1. Read the source given below and answer the question that follows. (previously asked questions)
In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. Several other parties may exist, contest elections and win a few seats in the national legislatures. But only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government. Such a party system is called two-party system. The United States of America and the United Kingdom are examples of two-party system. If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system. Thus in India, we have a multiparty system. In this system, the government is formed by various parties coming together in a coalition. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called an alliance or a front. For example, in India there were three such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections– the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front. The multiparty system often appears very messy and leads to political instability. At the same time, this system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.
Q.1 What is meant by two-party system (1)
Q.2 What is an alliance? (1)
Q.3 Write two drawbacks of Multi-party system? (2)
2. Read the source given below and answer the question that follows.
Political parties are easily one of the most visible institutions in a democracy. For most ordinary citizens, democracy is equal to political parties. If you travel to remote parts of our country and speak to the less educated citizens, you could come across people who may not know anything about our Constitution or about the nature of our government. But chances are that they would know something about our political parties. At the same time this visibility does not mean popularity. Most people tend to be very critical of political parties. They tend to blame parties for all that is wrong with our democracy and our political life. Parties have become identified with social and political divisions.
Q.1 Why are political parties considered one of the most visible institutions in a democracy? (1)
Q.2 What is one common perception people have about political parties? (1)
Q.3 Explain why political parties are considered both visible and criticized institutions in a democracy. (2)
3. Read the source given below and answer the question that follows.
We can also think about it by looking at the non-party based elections to the panchayat in many states. Although, the parties do not contest formally, it is generally noticed that the village gets split into more than one faction, each of which puts up a ‘panel’ of its candidates. This is exactly what the party does. That is the reason we find political parties in almost all countries of the world, whether these countries are big or small, old or new, developed or developing. The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As we have seen, large societies need representative democracy. As societies became large and complex, they also needed some agency to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government. They needed some ways, to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them. Political parties fulfill these needs that every representative government has. We can say that parties are a necessary condition for a democracy.
Q.1 Why do political parties play an important role in representative democracies? (1)
A) They ensure local issues are never addressed
B) They gather different views, form governments, and support or restrain the government
C) They prevent large societies from becoming complex
D) They stop any opposition to government policies
Q.2 How do political parties impact village panchayat elections in many states? (1)
A) They eliminate divisions among villagers
B) They create factions that support different panels of candidates
C) They formally contest every panchayat election
D) They do not influence panchayat elections
Q.3 Explain why political parties are considered a necessary condition for a democracy. (2)
4. Read the source given below and answer the question that follows.
Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. While the Commission treats all parties equally, it offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol – only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol. Parties that get
this privilege and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’. The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised party. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party. A party that
secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.
Q.1 What is required for a party to be recognised as a State party by the Election Commission? (1)
Q.2 What privilege is given to recognised political parties by the Election Commission? (1)
Q.3 Explain the criteria for a political party to be recognised as a national party by the Election Commission. (2)
5. Read the source given below and answer the question that follows.
Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties has expanded. This made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. No one national party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties. Since 1996, nearly every one of the State parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition government. This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy in our country
Q.1 What has been one significant outcome of the increased number and strength of political parties in India over the last three decades? (1)
A) A decrease in the diversity of the Parliament
B) National parties easily securing majorities in the Lok Sabha
C) Increased alliances between national and State parties
D) Elimination of coalition governments
Q.2 Since when have most State parties had the opportunity to be part of national-level coalition governments? (1)
A) Since 1990
B) Since 2000
C) Since 1996
D) Since 1985
Q.3 Explain how the rise in the number of political parties has impacted federalism and democracy in India. (2)