PYQ 3M Power sharing 2

 16. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian

policies adopted by the Sri Lankan Government.

Ans : [CBSE 2012]

Consequences of majoritarian policies adopted by Sri

Lankan Government were:

a. Tamils felt the government was not sensitive about

Tamil language and culture because Sinhala was

declared the official language.

b. Tamils felt discriminated against securing jobs

and education which were given preferentially to

the Sinhala speakers.

c. Tamils felt the government was practising

religious discrimination because the State

fostered Buddhism. Relations between Tamils and

Sinhalese became strained.

17. Which three demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils

accepted and met with, can settle the ethnic conflict

in Sri Lanka for good? Explain. [CBSE 2012]

or

18. Mention any three demands of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Ans : [CBSE 2012]

Demands of the Tamils:

1. Recognition of Tamil as an official language.

2. Equal opportunities for Tamils in government

jobs and educational institutions.

3. Provincial autonomy for Tamil dominated

provinces.

19. Compare the different ways in which the Belgians

and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the problem of

cultural diversity. [CBSE 2012, 2011]

Ans :

The Belgian leaders recognised the existence of

regional and cultural diversities.

a. They amended their Constitution four times so

as to work out an innovative arrangement that

would enable everyone to live together in peace

and harmony, i.e., there was sharing of power

between the Dutch and the French both in the

Central Government, State Government and

Community Government. They followed a policy

of accommodation.

b. This helped to avoid civic strife and division of

the country on linguistic lines.

c. On the other hand, the Sinhalese who were

in majority in Sri Lanka as compared to the

Tamils followed a policy of majoritarianism and

adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala

Supremacy by passing an Act of 1956. These

measures alienated the Tamils leading to civic

strife between the two communities.

20. Give reasons why power sharing is desirable.

[CBSE S.R 2015,2012]

or

Why power sharing is necessary in democracy?

Explain.

 [CBSE 2011]

or

Write one prudential and one moral reason for power

sharing. [CBSE 2011]

or

Why is power sharing desirable? Explain moral

reasons in this regard. [CBSE 2012]

or

Why power sharing is desirable? Explain giving any

three prudential reasons.

[CBSE 2012]

Ans :

Power sharing is desirable in democracy because:

(i) Prudential reasons:

(a) It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict

between social groups. Since social conflict

often leads to violence and political instability.

(b) It is a good way to ensure the stability of

political order.

(c) Imposing the will of majority community over

others may look like an attractive option in the

short run, but in the long run it undermines

the unity of the nation.

(ii) Moral reasons:

(a) Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.

A democratic rule involves sharing power

with those affected by its exercise and who

have to live with its effect (b) People have a right to be consulted on how

they are to be governed.

(c) A legitimate government is one where citizens

through participation, acquire a stake in the

system.

21. Describe horizontal and vertical power sharing in

modern democracies.

or

Differentiate between horizontal and vertical division

of powers. [CBSE 2011]

or

What is horizontal distribution of power? Mention its

any two advantages. [CBSE S.R 2016-17, 2012]

or

Why is horizontal distribution of power Often referred

to as a system of “checks and balances”? Explain.

[CBSE 2012]

Horizontal Division of

Power

Vertical Division of of

power

1 Horizontal division of

power is such a power

sharing arrangement in

which power is shared

among different organs

of government, such as

legislature, executive

and judiciary.

In vertical division

of powers, power can

be shared among

governments at

different levels like

union, state and local

levels of government,

i.e., it involves higher

and lower levels of the

government.

2 In horizontal division

of power, different

organs of government

exercise different

powers. This is a

concept of separation

of powers.

In vertical division of

powers, constitution

clearly lays down the

power of different levels

of the government.

3 Horizontal distribution

specifies the concept

of checks and balances

in order to check the

exercise of unlimited

powers of the organs.

There is no concept of

checks and balances,

because powers are

clearly given by the

constitution from the

higher level to the

lower level.

22. In modern democracies, power is often shared among different organs of the government. Explain.

Ans : [CBSE 2011]

Power is shared between different organs of the government such as Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This system of power sharing is referred

to as a system of‘checks and balances’ because: All three organs are placed at the same level of power.

The power distribution ensures that no organ enjoys unlimited powers. Each organ exercises a check on the others. Thus there is a balance of power.

23. Explain how power is shared among different organs of the government. [CBSE 2011]

Ans :

Power is shared among different organs of government i.e., Legislature, Executive and Judiciary a. Legislature: The legislature is concerned with passing the laws, controlling the finances of

the state and delivering on matter of public

importance.

b. Executive: The executive machinery implements the policies of the government and executes the rules made by the legislature bodies.

c. Judiciary: The judiciary is concerned with the interpretation of the laws and has the power to punish those who commit crimes or break the

laws. The judiciary can also check the functioning of the executives.