Extra 30 short answer questions from Chapter:1 Power Sharing (Class 10 CBSE Political Science).
Short Answer Questions
What is power-sharing?
➥
Power-sharing is the distribution of power among different organs or levels of government to avoid conflict and maintain political stability in a democracy.
Why is power-sharing important in a democracy?
➥
Power-sharing helps in reducing conflicts, ensuring political stability, and upholding democratic values by preventing the concentration of power in one hand.
Mention any two forms of power-sharing in modern democracies.
➥
(
i
) Power-sharing among different organs of government (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary).
➥
(ii) Power-sharing among different levels of government (Central, State, Local).
How does power-sharing ensure the spirit of democracy?
➥
It prevents dictatorship, provides equal opportunities to different groups, and allows people to participate in decision-making.
What are the two major social groups in Belgium?
➥
(
i
) Dutch-speaking community (majority - 59%).
➥
(ii) French-speaking community (40%).
Why was there tension between the Dutch and French-speaking communities in Belgium?
➥
The French-speaking minority was richer and more powerful, leading to economic and social tension with the Dutch-speaking majority.
How did Belgium resolve its ethnic conflict?
➥
Belgium adopted a power-sharing system with equal representation of both communities in the government, community government, and a federal structure.
What is the Community Government in Belgium?
➥
It is a government system where each linguistic group (Dutch, French, and German) has the power to decide on cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
Which ethnic group is in majority in Sri Lanka? What is their percentage?
➥
The Sinhalese are the majority, making up about
74%
of the population.
Who are Sri Lankan Tamils?
➥
They are the Tamil-speaking minority in Sri Lanka, making up about
15%
of the population, including Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils.
What majoritarian measures were taken in Sri Lanka after independence?
➥
(
i
) Sinhala was made the only official language (1956).
➥
(ii) Government
favoured
Sinhalese in education and jobs.
➥
(iii) Buddhism was given special status.
What was the demand of Sri Lankan Tamils?
➥
They demanded equal rights, recognition of Tamil as an official language, and autonomy in Tamil-majority regions.
What were the consequences of the majoritarian policies in Sri Lanka?
➥
It led to discrimination against Tamils, protests, and a violent civil war between the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) and the Sri Lankan government.
How is power-sharing practiced in Belgium?
➥
Belgium has a complex system:
Equal representation for Dutch and French communities.
A federal government
structure
.
Community governments for cultural affairs.
How is power-sharing different in Sri Lanka and Belgium?
➥
Belgium adopted a
power-sharing model
, ensuring representation for all groups, while Sri Lanka followed a
majoritarian model
,
favoring
the Sinhalese majority.
What is horizontal distribution of power?
➥
Power is shared among different organs of government (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary) to ensure
checks and balances
.
What is vertical distribution of power?
➥
Power is shared among different levels of government, like
Central, State, and Local governments
(Federalism).
Give an example of horizontal power-sharing in India.
➥
The three branches of government—Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary—share power and keep each other in check.
Give an example of vertical power-sharing in India.
➥
The division of powers between the
Central, State, and Local governments
as per the Indian Constitution.
What is power-sharing among social groups?
➥
It ensures representation of different social groups (e.g., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities) in government decision-making.
What is power-sharing among political parties and movements?
➥
Different political parties contest elections, and sometimes coalition governments are formed, ensuring power is not concentrated in one party.
What is coalition government?
➥
A government formed by multiple political parties when no single party gets a majority in elections.
What is meant by ‘checks and balances’ in democracy?
➥
A system where different organs of government keep an eye on each other, preventing misuse of power.
Why do we need a power-sharing system?
➥
To prevent conflicts, promote unity, ensure equal participation, and strengthen democracy.
What are the different forms of power-sharing?
➥
(
i
) Among different organs of government (horizontal).
➥
(ii) Among different levels of government (vertical).
➥
(iii) Among different social groups.
➥
(iv) Among political parties and movements.
How does federalism ensure power-sharing?
➥
Federalism divides power between central and state governments, ensuring that different regions have autonomy in decision-making.
Which system of power-sharing is followed in India?
➥
India follows
both horizontal and vertical power-sharing
, ensuring decentralization and democratic governance.
What role does the judiciary play in power-sharing?
➥
The judiciary ensures that laws made by the legislature and actions taken by the executive follow the Constitution.
What is the basic principle of democracy related to power-sharing?
➥
Power should not be concentrated in one hand; it should be divided to prevent dictatorship and promote participation.
What lesson do we learn from the power-sharing system in Belgium?
➥
It teaches that
accommodating different groups through power-sharing helps maintain peace and unity
in a diverse society.
