Power Sharing: Multiple Choice Questions

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POWER SHARING
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
(a) In Belgium, leaders realised that unity of the country is possible only by sharing
power
(b) In Sri Lanka, the majority community wants to force domination over others
(c) In Sri Lanka, the demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by
Tamils has been granted
(d) Division of Belgium along linguistic lines was averted due to power sharing
2. Which one of the following is an example of horizontal sharing of power?
(a) Power sharing between different states.
(b) Power sharing between different organs of the government.
(c) Power sharing between different levels of the government.
(d) Power sharing between different political parties.
3. Choose the correct option: Power sharing is desirable because it helps:
(a) To increase pressure on government. (b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts
(c) To generate awareness among people (d) To increase percentage of voters
4. Which major social group constituted the largest share in population of Shri Lanka
(a) Sinhalas (b) Shri Lankan Tamils (c) Indian Tamils (d) Muslims
5. How many times the constitution of Belgium was amended between 1970 and 1993
(a) Two times (b) Three times (c) Four times (d) One time
6. Who elects the community government in Belgium ?
(a) People belonging to one language community only. (b) By the leader of
Belgium
(c) The citizens of the whole country (d) The community leaders of Belgium
7. Power is shared among different Political Parties that represent :-
(a) different candidates (b) same ideologies
(c) different ideologies and social groups (d) none of these
8. Which one of the following is the only official language of Sri Lanka ?
(a) English (b) Hindi (c) Tamil (d) Sinhala
9. Which of these is a major social group in SriLanka?
(a) Buddhist (b) Christians (c) Tamils (d) Muslims
10. In which of the following year, Srilanka emerged as an independent country ?
(a) 1947 (b) 1948 (c) 1949 (d) 1950
11. Which one of the following communities is not related to SriLanka?
(a) Sinhalas (b) Indian Tamils (c) Parsis (d) Srilankan Tamils
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12. Which one of the following communities constituted majority in Brussels ?


(a) French Speaking (b) Dutch Speaking (c) German Speaking (d) None of them
13. Division of powers between higher and lower levels of government is called :
(a) horizontal distribution (b) parallel distribution
(c) verticle division (d) diagonal division
14. In which one of the following countries principle of majoritarianism led to civil
war ? (a) Pakistan (b) Srilanka (c) Belgium (d) India
15. Which two languages are generally spoken in Belgium ?
(a) French and English (b) Dutch and English (c) French and Dutch (d) Dutch and
Sinhala
16. What is the percentage of German speaking people in Belgium?
(a) 59 (b) 40 (c) 60 (d) 01
17. “Community Government‟ exists in:
(a) Germany (b) Srilanka (c) U S A (d) Belguim
18. The Government; in which power is shared by two or more political parties, is
known as :-
(a) Community Government (b) Unitary Government
(c) Federal Government (d) Coalition Government
19. Which one of the following ethnic groups is related to Belgium ?
(a) Muslims and Christians (b) Dutch, French and Germans
(c) Christians and French (d) French and Dutch
20. Which of the following cities is the capital of Belgium ?
(a) Paris (b) Colombo (c) London (d) Brussels
21.”Sri Lankan Tamil‟ refers to which of the following ?
(a) Tamil Muslim. (b) Tamil native of the country.
(c) Tamil whose forefathers came from India in the colonial period. (d) Tamil
Hindu.
22. In Brussels :
(a) 80% people speak French while 20% speak Dutch
(b) 80% people speak Dutch while 20% speak French
(c) 80% people speak German while 20% speak French
(d) 80% people speak German while 20% speak Dutch
23. Which of the following is the main Ethnic group in Srilanka ?
(a) Hindus (b) Muslims (c) Sinhalese (d) Christians
24.Which one of the following system of power sharing is called checks and balances?
(a) (a) Horizontal distribution of powers (b) Federal division of powers (c)
Separation of powers (d) Power shared among different levels of government
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25. Community Government is :


(a) A general government for the entire country.
(b) A government elected by people belonging to one community.
(c) A social division based on shared culture.
(d) A government which literally means “rule by the people”.
26. Which one of the following was NOT a demand of the Sri Lankan Tamils ?
(a) Recognition of Tamil as an official language (b) Regional autonomy
(c) Equality of opportunity in jobs (d) Reservation of seats in Parliament
27. Which one is not a benefit of power sharing ?
(a) Reduces the possibility of conflicts between social groups.
(b) Ensures political stability in the long run.
(c) All political parties get their expected share.
(d) It upholds the spirit of democracy.
28. In a democracy, political power should be :
(a) centralised (b) non - existent (c) decentralised (d) none of these
28. Belgium does not have borders with which of the following countries ?
(a) Germany (b) France (c) Netherlands (d) Sweden
29. Choose the correct option. Power can be shared in modern democracies in the
following ways :
(a) Among different organs of the government (b) Among various levels
(c) Among different social groups (d) All the above
30. Which of the following was NOT a provision of the Act of 1956 passed in Sri
Lanka? (a) Sinhala was recognized as the only official language
(b) Buddhism was to be protected by the state
(c) Provinces were given autonomy (d) Sinhalas were favoured in government jobs
31. Which of the following has a community government kind of power sharing
arrangement?
(a) Sri Lanka (b) Belgium (c) India (d) France
32. In Srilanka the democratically elected Government adopted a series of which
measures to establish Sinhala supremacy?
(a) Community Government (b) Federal Government
(c) Coalition Government (d) Majoritarian Government
33. Which of the following languages is not spoken in Belgium?
(a) French (b) Dutch (c) Danish (d) German
34. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for power sharing?
(a) for majoritarianism (b) being part and parcel of democracy
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(c) to reduce tension (d) for political stability.


35. What is the percentage of Dutch speaking people in Belgium?
(a) 59 (b) 40 (c) 60 (d) 41
36. Which one of the following statements about community government is true?
(a) Power is shared among different organs of Government
(b) Power is shared among Governments at different levels
(c) Power is shared by different social groups
(d) Power is shared by different political parties.
35. What is the percentage of French speaking people in Belgium?
(a) 59 (b) 40 (c) 60 (d) 41
36. Among the following countries to which one do the Indian Tamils belong to?
(a) Belgium (b) Srilanka (c) Germany (d) Nepal
37. Tamil natives of Srilanka are called …
(a) Srilankan Tamils (b) Indian Tamils (c) Muslim Tamils (d) None of these.
38. What were the consequences of the majoritarian measures adopted in Srilanka to
establish Sinhala domination?
39. The headquarters of European Union is located at….
(a) Brussels (b) London (c) Berlin (d) Moscow
40. Buddhism is the major religion of :
(a) India (b) Pakistan (c) Nepal (d) Sri Lanka
41. Which type of policy was constitutionally adopted by the Government of Belgium ?
(a) Policy of Majoritarianism (b) Policy of accommodation
(c) Policy of discrimination (d) Policy of economic equality.
42. Which one of the following best explains the complex ethnic composition of
Belgium?
(a) It has 50% Dutch speaking and 50% French speaking people
(b) It has all Dutch and German speaking population only.
(c) It has 59% Dutch speaking, 40% French speaking and 1% German speaking
people.
(d) It has majority of French speaking people as compared to the Dutch speaking
people
43. Why power sharing is good for democracies ?
(a) It is the spirit of democracy (b) It involves Power Sharing amongst
all (c) It reduces the possibility of conflicts (d) All the above
44. Imagine yourself as a Dutch native of Brussels. You are politically satisfied
because of
(a) Majaritanion measures government has taken
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(b) Equal representation of the communities in the goverment


(c) French are the minority, in the capital
(d) You have got more benefits of Economic development
45. Which one of the following is not a form of power sharing ?
(a) Power sharing between organs of the government
(b) Power sharing between different levels of government
(c) Power sharing between social groups
(d) Power sharing between a monarch and his ministers
46. Power sharing is essential because :
(a) it creates conflicts. (b) it delays decision making.
(c) it accomodates diversities. (d) it increases instability.
47. Which one of the following is a moral reason to justify power sharing?
(a) It reduces conflicts (b) It ensures stability
(c) It keeps up the ‘spirit of democracy’ (d) It keeps the country united
48. Which one of the following statements about Belgium and Sri Lanka is correct?
(a) Dutch speaking people in Belgium dominate politics.
(b) The Sinhalese dominate politics in Sri Lanka.
(c) The constitutional provisions of Belgium caused conflicts.
(d) The Tamils of Sri Lanka have equal rights.
48. What was the main reason from the following to make frequent amendments in
Belgium constitution ?
(a) To establish Dutch supremacy (b) To establish French supremacy
(c) Proper arrangement for everyone to live together (d) To protect minority group
of German people
49. In Sri Lanka the Sinhala speakers account for :
(a) 71% (b) 72% (c) 73% (d) 74%
50. In Sri Lanka the democratically elected govt. followed which type of governance ?
(a) Community (b) Federal (c) Majoritarian (d) Prudential

51. The majority social group in Sri Lanka is :


(a) Sinhala speaking people (b) Tamil speaking people
(c) Indian Tamil migrants (d) Sinhala and Tamil Christians
52. Which of the following is NOT relevant to the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka ?
(a) Conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils
(b) Peace agreement signed between the Sinhalese and the Tamils
(c) Civil war of more than 50 years between the Sinhalese and the Tamils
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(d) Majoritarian policy adopted by the Sri Lanka government.


53. Which one of the following languages is mainly spoken in the Flemish region of
Belgium?
(a) French (b) German (c) Dutch (d) Spanish
54. A special government unique to Belgium alone is.
(a) Community government (b) Cultural government
(c) Coalition government (d) Representative government
55. Which one of the following groups comprises a majority in Brussels ?
(a) Dutch (b) British (c) German (d) French
56. The language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium is :
(a) German (b) Dutch (c) Spanish (d) French
57. The official religion of Sri Lanka is :
(a) Hindu religion (b) Christianity (c) Islam (d) Buddhism
58. Which one of the following measures has taken by the Sri Lankan government to
establish Sinhala supremacy ?
(a) Recognised Sinhala as an official language
(b) Followed preferential policies for government jobs
(c) Buddhism protected and fostened (d) All the above.
59. Sri Lanka adopted a series of “Majoritarian laws” to establish
(a) Tamil supremacy (b) Sinhala supremacy
(c) Buddhist supremacy (d) Hindu supremacy
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.
OR
How is the ethnic composition of Belgium very complex? Explain.
(i) Dutch speaking people constitute 59% of Belgium’s population. They live in
Flemish region.

(ii) French speaking people constitute 40% of the population. They live in Wallonia
region.

(iii) 1% of the population speaks German.

(iii) In capital city, Brussels 80% speak French and 20% speak Dutch.

2. What was the main cause of tension between the two linguistic groups of
Belgium?
OR
What were the two main causes of resentment in Belgium in 1960?
OR
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Assess the reasons for ethnic problem in Belgium.

(i) Dutch speaking people constitute 59% of Belgium’s population. French


speaking people constitute 40% of the population and the remaining 1% speaks
German.

(ii) The French were rich and powerful. The Dutch were poor. This created
discontent among the Dutch.

(iii) Tension and conflicts started between the French and the Dutch.

3. Explain the power sharing arrangement in Belgium.


OR
Highlight the measures adopted by the Belgium Constitution for the prevention
conflicts in Belgium.
OR
State the main elements of the Power Sharing model evolved in Belgium.
OR
Explain with examples how ethnic diversity was accommodated in Belgium?
OR
How did Belgium solve the ethnic problem?
OR
Describe the three unique features of the government in Belgium.

Belgium amended their constitution 4 times and made the following arrangement.

(i) Equal number of ministers from both French and Dutch communities in the
Central Government.

(ii) Some special laws need the support of majority of the members from each
linguistic group.

(iii) State Governments are made autonomous and they got many powers.

(iv) A separate government was set up at Brussels with equal number of


ministers from both French and Dutch communities.

(iv) Each community will elect its own separate community government. This
government will look into cultural, education and language matters.

4. Describe the ethnic composition of Srilanka.


(i) Sinhala speaking people constitute 74% of Sri Lankan population.
(ii) Tamil speaking people constitute 18% of the population. Tamils are divided in
to two groups – Srilankan Tamils (13%) and Indian Tamils (5%).
(iii) Sinhalas are Budhists. Among the Tamils there are Hindus and Muslims.
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5. What were the reasons for the alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils ? What was the
effect of this on the country?
OR
Give an account of Sri Lankan problem?

OR

Why Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated?


OR
Explain any three reasons for the strained relationship Sinhalas and Tamils of
Srilanka.

Sinhala speaking people constitute 74% of Sri Lankan population.


Tamil speaking people constitute 18% of the population. After independence, a
Sinhala dominated government came to power.

(i) It declared Sinhala as national language.


(ii) Sinhala speakers are given preference in government jobs and university
positions.
(iii) Buddhism was declared as the state religion. Tamils did not enjoy equal
political rights and they were discriminated against.
(iv) Tamils demanded official language status for Tamil.
(v) They demanded equal educational and job opportunities for all the
citizens.
(vi) Later, they demanded a separate state called Elam. A civil war started
and large number of people lost their lives.
6. Mention any three demands of Srilankan Tamils?
OR
Which three demands of the Sri lankan Tamils accepted and met with, can settle the ethnic
conflict in Sri lanka for good ? Explain.

(i) Tamils demanded official language status for Tamil.


(ii) They demanded equal educational and job opportunities for all the
citizens.
(iii) They demanded autonomy to the Tamil majority areas. Later, they
demanded a separate state called Elam.

7. Explain three measures taken by Sri Lanka, according to an Act passed in 1956.
(i) It declared Sinhala as national language.
(ii) Sinhala speakers are given preference in government jobs and university
positions.
(iii) Buddhism was declared as the state religion.
8. What is the principle that is being followed by the government in Sri Lanka?
Describe.
OR
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What is majoritarianism? How has it been adopted in Srilanka?


Srilanka followed majoritarian policy. It is a policy that gave many privileges to the
majority community and discriminated against the minority.
(i) The Government declared Sinhala as national language.
(ii) Sinhala speakers are given preference in government jobs and university
positions.
(vii) Buddhism was declared as the state religion. Tamils did not enjoy equal
political rights and they were discriminated against.

9. What were the demands of the Srilankan Tamils? How did they struggle for
their demands?

(i) Tamils demanded official language status for Tamil.


(ii) They demanded equal educational and job opportunities for all the
citizens.
(iii) They demanded autonomy to the Tamil majority areas. Later, they
demanded a separate state called Elam.
Tamils formed their own political organizations and raised their demands. Later, some
terrorist groups were formed. They started a war against the Government.
10. Apart from the Central and State Government which is the third type of
Government practiced in Belgium?
Community Government.
11. What lessons do we learn from the majoritarianism and accommodation
followed in Srilanka and Belgium respectively?

OR

“Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies but they follow different systems of
power – sharing”. Support the statement by giving three points of difference.

The leaders of Belgium succeeded in making an arrangement


to share power among the ethnic groups. This could avoid conflicts and civil
war.
The Sinhala leaders of Srilanka were not willing to share
power with the Tamils. This led to conflicts and Civil War.
Power sharing is necessary to avoid conflicts, accommodate
diversities and establish peace.

12. How did power sharing benefit Belgium?


Power sharing helped Belgium to avoid social conflicts. It strengthened the
unity of the country. It avoided a civil war.
13. How and when was Sinhala recognized as the official language of Srilanka?
In 1956, by passing as Act Sinhala was declared as the official language of
Srilanka.
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14. Which factor is responsible for increasing the feeling of alienation among the
Srilankan Tamils?
Majoritarianism.
15. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected Government of
Srilanka to establish Sinhala supremacy?
Majoritarianism.
16. In which country the principle of majoritarianism led to Civil War?
Srilanka.
17. Srilankan Tamils refers to which social group?
Tamil natives of Srilanka
18. Which language is not spoken by most of the people of Belgium?
German
19. Who elects the community Government in Belgium?
People belonging to one language community.
20.Name countries with which Belgium has borders?
Netherlands. France, Germany and Luxemberg.
21. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the
Srilankan Government.
(i) Tamils felt alienated. They thought that they are being treated as second class
citizens.
(ii) Tamils demanded official language status for Tamil, equal treatment and
autonomy to Tamil majority areas.
(iii) Tamils formed political organizations to put forward their demand.
(iv) Tamils demanded a separate state called Ealam.
(v) A civil war started between the Tamils and the Government.
22. Why is power sharing necessary in democracy? Explain.
OR
Sharing of powers makes a country more powerful and united’. Do you agree with this
statement and why ?
OR
Explain the two main reasons why power sharing is important in a democracy.
Prudential reason for power sharing: Power sharing helps to reduce conflicts
between social groups. It establishes political stability and strengthens the unity
of the country. It is good for the majority also because it provides them peace
and security.
Moral reason for power sharing: Democracy means power sharing among the
people. So power sharing is the spirit of democracy. All the social groups must
get a share of power.
23. Why is power sharing desirable? Explain moral reasons in this regard.
OR
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“Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify this statement with three suitable
points.

(i) Democracy means power sharing among the people. So power sharing is the spirit
of democracy. All the social groups must get a share of power.
(ii) Power sharing ensures active participation of people in democratic process.
This
will make the Government more effective.
(iii) It helps in accommodating diversities.
24. Why is power sharing desirable? Give three prudential reasons.
(i) Power sharing helps to reduce conflicts between social groups.
(ii) It establishes political stability and strengthens the unity of the country.
(iii) It is good for the majority also because it provides them peace and security.

25. Explain any three forms of power sharing in modern democracies.


OR
What are the different types of power sharing in modern democracies? Give one
example of each of these.

OR

Explain the four forms of participation in government under modern democratic


systems.

OR
Explain how power is shared in modern democracies.
(i) Power sharing among different organs of government: In democratic
countries power is shared between legislature, executive and judiciary. Each organ
checks the other. There is a balance of power. This system is called the system of
checks and balance or horizontal distribution of power. For example, the Bombay
High Court ordered Maharashtra government to take steps in order to improve the
condition of street children.

(ii) Power is shared among governments at different levels: In a federal


system, political power in shared between two sets of governments-one at the
centre and the other at the state. This is called vertical division of power. For
example, in India the constitution divides power among the central and state
governments.

(iii) Power is shared among different social groups: Power is shared among
different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. Example: the
community government in Belgium.
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(iv) Power is shared between political parties, pressure groups and


movements: In a democracy, the citizens have the freedom to choose the
government. Competition between political parties in the election ensures that the
power does not remain in the hands of one party. Interest groups also get a share in
power. For example, in Tamil Nadu DMK and AIADMK come to power
periodically.

26. In modern democracies, power is often shared among different organs of the
government. Explain.
OR
Why is horizontal distribution of power often referred to as a system of “checks and
balances”? Explain three reasons ?
(i) In democratic countries power is shared between legislature, executive and
judiciary.

(ii) Each organ checks the other. There is a balance of power. This system is called
the system of checks and balance or horizontal distribution of power.

(iii) For example, the Bombay High Court ordered Maharashtra government to
take steps in order to improve the condition of street children.

27. How is power shared between different levels of the Government? Explain.
In a federal system, political power in shared between two sets of governments-one
at the centre and the other at the state. This is called vertical division of power. For
example, in India the constitution divides power among the central and state
governments.

28. Describe horizontal and vertical power sharing in modern democracies.


Horizontal distribution of Power: : In democratic countries power is shared between
legislature, executive and judiciary. Each organ checks the other. There is a
balance of power. This system is called the system of checks and balance or
horizontal distribution of power. For example, the Bombay High Court ordered
Maharashtra government to take steps in order to improve the condition of street
children.

Vertical distribution of power: In a federal system, political power in shared


between two sets of governments-one at the centre and the other at the state. This
is called vertical division of power. For example, in India the constitution divides
power among the central and state governments.
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29. Describe with examples the ways in which power can be shared between
different social and linguistic groups.
Power is shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic
groups. Examples: (i) the community government in Belgium. (ii) Reservation of
seats for dalits in Parliament.

30. Explain the Power Sharing.


Power sharing is a system in which all the social and ethnic groups are
give a role to play in the administration of the country.

(i) In democratic countries power is shared between legislature, executive and


judiciary.

(ii) In a federal system, political power in shared between two sets of governments-
one at the centre and the other at the state.

(iii) In a democracy, the citizens have the freedom to choose the government.
Competition between political parties in the election ensures that the power does
not remain in the hands of one party.

(iv) Power is shared among different social groups such as the religious and
linguistic groups.

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