Important Questions for Chapter 1 Democracy in the Contemporary World Class 9 Civics Social Science
Extra Questions for Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Democracy in the Contemporary includes all the important questions from the chapter which could be asked in the examination. With the help of these extra questions, students can effectively prioritize the topics for easier understanding. Class 9 Extra Questions will help you in understanding the latest pattern of the exams and improving marks in the examinations.
Class 9 Civics Chapter 1 Democracy in the Contemporary World Extra Questions
1. Who said these words, “Democracy is the rule of the people, for the people and by the people”?
Answer
Abraham Lincoln quoted the saying at the Gettysburg Address; His saying is often quoted as a definition of democracy.
2. Democracy comes from which Greek word?
Answer
The word "Democracy" comes from two Greek words: Demos meaning "People", and Kratos meaning "Power".
3. Name the ruling party of Syria.
Answer
The Baath Party
4. Which two countries of the world have allowed the ruling parties to contest elections?
Answer
China and Mexico
5. Name the country where women are not allowed to take part in elections.
Answer
Saudi Arabia
6. Name any one country of the world where there is no democracy.
Answer
Zimbabwe
7. What type of government would you like to have in your country?
Answer
Democracy. It is better to have a democratic form of government in my country as people select their government through free and fair elections and have a say in its functioning.
8. Name the ruler who had established dictatorship in Germany.
Answer
Adolf Hitler
9. What is PRI?
Answer
PRI is a political party of Mexico- Institutional Revolutionary Party. It was founded in 1929, that held power uninterruptedly in the country for 71 years from 1929 to 2000, first as the National Revolutionary Party, then as the Party of the Mexican Revolution.
10. What does referendum mean?
Answer
Referendum is the direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.
11. When did Pervez Musharraf come to power in Pakistan?
Answer
October 1999
12. Why are quality decisions always possible in a democracy?
Answer
Quality decisions are always possible in a democracy because democratic decisions always involve many persons, discussions and meetings. Everyone's views are heard and may be included leading to better output.
1. What amendments did Pervez Musharraf bring in the Constitution of Pakistan by issuing a legal framework order?
Answer
Amendments brought by Pervez Musharraf in the Constitution of Pakistan by issuing a legal framework order:
- In August 2002, General Musharraf issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan.
- According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
- The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers.
- After passing this law, elections were held and people elected representatives to the national and provincial assemblies. So Pakistan has had elections, and elected representatives have some powers. But the final power has been with military officers and General Musharraf himself.
Answer
Pakistan under General Pervez Musharaff was a non-democratic country due to following reasons:
- He amended the Constitution according to his own will and for his personal benefits.
- According to the amendments, he could dismiss the national and provincial assemblies.
- Pakistan has had elections, and elected representatives have some powers. But the final power has been with military officers and General Musharraf himself.
Answer
- In Saudi Arabia, women do not have the right to vote.
- Estonia had 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 is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.
Answer
The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections in Mexico.
- All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
- Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.
- Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them.
- Sometimes, the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes.
- The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.
5. How is the dignity of citizens enhanced in democracy?
Answer
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens in the following ways:
- Democracy is based on the principle of political equality, on recognizing that the poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated.
- People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.
- Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct. All the citizens are equal before the law.
Answer
Five features of Democratic government:
- People have political rights. They take part in an election process on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.
- Democratic government is accountable and responsive to the needs of people.
- There are free and fair elections. People participate in them without any restriction.
- People also participate in the functioning of decision making. They can protest or criticize the government.
- Representatives are elected for the fixed tenure of time.
- People are not subjects of the ruler; they are rulers themselves.
Answer
Five features of Non-Democratic government:
- People do not enjoy political rights or they have very limited rights.
- Elections are not held in a free and fair manner. People face many restrictions.
- People are not allowed to participate in the functioning of the government's decision making.
- The government is not accountable and responsive to the needs of people.
- People are never considered rulers or dignified citizens. They are treated as subjects.
Answer
Democracy provides various methods to deal with differences and conflict. Some of them are listed below:
- In any society, people are bound to have differences of opinion and interests. These differences are particularly sharp in country like ours which has an amazing social diversity.
- People speak different languages, belong to different regions, practise different religions and have different castes. They look at the world differently and have different preferences. These may lead to conflicts.
- The conflict can be resolved by brutal power, but that would lead to resentment and unhappiness.
- Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem. In democracy, no one is the permanent winner. No one is the permanent loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully
Answer
Democracy considered the best form of government because of the following reasons:
- Democracy provides the method to deal with differences and conflict.
- Democracy allows us to correct our own mistakes. It is a more accountable form of government.
- Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
- Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
10. How does democracy allow us to correct our own mistakes?
Answer
There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy. No form of government can guarantee that.
- The advantage in a democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long.
- There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. There is a room for correction.
- Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed.
Answer
Democracy improve the quality of decision making as it is based on consultation and discussion.
- A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings.
- When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision.
- This takes time. But there is a big advantage in taking time over important decisions. This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.
Answer
Conditions under which the government run after the elections:
- A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won an election.
- It has to respect some basic rules. In particular, it has to respect some guarantees to the minorities.
- Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations. Every office bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the Constitution and the law.
13. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in Zimbabwe? Explain.
Answer
Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in Zimbabwe:
- After attaining independence from Whites, Zimbabwe became independent in 1980. Robert Mugabe was elected President.
- However, the President has used some unfair practices in elections.
- The Constitution was altered to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.
- Opposition party workers are harassed and their meetings are disrupted.
- Public protests and demonstrations against the government are declared illegal.
- There is a law that limits the right to criticise the President.
- Television and radio are controlled by the government and only give the government's version.
- The government also suppresses some court judgments that went against it and has pressurised judges.
Answer
Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in Pakistan.
- In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country.
- Later he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five- year extension.
- Pakistani media, human rights organisations and democracy activists said that the referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.
- 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 and provincial assemblies. The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers.
- After passing this law, elections were held to the national and provincial assemblies. So Pakistan has had elections, elected representatives have some powers. But the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf himself.
15. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in China? Explain.
Answer
Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in China. Electoral procedure is not democratic in China.
- The national People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of country.
- Before contesting elections, the candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
- Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2001-03.
- The government is always formed by Communist party.
16. How far is it correct to say that respect for citizen’s rights was not followed in Mexico? Explain.
Answer
Yes, it is correct to say that respect for citizens' rights was not followed in Mexico. Elections procedure is not democratic.
- The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win the elections.
- All those who are employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
- Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for PRI.
- Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.
- Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes.
- The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.
17. Why is representative democracy necessary?
Answer
Representative democracy is the most common form of democracy. It is necessary because:
- In the countries we call democracy, all the people do not rule. A majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people. Even the majority does not rule directly. The majority of people rule through their elected representatives.
- This form of democracy is necessary because the population of modern democratic states is very large and it is physically impossible for each member to participate in the decision making process.
- Even if they could sit together, they do not have the time, desire, experience for participating in decision making process.
What are the features of a good democracy?
- Every citizen must be able to play an equal role in decision making.
- An equal right to vote is not enough; people need to have equal information, basic education, and equal resources.
- Good democracy will come only when no one goes hungry to bed.
- When every person has employment and accessibility to basic needs, we can say that we are led by a good democratic government.
5 Marks Questions
1. Name any two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be considered as democratic countries. Explain.Mexico and China are two countries where elections are held regularly but they cannot be considered as democratic countries.
- They have to choose the ruling party and the candidates approved by it.
- In China, before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
- People have no choice. The government is always formed by the Communist party. This is against the democratic system of elections.
- All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
- Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.
- Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them.
- Sometimes, the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their votes.
- The PRI spent a large sum of money in the campaign for its candidates.
- This is against the democratic system of elections.
- Robert Mugabe was the leader of ZANU-PF.
- President Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country of Zimbabwe since independence. Elections have been held regularly and have been always won by ZANU-PF.
- President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections.
- Over the years, his government has changed the Constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.
- Opposition party workers are harassed and their meetings are disrupted.
- Public protests and demonstrations against the President are declared illegal.
- There is a law that limits the right to criticize the President.
- Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling party's version.
- There are independent newspapers but the government harasses the journalists who go against it.
- Robert Mugabe's government has also ignored some court judgments that went against it and pressurized some judges.
- In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country.
- He changed the designation to President and in 2002, held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension.
- Pakistani media human rights organizations and democracy activities said that the referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.
- 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 and provincial assemblies.
- The work of the civilian cabinet was supervised by the National Security Council which is dominated by military officers.
- There were many elections and people elected their representatives to national and provincial assemblies, but the real power was in the hands of the General. Hence, this was not a true democratic government.
The government made by Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico was not a democratic government. It works against the principles of democracy:
- The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win the elections.
- All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
- Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for PRI.
- Opposition parties did contest elections but never managed to win.
- Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticize them.
- Sometimes the polling booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for people to cast their vote.
- The PRI spent a large amount of money in the campaign for its candidates.
- 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.
Democracy is based on consultation and discussion:
- A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions and meetings.
- When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision.
- This takes time. But there is a big advantage in taking time over important decisions. This reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.
- Thus, democracy improves the quality of decision making.