Social Science
Class X (Political Science)
Ch- 7 (Outcomes of Democracy)
Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is the basic outcome of democracy?
Ans- The most basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a government that is accounted to citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.
Q2. What are the common features of democracy in most of the countries of the world?
Ans- Most of the democratic countries of the world today have formal constitutions, they hold election they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens.
Q3. What do you understand by 'transparency' in democracy?
Ans- In democracy, decision making are based on norms and procedures. A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency.
Q4. Are democracies corrupt? Explain your argument.
Ans- Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population. The routine tales of corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free of this evil.
Q5. How far does economic inequalities exist in democratic countries?
Ans- In democracies, a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society suffer.
Q6. How democracy is considered best to accommodate social diversity?
Ans. In democracy, we can certainly learn to respect social differences and we can evolve mechanism to negotiate the differences. In fact, democracy is best suited to reduce this outcome.
Q7. Do you agree that democracy promotes dignity of the citizen? Explain.
Ans- Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect. The passions for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy, Democracy no doubt promotes dignity of the citizen and treats everyone equally.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What is democracy? What are its various characteristics?
Ans- In modern usage, democracy is a system of government, in which the citizens exercise power. It is formed by two Greek words ‘demos' and 'Kratia'. 'Demos' means people and ‘Kratia’ means the government. Democracy, thus means 'rule by the people. In a democratic set up, every citizen has a right to take a part in the decision making process. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy is ‘government of the people, government by the people and the government for the people' Citizens choose their representatives who would form the government.
Characteristics:
· It promotes equality among citizens.
· It looks after the interest of the people.
· It allows room to correct mistakes.
Q2. Should we blame democracy for socio-economic and political problems?
Ans:-
· If some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of democracy.
· The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something.
· The citizens have to take advantage of those conditions and achieve their goals.
Q3. What are our expectations from democracy?
Ans:-
· In a democracy, we are most concerned with ensuring that people have the right to choose their rulers and people have control over the rulers.
· Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision-making that affects them all.
· Thus, the most basic outcome of democracy should be that the government is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.
Q4. What is the normal procedure of a democratic government?
Ans:-
(i) It should hold regular, free and fair elections.
(ii) Open public debates on major policies and legislations.
(iii) Right to information about the government and its functioning should be provided to citizens.
Q5. How does democracy promote the dignity and freedom of an individual?
Ans:-
(i) Every individual wants respect from fellow beings.
(ii) (ii) Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect.
(iii) (iii) The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy all over the world-in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries without democratic regimes.
For societies which have been built for long on the basis of subordination and domination, it is not a simple matter to recognise that all individuals are equal.
Q6. In what way is transparency ensured by a democratic system?
Ans:-
(i) Democracy ensures that the decision-making process is based on norms and procedures.
(ii) Citizens have the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making.
(iii) Democracy produces a government that follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
Q7. Is it true that democracies are not very successful in reducing economic inequalities?
Ans- It is true. The following points justify that:
(i) A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a disproportionate share of wealth and income. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
(ii) Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been declining.
(iii) Sometimes, they find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and health.
In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities
Q8. How can you say that democracy is better than dictatorship?
Ans:-
(i) Democracy promotes equality among citizens as it is people's own government.
(ii) It enhances the dignity of the individual
(iii) It also improves the quality of decision-making
(iv) It provides methods to resolve conflicts, if any
(v) Only democracy allows room to correct mistakes
Q9. Explain briefly the outcome of democracy.
Ans:-
(i) The first step towards evaluating outcome of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It means democracy provides an opportunity and it is the citizens who can take advantage of it.
(ii) The most basic outcome of democracy is that it is accountable to citizens and responsive to their needs and expectations.
(iii) Another outcome of democracy is that it is a legitimate government. It means all decisions are taken as per the constitution only
Q10. Why is there a sound support for the idea of democracy all over the world?
Ans:-
(i) It is so because a democratic government is people-run government duly elected by them.
(ii) It is a legitimate government since it follows all the laws provided in the constitution.
(iii) People wish to be ruled by the representatives elected by them. The voters enjoy to form political parties and elect the government of their choice
Q11. "The economic growth rate in dictatorship is better than that in democratic rule”. Why is it so?
Ans:-
(i) The economic growth rate in all dictatorial regimes was 4.42 per cent as compared to all democratic regimes' 3.95 per cent during the period 1995-2000.
(ii) In dictatorial regimes, the rules and regulations are rigid and compulsory. The citizens who disobey are severely punished.
(iii) In democratic regimes, as the leaders and bureaucrats think about their profits only, the government is not much keen to remove poverty and develop the country economically.
Q12. “Democratic government is legitimate government”? Support the statement with arguments.
Ans- Democratic government is a legitimate government: It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is peoples' own government. That is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. People wished to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They also believe that democracy is suitable for their country. Democracy's ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.
Q13. Democracy accommodates social diversities. Support the statement with examples.
Ans:- “Democracy accommodates social diversities”.
(i) Democracies develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent.
(ii) No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and can evolve mechanism to negotiate these differences.
(iii) Ability to handle social differences , divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
(iv) For example: Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among ethnic population. This reduces the possibility of tensions.
Q14. "Democratic governments in practice are known as accountable." Support the statement with arguments.
Ans:- Democratic governments in practice are accountable:
(i) It is right to expect democracy to produce a government that follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
(ii) It is also expected that the democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think it is fit.
(iii) The democratic government is accountable to the people. If it ignores the will of the people they will not elect their ruler in the next general election
(iv) The procedures and decision making process should be transparent for democratic government to be accountable to the people.
Q15. “No party system is ideal for all countries and all situations." Justify the statement with arguments.
Ans:- No party system is ideal for all countries and all situation:
(i) Party system is not something, any country can choose.
(ii) It evolves over a long time depending on the nature of the society.
(iii) Its social and regional division, its history of policies and its system of elections.
(iv) Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances (May be assessed as a whole).
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. How far are democracies able to handle differences between various ethnic groups?
Ans:-
· Democracies are able to accommodate various social divisions.
· These usually develop a procedure to reduce the possibility of tension between ethnic groups as they become explosive or violent sometimes.
· Democracy is best suited to reduce this outcome.
· Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress social differences.
· Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is, thus, a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
Q2. What outcomes are expected of a democracy?
Ans:-
(i) People should get a chance to choose their representatives without any fear.
(ii) Elections are held periodically on the basis of universal franchise.
(iii) Free and fair elections are conducted by an independent machinery.
(iv) The elected representatives are accountable to the people.
(v) There is more than one political party which competes for power.
Q3. How are the democratic governments better than the other forms of governments?
Compare.
Ans- The democratic governments are better than other forms of governments:
(i) Democratic governments have formal constitution, while not in other form of government.
(ii) They hold regular elections, while not in other form of governments.
(iii) They have political parties, while not in other form of governments.
(iv) They guarantee rights of citizens, while not in the other form of governments.
(v) Such governments allow room to correct mistakes, while not in the other form of government.
Q4. "Democracy is a better form of government than any other form of government." Analyse the statement with arguments.
Ans- Democracy is a better form of government from any other form of government:
(i) Democracy promotes equality among citizens
(ii) Enhances the dignity of the individual
(iii) Improves the quality of decision making
(iv) Provides method to resolve conflicts
(v) Allows room to correct mistakes
Q5. "Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens." Justify the statement.
Ans- “Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens":
(i) Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings.
(ii) The passion for respect and freedom are basis of democracy.
(iii) Democracies throughout the world have recognized this. It has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies.
(iv) Long struggles by women have got them respect and equal treatment.
(v) in many democracies women were deprived of their right to vote for a long time which they have achieved now.
Q6. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government? Discuss by giving five reasons.
Ans:-
(i) In a democracy people have the right to elect their rulers and participate in decision making that affects them all. Government thus, is accountable to the citizens and responsive to their needs and expectations.
(ii) Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation, though it results in delays. It ensures that decision making is based on norms and procedures and allows transparency. Develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable.
(iii) Set up following practices institutions: regular, free and fair elections: open public debate on major policies and legislations; and citizens’ right to information about the government and its functioning.
(iv) It may be reasonable to expect from democracy a government that is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption. Through the record of democracies is not impressive on these two counts.
(v) Democratic government is a legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean, but is people’s own government. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them.
Q7. How has corruption become a serious problem for Indian democracy?
Ans:-
(i) Democracies often frustrate the needs of people and ignore demands of a majority of its population.
(ii) It is an accepted fact that leaders use money to win votes and capitalists are supporting them.
(iii) Now a days we find that richer people are getting into politics, just to support parties and get their now say in the parliament.
(iv) The native tales of corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free from this evil.
(v) Now many leaders are involved in scams which become a daily news in the newspaper, these leaders are mostly involved in corruption charges.
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