ELECTORAL POLITICS CBSE BOARD (Class IX Question answer)

Q1 What is election? Why do we need it?

 Ans

A mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so,  is called election.

In an election the voters make many choices:

■They can choose who will make laws for them.

■They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.

■ They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

Q2. What makes an election democratic?

Ans-

(i) Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.

(ii) Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters. (iii) The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held every few year.

(iv) The candidates preferred by the people should get elected.

(v) Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner, where people can choose as they walk

Q. 3. What are the merits and demerits of an electoral competition?

Ans. Merits:

(1) In an ideal world, all political leaders know what is good for the people and are motivated only by a desire to serve them.

(ii) Our constitution makers opted for free competition in elections as the way to select our future leaders, because this system works better in the long run.

(iii) Political leaders are motivated by a desire to advance in their political careers. They want to remain in power or get power and position for themselves for which, they can compete with other political parties.

Demerits:

(i) An electoral competition creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.

(ii) Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. 

(iii) Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.

Q4.  Explain General Elections and By- Elections ?

Ans.

Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held regularly, after every five years. 

• After five years, the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end.

• The Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stands dissolved.

• Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a 'general election'. 

Sometimes, elections are held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a member. This is called a 'by-election'. 

Q 5. What are 'reserved constituencies'? How many seats are reserved for  SCs and STs in Lok sabha?

Ans.

(i) Some constituencies are reserved for the people who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

(ii) In an SC-reserved constituency, only someone who belongs to the scheduled caste con stand for elections. 

(iii) Similarly, only those belonging to a scheduled tribe can contest elections from a constituency reserved for STs. 

(iv) Currently, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha.

Q6. Examine the need for reserved constituencies in India.

                                Or

Why were 'reserved constituencies' devised for the weaker sections by the makers of the Indian constitution?

(i) The constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assembly.

(ii) They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others.

(iii) Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections.

(iv) If that happens, our parliament and assemblies would be deprived of the voice of a significant section of our population.

(v) That would make our democracy less representative and less democratic.

Q6. Define Election Commission. Also mention it's powers and functions.

Ans

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body. It was established by the Constitution of India to conduct and regulate elections in the country.

■EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.

■It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.

■During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.

■When on election duty, govern- ment officers work under the con- trol of the EC and not the govern- ment.

Q7. What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?

Ans. Challenges to free and fair elections in India are as follows:

(i) Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.

(ii) In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to secure a 'ticket' from major parties.

(iii) Some families tend to dominate the political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.

(iv) Very often, elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens as both the major parties are similar to each other in their policies and practices.

(v) Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage as compared to the bigger parties.