EVENTS CONVENT HIGH
SCHOOL
Social
Science Civics
Chapter 4 Electoral Politics
1. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections
are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Answer: (c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian
elections are democratic?
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
(b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
(d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Answer: (a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
3. Match the following:
|
(a) It is necessary to keep the voters’ list up to date
because |
(iv) some people may have moved away from the area where
they voted last |
|
(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so
that |
(i) there is a fair representation of all sections of our
society |
|
(c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that |
(ii) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their
representatives |
|
(d) Party in power is not allowed to use government
vehicles because |
(iii) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing
in elections |
4. List all the different election-related activities mentioned in the chapter
and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and
ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below: releasing
election manifestos; counting of votes; making of voters’ list; election
campaign; declaration of election results; casting of votes; ordering of
re-poll; announcing election schedule; filing nomination.
Answer:Making of voters’ list → Announcing election schedule → Releasing
election manifesto → Election campaign → Filing nomination → Casting of votes →
Ordering of re-poll → Counting of votes → Declaration of election results.
5. Surekha is an
officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly
constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on for each of the
following stages of election:
(a) Election campaign
(b) Polling day
(c) Counting day
Answer:(a) She will have to focus on various duties such as ensure that
candidates cannot bribe or threaten voters, expenditure limit is not crossed by
a candidate, candidates not appeal to voters in the name of religion or caste,
they not use worship place for a campaign or use any government resources.
b) She will have to crosscheck the
voters’ list and check the ID proof of the voters, booth capturing not take
place. Ensure that Free and fair elections should be conducted.
(c) She has to look on counting is
carried out, representatives of all parties present at the counting area in
order to avoid malpractices,
6. The table below
gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won
elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these
communities in the population of the US. Based on this, would you suggest a
system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which
communities? If no, why not?
Answer:
Blacks and Hispanics should be given reservation in the US Congress as per
their percentage in the US population.
7. Can we draw the following conclusions from the information
given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of
these.
Answer: (a) The Election Commission of India is powerful enough to
conduct free and fair elections:
It implements the code of conduct and punishes any
candidate or party that violates it.
In Elections, Government officials work under the EC and
not the government.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections:
Voter turnout has increased over the past years.
Election-related activities in the last few years have seen
larger participation by the people.
(c) It is not very easy for the party in power to win an election:
The ruling parties routinely lose elections.
Candidates who are known to spend a lot of money often lose
elections.
(d) Certain Reforms are necessary to make our elections completely free and
fair:
To ensure that independents and small parties not
suffer in elections.
To ensure candidates with criminal records not participate.
8. Chinappa was convicted of torturing his wife for dowry.
Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow
either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the
principles of democratic elections?
Answer:This decision does not go against the principles of democratic elections. Any
person who is convicted for a crime has not right to remain a part of the
society and hence has no right to contest the election.
9. Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the
world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve
their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
Answer:(a) In this case, representatives of each candidate should be
present to make sure that the votes are counted in a fairway.
(b) The election commission should set up an inquiry into the case and debar
the candidate or party involved in distributing such pamphlets.
(c) There should be a single election commission which should be free from
political influence and should be responsible for conducting elections
throughout the country.
Que 10. Here are some
reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each
case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
Answer:(a) After the announcement of the election, it is not legal to
announce policy decisions according to the Code of Conduct. The minister should
be immediately taken to task by the Election Commission.
(b) The election commission must
ensure that all political parties are given equal opportunity to appear on
Doordarshan and All India Radio. EC takes action against the misuse of this media.
(c) The presence of the fake voters means that the elections were rigged
by the authorities who prepared the electoral rolls. The election commission
should supervise the preparation of fresh electoral rolls.
(d) By using hoodlums, the political party is terrorizing its rivals. The
election commission should order the arrest of the hoodlums and bar the party
from the elections.
11. Ramesh
was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and
repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong
with these statements?
Answer:(a) The statement is wrong because the policy of
secret ballot ensures that an individual can vote for whoever he/she wants.
Women are fully capable of taking decisions on their own and selecting the
candidate they like.
b) Competition works as both deterrent and motivator for the political
candidates. Fear of losing the election and motivation for winning the
elections works in favour of people.
(c) Educational qualification is not required to understand the people’s
needs, and to represent their interests. Therefore, it is not necessary for
politicians to be graduates.
