Class-IX Social Science Democratic Politics Chapter 3 – Electoral Politics
1. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Ans: Option (c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Ans: Option (a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
3. Match the following:
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(a) it is necessary to keep the votes list up todate because
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(i) T here is a fair representation of all sections of our society
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(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that
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(ii) E veryone has equal opportunity to elect their representative
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(c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that
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(iii) A ll candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections
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(d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because
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(iv) S ome people may have moved away from the area where they voted last
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Ans:
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(a) it is necessary to keep the votes list up todate because
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(iv) Some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last
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(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that
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(iii) Al l candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections
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(c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that
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(ii) Ev eryone has equal opportunity to elect their representative
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(d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because
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(i) Th ere is a fair representation of all sections of our society
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4. List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below:
releasing election manifestos; counting of votes; making of voters’ list; election campaign; declaration of election results; casting of votes; ordering of re-poll; announcing election schedule; filing nomination.
Ans: Making of voters’ list → Announcing election schedule → Releasing election manifesto → Election campaign → Filing nomination → Casting of votes → Ordering of re- poll → Counting of votes → Declaration of election results.
5. Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on for each of the following stages of election:
a) Election campaign
Ans: Surekha needs to focus on various duties such as, ensuring that candidates do not give bribe or threaten voters, excess amount of money is not crossed by a candidate in terms of expenditure, candidates do not appeal for a vote based on the religion or caste, they do not use worship place for campaign or use any government resources.
b) Polling day
Ans: She will have to cross check the voters’ list and check ID proof of the voters; booth capturing does not take place. Ensuring that Free and fair election should be conducted.
c) Counting day
Ans: She will have to look, whether the counting is done, representatives of all parties are present at counting so that malpractices are avoided.
6. The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US.
Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
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House of representatives (proportion of community in %)
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Populations of US (proportion of community in %)
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Blacks
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8
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13
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Hispanics
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5
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13
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Whites
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86
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70
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Ans: According to the percentage in the US population, Blacks and Hispanics needs be given reservation into the US Congress. The Blacks are having a lesser number of states, that is, 8% in the House of representatives compared to their population, that is 13%. Hispanics need reservation more because the number of their members in the House of Representatives is less than 5% compared to their population, that is, 13.3%. Whites do not need any reservation since they have more seats, that is, 86% in the House of representative compared to their population, that is 70%.
7. Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.
a) Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
Ans: The Election Commission of India is powerful enough to conduct free and fair elections:
• It punishes any candidate or party that violates the code of conduct.
• In Elections, Government officials work under the Election Commission and not the government.
b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
Ans: There is a high level of popular participation in the elections:
• Voters have significantly raised over the few years.
• Activities related to election over the past years have seen a greater amount of participation from the people.
c) It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
Ans: It is certainly not very easy for any party which is in power to win an election:
• The partie which is currently ruling, lose elections routinely.
• Candidates who are ready to spend a greater amount of money lose elections.
d) Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Ans: Reforms are necessary in order to make our elections free and fair completely:
• To make sure that independent and small parties, they don’t suffer in elections.
• To make sure that candidates those are having criminal records do not apply in election.
8. Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections.
Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Ans: A person who is convicted for a crime by the court, has no right to be a part of the society, hence they have no right to participate in the election. No, this decision will not go against the principles of democratic elections.
9. Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
Ans: Here, representatives of each and every candidate should be present to make sure that the votes are counted in a fair way.
b) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
Ans: The election commission should set up an enquiry into the case and discontinue the candidate or party involved in distributing such pamphlets.
c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections.
Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
Ans: There should be only one election commission which should be free from political pressure and it needs to be responsible for conducting any kind of elections in the nation.
10. Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
a) Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.
Ans: After the announcement of the election, it is illegal to announce policy decisions according to the Code of Conduct. The minister should be taken to task by the Election Commission.
b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due attention in Door darshan and All India Radio.
Ans: The election commission should ensure that all political parties are given equal opportunity to appear on Door-darshan and All India Radio.
The Election Commission ensures to take action against the misuse of this media.
c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain name of 20 lakh fake voters.
Ans: The presence of the fake voters means that the elections were already pre-planned by the authorities who prepared the electoral rolls. The election commission must supervise the preparation of fresh electoral rolls.
d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
Ans: By using hoodlums, the political party is trying to terrorize its rivals. The election commission should order for arrest of the hoodlums and debar the party from the elections.
11. Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements?
a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So, what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
Ans: This statement is false, since the policy of secret ballot makes sure that an individual can vote for whoever he/she wants. Women are fully capable of taking their own decisions and selecting the candidate they like.
b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
Ans: Competition can work as both a deterrent and motivator for the political candidates. A risk and fear of losing the election and a motivation for winning the elections works in favour of people.
c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Ans: Educational qualification is not necessary and required to understand the people’s needs. Therefore, there is no need for politicians to be complete their graduation.
