2. What is Democracy-Why Democracy-page 1 Civics Class 9 In English

Q.1.How can you say that every government that holds an election is
not a democracy? Give an example to prove your point.

Answer : It is true that every government that holds an election is not a democracy. In many dictatorships and monarchies, there are formally elected parliaments and governments but the real power is with those who are not elected. Pakistan under General Musharraf could not be called a democracy because people there elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but the power to take final decision rested with army officials and with General Musharraf.

Q.2. China, elections are held after every five years. Inspite of this, China does not have a democratic government. Why?

Answer : In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country's Parliament. The Parliament has the power to appoint the President of the country. It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the Army.
Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is always formed by the Communist Party.

Q.3. In which way is the right to vote denied in Saudi Arabia and Fiji?

Answer : In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote. In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian. In both the countries, the right to vote is denied as there is no political equality. In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.

Q.4. ‘Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.’ Explain.
Answer : Consultation and discussion help democracy prosper. A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings. When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision. This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions. Thus democracy improves the quality of decisionmaking.

Q.5 Is it possible for any country to become a perfect democracy? Give reasons.

Answer : No country is a perfect democracy as every democracy has to realise the ideals of democratic decisionmaking. This cannot be achieved once and for all. This requires a constant effort to save and strengthen democratic forms of decisionmaking. What we do as citizens can make a difference to making our country more or less democratic.

Q.6. Why is Democracy considered the best form of government? Give three reasons.

Answer : Democarcy is a more accountable form of government.
(i) It improves the quality of decisionmaking
(ii) It enchances the dignity
of citizens. (iii)It allows us to correct its own mistakes.

Q.7 what is the role of citizen in promoting democracy?

Answer : Every citizen should be able to play equal role in decisionmaking. For this a citizen not only needs an equal right to vote but also needs to have equal information, basic education,equal resources.

Q.8. Explain any three diferences between democratic country and nondemocratic country?

Answer : In a Democratic country–
(i) Each adult citizen has a vote;

(ii) Each vote has one value; and

(iii) Free and fair elections are held. In a nondemocratic

country —

(i) Election do not offer a choice and fair opportunity;

(ii), Rulers are not elected by the people; and

(ii) the rulers have unlimited power.

Q.9. Explain any three features of democracy.

Answer : According to a Democarcy—

(i) Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
(ii) Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the corrent rulers; and
(iii) This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.

Q.10. Why is Zimbabwe not considered a democratic country?

Answer : It is ruled by ZANUPF, the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence. Elections are held regularly but always won by the ZANUPF. President Mugabe uses unfair means in the elections. He has
changed the constitution several times to increase the power of the president. Radio and TV are controlled by the government.

Q.11. ‘‘Democracy allows people to correct their own mistakes’’. Support the given statement with three points.

Answer : The advantage in a democarcy is that mistakes made by a government cannot be hidden for long. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or they can be changed.

Q.12. Explain any three major political changes that took place recently in India's neighbourhood?

Answer :  

(i) Pakistan–General Musharaff led a military coup.
(ii) Nepal–In 2005 the new king dismissed the elected government.
(iii) Iraq–Sadaam Hussain's regime was overthrown.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTION : 

Q.1.What was the steps taken by Musharraf in Pakistan to empower himself?
Answer : In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country.
Later he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension. This referendum was based on fraud and malpractices.
In 2002, he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President could dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.

Q.2. how does democracy provide a method to deal with differences and conflicts?
Answer : In any society people are bound to have differences of opinions and interests. These differences are particularly sharp in a country like India which has lot of social diversity. The preference of one group may class with those of the other groups. Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem. In democracy, no one is a permanent winner or a permanent loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully. In a diverse country like ours, democracy keeps our country together.
Q.5. Write any four demerits of democracy.
Answer :  

(1) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability. (2) Democracy
is all aboutpolitical competition and power play. There is no scope for morality. (3) So
many people have to be consulted in a Democracy that it leads tro delays. (4) Elected
leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
Q.6. What is the significance of the rule of law and respect for rights in
democratic country? State four points. Ans.A democratic government cannot do
whatever it likes simply because it has won an election.
It has to respect some basic rules. In particular it has to respect some guarantees to
theminorities. Every major decision has gone through a series of consultation. Every office
bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitutition and the law.
Each is accountable not but only to law to other independent officials.
Q.7. Why does a democratic country always need a constitution?
Ans.All countries that are democratic will have constitutions. After the war of
independence against
Great Britain the Americans gave themselves a constitution. After the revolution the
French people approved a democratic constitution. Since then it has become a practice in
all democracies to have a written constitution.
Q.8 ‘‘Democracy enhances the dignity of citizen.’’ Justify this statement.
Ans. Democracy is based on the principle of political equality on recognising that the
poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated. People
are not subjects of a ruler. They are the rulers themselves. Even when they make
mistakes they are responsible for their conduct.
Q.9. Give any four reasons why democracies resolve conflict in a better
way than other forms of governments.
Ans. Democracies resolve conflict in a better way. Reasons — (i) it improves the quality of
decision making. It has scope for consultation and discusion. (ii) In a Democracy conflicts
are no solved by brutal force but by peaceful solutions. (iii) Even even when
people/associations/ government make mistakes for a democracy allows them to correct
their mistakes; and (IV)