We described some governments as
democratic and some as non-democratic.
We saw how governments in some of
those countries changed from one from to
the other.
The aim here is to understand
clearly the bare minimum feature of a
democratic form of government.
Some Important Term
Democratic country: A country where
the way a government is formed and the
manner in which it functions follow the
principles of democracy.
Dictatorship: A system of governance
in which all power vest with one person.
Direct Democracy: A system in which
all the adult citizens directly participate
in making laws and framing the policies.
Non Democratic country: A country
where the formation of government and
governance do not fallow any principles.
Representative democracy: Also called
democracy in this system adult voter
elect their representatives who conduct
the affairs of the state.
Fair election : A process of election
where those currently in power have a fair
chance to losing.
Democracy have many definition such as :
Democracy is the rule of the people, for
the people and by the people.
Democracy is a form of government in
which the ruler are elected by the people.
A democracy is one where the citizen have
right to elect government though free and
fair elections.
They enjoy certain civil liberties
guaranteed by constitution and protected by
the government.
In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a miliary coup in October 1999. He over
threw a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief
Executive’ of the country. Later he changed hi designation to President.
In August 2002 he issued a ‘Legal Framework order’ that amended the
constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the president can dismiss the
national or provincial assemblies.
The leader elected by the people have no power they cannot take an decision all
the powers are in the hands of General Musharraf and army officials. This cannot be
called people rule. If people rule should we there then power should we in the hand
of the elected people.
This gives us the first feature In a democracy the final decision making power
must rest with those elected by the people.
Mexico hold election after every six year to elect its president. The country has
never been under a military or dictator’s rule. But until 2000 every election was
won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). The PRI was known to
use many dirty tricks to bin election.
In the Mexican example, people seemed to really have a choice but in practice
they had no choice their was no way the ruling party could be defeated, even if
people were against it. These are not fair elections.
It should be possible for people to use the choice to remove the existing
rulers, if they wish so.
So, a democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those
currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
There are many instance of denial of equal right to vote :
In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.
Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to
Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.
In Fiji, the electoral system in such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more
value than that of an Indian-Fijian.
Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality. That
gives us the third feature of democracy: in a democracy, each adult citizen must
have one vote and each vote must have one value.
Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a democracy, but
it is not sufficient . Popular government can be undemocratic . Popular leader can be
autocratic. If we wish to accesses the democracy, it is important to look before and
after the elections. There should be political opposition, in the period before
elections. This requires that the state should respect some basic rights of the citizen.
They should be free to think, to have opinions, to express these in public, to form
associations, to protest and take other political actions. Everyone should be equal in
the eyes of law. These rights must be protected by an independent judiciary.
There are some condition according to which democratic government has to work. It
cannot do whatever it likes. It has to respect some basic rules.
These aspects give us the fourth and final feature of democracy: a democratic
government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights.
Through a series of examples we worked out four features of democracy
as a form of government. Accordingly, democracy is a form of government
in which:
Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the
current ruler.
This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal
basis.
The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules
of the constitution and citizens’ rights.
Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
Democracy is all about political competition and power play.
There is no scope for morality.
So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads
to delays.
Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It
leads to bad decisions.
Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral
competition.
Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them they should not
decide anything.
A democratic government is a better government because it
is a more accountable form of Government.
Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
Democracy provides a method to deal with differences AND
conflicts.
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
Democracy is better than other forms of government
because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.
Q.1 What is a representative
democracy? What is its importance?
Ans. Representative democracy is one in which people
elect their representatives to legislature. These
representative, in turn, form the government and
govern the country.
In this type of democracy, a government based on
majority is allowed to take decision on behalf of all
the people.
Representative democracy become necessary because
of the following reason :
1. Modern democracies involve such a large number
of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit
together and take collective decision.
2. Even if they could, the citizen dose not have the
time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the
decisions.
Q.2 “A democracy must be based in free and fair
election.” Elaborate.
Ans. The essence of democracy is that the rulers must be true
representative of the people. The representative are chosen
through election. Now, an election could have some
meaning and significance only if it has been held in a free
and fair manner.
A free election is one in which every person has an equal
right to vote and is able to vote without fear and threat
each one exercise his choice in a judicious manners.
A fair election is one in which those persons who are
currently in power have a fair chance of losing. If the
election process is rigged and manipulated in such a
manner that the result is a foregone conclusion, it dose not
constitute a fair election .
“China and Mexico, among many other countries are
illustrative examples where the ruling party has never lost
any election.”
These type of elections which are not free and fair are
against the sprit of democracy.
Q.3 How the universal Adult Franchise
was not accepted all over the world?
Ans .There are many instances of denial of
equal right to vote:-
(1)In Saudi Arabia women do not have the
right to vote.
(2)Estonia has made its citizenship rules in
such a way that people belonging to Russian
minority find it difficult to get the right to
vote.
(3)In Fiji, the electoral system is such that
the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more
value than that of an India – Fijian.
Q.4 Why is Zimbabwe not considered
a democratic country?
Ans. Zimbabwe not considered
a democratic country because
(1) In Zimbabwe, Elections are always
won by ZANU – PF, which uses
unfair means to remain in power.
(2) Criticism of government’s actions
is not allowed.
(3) The citizens have not right to
freedom of speech and expression.
Q.5 Distinguish between a nominal
democracy and an ideal
democracy.
Nominal democracy Ideal democracy
Ans.
A nominal An ideal democracy is
democracy, as we a system in which every
normally use the citizen must be able to
term, refer to the play equal role in the
system of decision making. For
governance which is this one does not need
run by the people’s equal right to vote.
elected Every citizen need to
representatives. have equal
information, basic
education and a lot of
commitment.
Q.6 What is the role of citizens in a
democracy?
Ans. No democracy can function in the absence
of socially responsible and informed citizens.
•Citizens maintain social harmony by mutually
respecting and tolerating difference and views of
all others who disagree with them.
•As citizen have a right to express their dissent,
they act as a director of the government when
they express their grievance through channels
provided by the democratic system.
•Citizens play a decisive role in the establishment
of a welfare government by participating and
seeking to influence the public opinion
•When the citizens exercise their right to vote, the
provide direction to the whole democratic
process.
Q.7 Why democracy called a government by
discussion and persuasion.
Ans. It is government by discussion because of the following
reasons:
•Policies matter are decided after through discussion; in the
absence of consensus, the majority view prevails.
•Majority view is respected and given due consideration
during the decision.
•Minority view is heard without being put down by force.
It is government by persuasion because of the following
reason:
•The opposition is encouraged to participate in debates about
government policies and programmes.
•During the decision, opponents are persuaded to accept the
government viewpoint.
•At times, the government itself may see merit in what the
opposition has to say and accept it.
Q.8 Who was general
Musharraf? What did he
done?
Ans. (a). General Musharraf was the
president of Pakistan.
(b). In October 1999, he engineered a
military coup which overthrew the
democratically elected government
and establish a military dictator
ship in Pakistan.
Q.9 State the four basic
feature of a democracy?
Ans. Basics feature of democracy are:
a)In a democracy, the ruler elected by the
people take all the major decisions.
b)Elections offer the people a choice and a
fair opportunity to change their rulers.
c) The right to vote is available to all
irrespective of caste, creed, sex or race.
d)The government rules within limits set
by constitutional law and citizen
rights.
Q.10 Mention four demerits of
democracy.
Ans. Demerits of democracy are:
a)Leaders keep changing in a democracy.
This led to 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 that
it led to delays.
d)It leads to corruption as it is based on
electoral competition.
Q.11 Why is democracy considered the
best form of government?
Ans. a) Democracy is the best form of government as
the ruler are accountable to the people and
have to fulfil their needs.
b)Democracy is based on consultation and
discussion. This reduces the chance of hasty
and irresponsible decision from being taking
and improve the quality of decision-making.
c)It provides a method to deal with differences
and conflicts especially in a diverse country
like India. Infact democracy helps to keep our
country together.
d)Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens as
it is based on the principle of political
equality.
Q.12 How can the principles of democracy be
applied to all spheres of life
Ans. a)The word democracy is the basic sense is a
method of taking decisions. A democratic
decision involves consultation with and the
consent of all those who are affected by the
decision.
b)Every individual irrespective of his wealth,
status and power has the same right in
decision making. This can equally apply to a
government, a family or any other
organization. Thus principle of democracy
can be applied to any sphere of life.
