SUBJECT: SOCIAL SCIENCE (D. P.

)
WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?
CLASS IX

NOTE FOR THE STUDENTS:

Dear Students,
You are provided here selected questions with solution
for you to prepare the chapter. For your convenience page no. from your textbook has been also
provided against each question. Remaining questions from the chapter shall be provided to you as
home assignment for which you will be expected to write the answer yourself. Also considering
the present trend of board examination, in which you will get variety of objective type questions.
Therefore, as a sample few questions are provided here with solution for your reference.
VISHAL SRIVASTAVA
(ACADEMIC COORDINATOR)

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Q1. What are the various types/ forms of government?

Ans. (a) Democratic Government, (b)Non democratic Government

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Q2. Define democracy.

Ans. Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

Q3. Trace the origin of word ‘democracy’.

Ans. ‘Democracy’ has been derived from two Greek words- ‘demos’ and ‘cratia’. Demos means ‘the people’
and cratia means ‘rule’

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Q4. Name any two countries where monarchy prevails?

Ans.Nepal and Saudi Arabia.

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Q5. Define Referendum.

Ans. It is a direct vote in which entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal. This may result
in the adoption of a new law

Q6. State the events that led to the creation of dictatorship in Pakistan.

Ans
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 a. In Pakistan, General Parvej Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999.
b. He overthrew democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the
country.
c. Later he changed his designation to president and in 2002 held a referendum. He used dirty tricks and
malpractices to win the referendum.
d. In August, 2002 he issued an order to amend the constitution so that he could enjoy more powers.
e. The power to take final decision was given to military officers and General Parvez Musharraf.

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Q7. Why Pakistan under General Parvej Musharraf cannot be called democracy?

Ans. In Pakistan elected representative cannot take the final decisions. The power to take final decisions
was in the hands of army officials and General Musharraf who were not elected by the people. Pakistan
had an elected parliament and government. But the real power was with those who were not elected
this cannot be called as people’s rule. So, we cannot say Pakistan under General Musharraf as
democracy.

Q8. What is the name of Chinese Parliament?

ANS. Quanguo Renmin DiabiaoDahui (National People Congress).

Q9. Can you call China a democratic country? Give reasons in support of your answer.

ANS. No, we cannot say that China is a democratic country because it does not have free and fair elections.
People have to choose the ruling party and the candidate approved by it.

Reasons:
a. In China before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of Chinese community party or
eight smaller parties which are allied to it.
b. Only those who are the member of this party are allowed to contest the elections.
c. The china government is always formed by the communist party. This cannot be called free and fair
elections.

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Q10 What is PRI? State the tricks used by this party to win the elections in Mexico?

ANS. PRI stands for International Revolutionary Party. Till 2000, every election won by this party in
Mexico.

The government in Mexico cannot be called as democratic because –

a. All those who worked under government had to attend PRI meetings.
b. Teachers of government school forced parents to vote for PRI.
c. Media ignored the activities of the opposition party.
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 d. Some times the polling booths were shifted at the last moment, so it become difficult for the people to
caste their vote.

Q11. Name two countries where free and fair elections do not take place.

ANS. China and Mexico

Q12. What do you understand by Universal Adult Franchise?

ANS. Universal Adult Franchise is a system of election in which all the adult citizens, irrespective of the
caste, creed, religion or sex etc., have the right to vote.

Q13. Give examples of countries which deny equal voting rights to the citizens?

ANS.

i. In Saudi Arabia women do not have right to vote.

ii. Estonia has made its electoral system in such a way that it becomes difficult for a Russian
minority to vote.
iii. In Fizi, the electoral system in such a way that it becomes difficult for a Russian to vote.

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Q14. Why Zimbabwe cannot be called a democratic? Give reasons.

ANS.

a. In Zimbabwe, elections are held regularly, but won by only one party called Zanu- PF. The party
uses unfair practices in elections.
b. People in Zimbabwe cannot criticize the government.
c. The government ignored some court judgements.
d. The television, radio and the press are controlled by the government which is also against the
principles of democracy.

Q15. Write the main features of democracy.

ANS. In a democracy
a. The final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.
b. Democracy must be based on a free and fair elections where those currently in power have a fair
chance of losing.
c. Each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote have one value.
d. A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens right.

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Q16. Write some arguments against democracy.

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 OR
Write some flaws of democracy.

ANS.
a. Leaders keep changing in democracy this creates instability.
b. Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
c. So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.
d. Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decision.
e. It leads to corruption as it is based on electoral competition.

Q17. Give some arguments in support of democracy.

ANS.

a. A democratic government is better because it is a more accurate form of government.

b. Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
c. It provides a method to deal with difference and conflicts.
d. It enhances the dignity of the citizens.
e. It allows us to correct its own mistakes.

Q18. How does democracy provide a method to deal with differences and conflicts?

ANS. In any society people are bound to have differences of opinion and interests. The differences are
particularly sharp in a country like India which has a lot of social diversity. The preference of one
group can clash with others. Democracy provides us peaceful solution. No one is a permanent
winner or looser. Different groups can live together peacefully.

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Q19. Democracy is better than other governments. Give reasons to support your answers.

ANS.

a. The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long.
b. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and there is a room for correction.
Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers can be changed.
c. It cannot get everything and is not the solution to all the problems. But it is clearly better than
alternative.
d. It offers better chances of a good decision, it allows different kinds of people to live together.
e. Even when it fails to do some of these things. It allows a way of correcting its mistakes and
offers more dignity to all citizens.

That is why democracy is considered the best form of the government.

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OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1.Correct the statement and rewrite:

‘The word ‘Democracy’ comes from the French word demokratia.’

Ans: ‘The word ‘Democracy’ comes from the Greek word demokratia.’

Q.2.What kind of government is there in Myanmar?

(a) Government elected by the people (b) Communist government

(c) Army rule (d) Monarchy

Ans: (c) Army rule

Q.3. State whether True or False:

‘The head of the government in Nepal is the Prime Minister.’

Ans: False

Q.4 Who led a military coup in Pakistan in 1999?

(a) Benazir Bhutto (b) Nawaz Sharif

(c) Pervez Musharraf (d) None of the above

Ans: (c) Pervez Musharraf

Q.5 ‘One person, one vote’ means

(a) One person is to be voted by all (b) One person has one vote and each vote has one value

(c) A person can vote only once in his life (d) both (a) and (c)

Ans: (b) One person has one vote and each vote has one value

Q.6 How many members are elected to the National People’s Congress from all over China?

(a) 3050 (b) 3000 (c) 4000 (d) 2000

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Ans: (b) 3000

Q.7 Why Chinese government should not be called a democratic government even though

When elections are held there?

(a) Army participates in election

(b) Government is not accountable to the people

(c) Some parts of China are not represented at all

(d) Government is always formed by the Communist Party

Ans: (d) Government is always formed by the Communist Party

Q.8 Which party always won electis in Mexico since its independence in 1930 until 2000?

(a) Revolutionary Party (b) Mexican Revolutionary Party

(c) Institutional Revolutionary Party (d) Institutional Party

Ans: (c) Institutional Revolutionary Party

Q.9 Democracy must be based on

(a) One-party system (b) Free and fair election

(c) Choice from only the ruling party (d) All the above

Ans: (b) Free and fair election

Q.10 When did Zimbabwe attain independence and from whom?

(a) 1970, from Black minority rule (b) 1880, from White minority rule

(c) 1980, from Americans (d) 1980, from White minority rule

Ans: (d) 1980, from White minority rule

Q.11 Which party has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence and who is its ruler?

(a) ZANU-PF, Robert Mugabe (b) ZANU-PF, Kenneth Kaunda

(c) Zimbabwe Freedom Party, Nelson Mandela (d) Zimbabwe Party, P Johnson

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Ans: (a) ZANU-PF, Robert Mugabe

Q.12 which of these features is/are necessary to provide the basic rights to the citizens?

(a) citizens should be free to think (b) should be free to form associations

(c) should be free to raise protest (d) all the above

Ans: (d) all the above

Q.13 Correct the statement and rewrite:

‘Legislature as an organ of the government is required to protect the rights of the citizens.

Ans: ‘Judiciary as an organ of the government is required to protect the rights of the citizens.

Q.14 What is Constitutional Law?

(a) Provisions given in the Constitution (b) Law to make Constitution

(c) Law to set up Constituent Assembly (d) none of the above

Ans: (a) Provisions given in the Constitution

Q.15 Which of these is permitted under the Rule of Law?

(a) Prime Minister can be punished for violating the Constitution.

(b) Police has a right to kill anybody.
(c) Women can be paid lesser salaries
(d) President can rule for as long as he wants

Ans: (a) Prime Minister can be punished for violating the Constitution

Q.16 Some of the drawbacks of democracy is

(a) Instability and delays (b) corruption and hypocrisy

(c) Politicians fighting among themselves (d) all the above

Ans: (d) all the above

Q.17 In which period did China face one of the worst famines that have occurred in the world?

(a) 1932-36 (b) 1958-61 (c) 2001-2002 (d) 2004-2007

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Ans: (b) 1958-61

Q.18 A democratic government is better than a non-democratic government because

(a) It may or may not be accountable

(b) It always responds to the needs of the people
(c) It is a more accountable form of government
(d) None of the above

Ans:(c) It is a more accountable form of government

Q.19 Democracy improves the quality of decision-making because

(a) Decisions are taken by educated people

(b) Decisions are taken by consultation and discussion
(c) Decisions are taken over a long period of time
(d) All decisions are approved by judiciary

Ans: (b) Decisions are taken by consultation and discussion

Q.20 How does democracy allows us to correct its own mistakes?

(a) Mistakes are hidden and cannot be corrected

(b) Re-electing the same government to enable it to correct its mistakes
(c) The rulers can be changed
(d) none of the above

Ans: (c) The rulers can be changed

Q.21 The most common form that democracy takes in our time is that of

(a) limited democracy (b) representative democracy

(c) maximum democracy (d) Controlled democracy

Ans: (b) representative democracy

Q.22 Which body in Indian political system is an example of direct democracy?

(a) Zila Parishad (b) Panchayat Samiti (c) Gram Sabha (d) Vidhan Sabha

Ans: (c) Gram Sabha

Q.23 Which of these is an example of perfect democracy?

(a) USA (b) UK (c) India (d) None of the above

Ans: (d) None of the above

Q.24 Which of these is not a feature of monarchy, dictatorship or one-party rule?

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(a) Censorship of press (b) No opposition party or parties

(c) Citizens taking part in politics (d) One-man rule

Ans: (c) Citizens taking part in politics

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