Class 10 Civics notes

 NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Democratic Politics Chapter 1 Power Sharing 

Q.1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

Ans.

In modern democracies, the different forms of power sharing are given below with an example of each :

(1)

1)Power sharing among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.

2)It is called horizontal distribution pf power

3)For example, in India Parliament enacts laws. Executive executes or implements them and judiciary checks the functioning of executive or laws made by the leg statures.

(2) Power sharing among governments at different levels :

1)There are governments at the National, State and Local levels.

2)Powers are divided among these governments. For example in India, there is a division of powers between Center and the States. There are three lists i.e., Union list, State list and Concurrent list. The residuary powers which have not been included in the three lists are with the Central Government.

(3) Power sharing among different social groups :

1)Sometimes religious and linguistic groups too share power as is the case in Belgium where there is a “community government” which is elected by people belonging to one language community no matter where they live.

2)Such government enjoys power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.

(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]

Ans.

(i) (a) India is a multicultural society.

(b) India is a democratic country.

MCQ Questions and

 Answers

Q1. Belgium Shares borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and ……?

A. England

B. Norway

C. Luxembourg

D. Italy

 

Q2. In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent people speak………?

A. French

B. Dutch

C. German

D. English

 

Q3. 20 % of the people of Brussels Speak………?

A. Dutch

B. English

C. German

D. Italian

 

Q4. Brussels presented a special problem:What was it?

A. Dutch-speaking people constituted a minority in the country, but a majority in the capital

B. Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital

C. Other foriehn languages were seeping in

D. English was becoming dominant

 

Q5. What percentage of Srilankan Population is Tamil Speaking?

A. 50%

B. 20%

C. 18%

D. 16%

 

Q6. The people whose forefathers came from India to Srilanka as plantation workers during the colonial period are called…….

A. Sri Lankan Tamils

B. Indian Tamils

C. Tamil Indians

D. Indian Sri Lankans

 

Q7. Most of the Sinhalese Speaking people in Srilanka are…………?

A. Hindus

B. Christians

C. Muslims

D. Buddhists

 

Q8. When did Sri Lanka emerge as an independent country?

A. 1949

B. 1950

C. 1948

D. 1951

 

Q9. In ……….an Act was passed to recognise Sinhalese as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhalese applicants for university positions and government jobs?

A. 1956

B. 1957

C. 1958

D. 1959

 

Q10. All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the …………among the Sri Lankan Tamils?

A. Protests

B. Favouritism

C. Feeling of alienation

D. Subordination

 

Q11. By the 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding ……..?

A. Certain rights

B. Independent Tamil Eelam (state)

C. Sovereign State

D. Priority in Jobs for Tamils

 

Q12. When did the Civil War of Sri Lanka end?

A. 2010

B. 2009

C. 2005

D. 2011

 

Q13. How many times was the constitution of Belgium amended between 1970 and 1993?

A. Three times

B. Two times

C. Four times

D. Once

 

Q14. The Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers ……….. in the central government?

A. Shall be equal

B. Dutch speaking shall be more

C. French speaking will be more

D. None of the above

 

Q15. The ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking. What powers does it hold?

A. Cultural, educational and language-related issues.

B. Political issues

C. Defence related issues

D. All of the above

 

Q16. Give reason as to why power sharing can be good for a country?

A. it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups

B. is a good way to ensure the stability of political order

C. It does not lead to confusion in managing the state

D. A & B

 

Q17. Give one moral reason as why power sharing is good?

A. it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups

B. It does not lead to confusion in managing the state

C. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

D. power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order

 

Q18. The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to …….?

A. Democracy

B. Dictatorship

C. Monarchy

D. Undivided political power under one sect

 

Q19. Give an example of horizontal distribution of power?

A. governments at the provincial or regional level.

B. legislature, executive and judiciary

C. among different social groups

D. political parties, pressure groups and movements

 

Q20. Which is a federal division of power?

A. governments at the provincial or regional level.

B. legislature, executive and judiciary

C. among different social groups

D. political parties, pressure groups and movements

 

Q21. Where power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary, what is the functioning of this system called?

A. Horizontal system

B. system of checks and balances

C. System of shared duties

D. System of limited power

 

Q22. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.

1. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.

2. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.

3. 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.

4. 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 is correct?

A. All of the above

B. 1, 2 and 4

C. 3 and 4

D. 2, 3 and 4

 

Q23. In Sri lanka, there are about….. percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala?

A. 10

B. 15

C. 7

D. 12

 

Q24. In Srilanka the democratically elected government adopted a series of ……….. measures to establish Sinhala supremacy?

A. Extreme

B. Democratic

C. Political

D. Majoritarian

 

Q25. In Srilanka, a new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster …………Tamil Indians

A. Hindu

B. Buddhist

C. Christain

D. Islam

 

Q26. In Belgium……

A. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government

B. The state governments are subordinate to the Central Government

C. The state governments have no say before the central govt

D. The state govt can contradict the Central government

 

Q27. When many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union, ………. was chosen as the headquarter?

A. Paris

B. Brussels

C. Rome

D. London

 

Q28. Name one prudential reason for power sharing?

A. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.

B. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

C. Citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system

D. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups

 

Q29. 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:

1. reduces conflict among different communities

2. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness

3. delays decision making process

4. accommodates diversities

5. increases instability and divisiveness

6. promotes people’s participation in government

7. undermines the unity of a country

A. 1, 2, 4, 6

B. 1, 3, 5, 6

C. 1, 2, 4, 7

D. 2, 3, 4, 7

 

Q30. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:

1. Power sharing is good for democracy.

2. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

Which of these statements are true and false?

A. 1 is true but 2 is false

B. Both 1 and 2 are true

C. Both 1 and 2 are false

D. 1 is false but 2 is true

Answer key 

CBSE Class 10 

Political Science

 Democratic Politics Book

 Chapter 2

 Federalism

 Multiple Choice

 Question with

 Answers

 

Q1. …………. is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country?

A. Dictatorship

B. Unitary system

C. Monarchy

D. Federalism

 

Q2. How many levels of government does a federation usually have?

A. Single

B. Two

C. Three

D. Multiple

 

Q3. How many countries in the world have a federal political system?

A. 42

B. 33

C. 25

D. 18

 

Q4. In a federal system, the central government ………. order the state government to do something?

A. A & C

B. May

C. Cannot

D. Can

Q5. State government has powers of its own for which……..

A. It is answerable to Central government

B. It is not answerable to Central government

C. It is answerable to the people

D. B & C

 

Q6. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own ………….. in specific matters.

A. Administration

B. Jurisdiction

C. Execution

D. Policies

 

Q7. Can the fundamental provisions of the constitution be unilaterally changed by one level of government in federalism?

A. Yes

B. No

C. May be in special provisions

D. A & C

 

Q8. When independent states come together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security. This type of ‘coming together’ federations are practiced by which countries?

A. Switzerland & Canada

B. USA and Britain

C. USA, Australia and Switzerland

D. Britain, Canada, USA

 

Q9. Where a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government. It is called ‘holding together’ federations. Which countries practice this system?

A. India, Pakistan, Italy

B. India, Spain, Belgium

C. Canada, Italy, Germany

D. Australia, Canada, USA

Q10. Which one comes under the Union List in India?

A. Police

B. Agriculture

C. Banking

D. Trade

 Q11. Which one comes under the State List in India?

A. Defence

B. Currency

C. Communications

D. Police

 

Q12. On which given subject can both the Union as well as the State Governments make laws?

A. Currency

B. Defence

C. Trade Unions

D. Agriculture

Q13. What is meant by residuary subjects?

A. Subjects under union list

B. Subjects under state list

C. Subject under both state and union list

D. Subjects which are not under any list

 

Q14. Give an example of a subject under the residuary list?

A. Currency

B. Irrigation

C. Computer software

D. Commerce

 

Q15. States such as Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram enjoy special powers under certain provisions of the Constitution of India (Article 371), under which context do they get these provisions?

A. Because of trade and commerce

B. Protection of land rights of indigenous people

C. Special provisions for agriculture

D. For Defence purposes

Q16. Give one feature of Union territories?

A. They have powers of a state

B. They enjoy independent power

C. The Central Government has special powers in running these areas.

D. These are areas which are too small to become an independent State but which can be merged with any of the existing States

 

Q17. Sharing of power between the Union Government and the State governments is basic to the structure of the Constitution. The Parliament cannot on its own change this arrangement. Any change to it has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least ………. majority?

A. 50 %

B. Three- fourth

C. Two- third

D. 25%

 

Q18. The creation of ………….. was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country

A. States according to religion

B. States according to culture

C. Linguistic states

D. States according to topography

Q19. On which basis were states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand created?

A. On the basis of language

B. On the basis of culture, ethnicity

C. On the basis of religion

D. On the basis of commerce and trade

 

Q20. Hindi is the mother tongue of only about …… percent of Indians?

A. 60%

B. 30%

C. 40%

D. 50%

 

Q21. Besides Hindi, there are __ other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution?

A. 21

B. 23

C. 27

D. 24

 

Q22. When was the beginning of the era of Coalition Governments at the Centre which led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State Governments?

A. 1980s

B. 1990s

C. 1870s

D. 2000 onward

 

Q23. Census of India held in 2011, recorded more than ………distinct languages which people mentioned as their mother tongues?

A. 200

B. 500

C. 1200

D. 1300

 

Q24. In the data for Scheduled Languages of India which is the second highest in proportion of speakers (%) after Hindi?

A. Telugu

B. Tamil

C. Bengali

D. Urdu

Q25. As for English, only ……….per cent Indians recorded it as their mother tongue?

A. 20%

B. 5%

C. 0.5 %

D. 0.02%

Q26. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is:

A. National government gives some powers to the provincial governments.

B. Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.

C. Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.

D. Governmental power is divided between different levels of government.

 

Q27. Consider the following two statements.

1. In a federation the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.

2. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.

3. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.

4. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been devolved to the local government bodies.

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 1, 3 and 4

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 2 and 3 only

 

Q28. Federal power sharing in India needs another tier of government below that of the State governments, it is called………..

A. State offices

B. District government

C. Local government

D. Tehsils

 

Q29. When was the constitution amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective?

A. 1990

B. 1992

C. 1989

D. 1993

 

Q30. In the local government elections at least ……… of all positions are reserved for women?

A. One – third

B. Two- third

C. 50%

D. 25%