Democracy?
Definition and Features of Democracy
Democracy is typically defined as a form of government where rulers are elected by the people. This basic definition brings forth several key features:
Elected Government: Leaders are chosen through free and fair elections.
Rule of Law: Everyone, including those in power, is subject to the law.
Citizen Rights: Guaranteed freedoms and rights for all citizens.
Why Define Democracy?
The Importance of Definitions
Understanding democracy requires a clear definition to differentiate it from other forms of government. Definitions provide clarity, ensuring that a government cannot mislabel itself as democratic without fulfilling the core principles.
Common Misconceptions
Often, famous quotes or the origin of the word "democracy" from Greek—'demos' (people) and 'kratia' (rule)—are cited. However, relying solely on these can be misleading. Democracy evolves, and its practical application can differ widely.
Distinguishing Democratic and Non-Democratic Governments
Examples of Democratic Governments
India: Known for its robust, albeit complex, democratic processes.
United States: A long-standing example of a federal democratic republic.
Examples of Non-Democratic Governments
Saudi Arabia: A monarchy with power held by the royal family.
North Korea: An example of a dictatorial regime where elections, if held, are a formality.
Arguments Against Democracy
Common Criticisms
Instability: Frequent changes in leadership can lead to political and economic instability.
Delayed Decision-Making: The necessity for extensive consultations can slow down governance.
Corruption: Electoral competition may foster corrupt practices.
Lack of Expertise: Elected leaders may not always know what’s best for the people.
Addressing the Criticisms
While these points highlight genuine concerns, they generally stem from improper implementation or systemic flaws rather than inherent issues within the concept of democracy itself. Effective democracy has checks and balances to mitigate such problems.
Arguments for Democracy
Accountability
Democracy requires rulers to be accountable to the people, which generally leads to more responsible governance.
Better Decision-Making
Democratic decision-making involves consultation, which reduces the likelihood of rash decisions.
Handling Diversity
In diverse countries like India, democracy ensures no single group can permanently dominate, fostering cooperation and coexistence.
Correcting Mistakes
Democracy provides a mechanism for public discussion and corrections, whether through changing policies or leaders.
Broader Meanings of Democracy
Beyond Government
Democracy isn't confined to political systems alone. For example:
Families: In a democratic family, every member has a say in decisions.
Classrooms: A democratic classroom encourages students to voice their opinions and ask questions.
Ideal vs. Real Democracy
An ideal democracy is aspirational, guiding existing democracies to improve. For instance, true democracy is often envisioned as a state where no one goes hungry, demanding not just the right to vote but ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities.
Conclusion
Democracy, while imperfect, remains the best form of governance known. It allows for accountability, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. By understanding the core principles of democracy, Class 9 students gain valuable insights into why this form of government is pivotal for societal progress.
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FAQs
What is the definition of democracy? Democracy is a form of government where rulers are elected by the people.
Why is it important to define democracy clearly? Clear definitions help differentiate true democracies from those falsely claiming the label.
What are examples of democratic and non-democratic governments? Democratic: India, USA. Non-Democratic: Saudi Arabia, North Korea.
Why is mutual consultation important in democracy? It ensures that decisions are well-considered and represent diverse viewpoints.
What ensures fairness in democratic elections? Free and fair electoral competition where all candidates have an equal chance.
By addressing these questions and principles, Class 9 students can better appreciate and critically analyze the workings of democracy in their own country and beyond.
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