Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Questions and Answers What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

CBSE Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Questions What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Pdf free download are part of Extra Questions for Class 9 Social Science. Here we have given NCERT Extra Questions for Class 9 Social Science SST Civics Chapter 2 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?.

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NCERT Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Questions and Answers What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

SOLVED QUESTION BANK

Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]

Question 1.
How does Abraham Lincoln define democracy?
Answer:
Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Question 2.
Describe the origin of the word democracy.
Answer:
Democracy has its origin in the Greek word ‘Demokratia. ‘Demos’ means people and ‘Kratia’ means rule. So it means rule by the people.

Question 3.
Give one common feature of democratic governments.
Answer:
One common feature is that people elect their representatives on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.

Question 4.
What is a referendum? [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
A referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. It may be adoption of a new constitution, a law or a specific governmental policy.

Question 5.
The kings of Nepal and Saudi Arabia are ruling even than they are undemocratic. Why?
Answer:
It is because they happened to be born into the royal families.

Question 6.
When did Pervez Musharraf come to power in Pakistan?
Answer:
Pervez Musharraf came to power in Pakistan by a military coup in October 1999.

Question 7.
How did Pervez Musharraf declare himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country?
Answer:
In October 1999, he led a military coup to overthrow a democratically-elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country.

Question 8.
What major political incident happened in Pakistan in the year 2002?
Answer:
A referendum was held in the country in 2002. It granted Pervez Musharraf five year extention as President.

Question 9.
What do you mean by ‘Legal Framework Order’?
Answer:
It was an order issued by General Musharraf empowering him to dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.

Question 10.
Which body supervised the civilian cabinet according to Legal Framework Order?
Answer:
The National Security Council dominated by military officials supervised the civilian cabinet.

Question 11.
What happened after the passage of the Legal Framework Order?
Answer:
After the passage of the Legal Framework Order, elections were held to the national and state assemblies. The representatives were elected by the people.

Question 12.
Who took the final decisions in Pakistan after the elections?
Answer:
The final decisions was taken by the army and General Musharraf.

Question 13.
Why is Pakistan not considered a democratic country even after having elections?
Answer:
Despite elections to the national and provincial assemblies, the final powers rested with General Musharraf and military officers.

Question 14.
Give another example where real powers were not exercised by the people’s elected representatives.
Answer:
The role of USSR in communist Poland and the US in contemporary Iraq were some examples.

Question 15.
How do people elect their representatives in China?
Answer:
In China elections are held after every five years for electing the country’s Parliament called National People’s Congress.

Question 16.
Which type of party system is there in China?
Answer:
China has one-party system.

Question 17.
Who appoints the President of China? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The President of China is appointed by about 3,000 members of the National People’s Congress.

Question 18.
Which members are allowed to contest the election in China?
Answer:
Only the members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002-03. The Communist Party always forms the government.

Question 19.
After how many years does Mexico hold elections for electing the President? [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds elections after every’ six years for electing the President.

Question 20.
What was PRI?
Answer:
It was a political party of Mexico called Institutional Revolutionary Party. The PRI won every election until 2000. ”

Question 21.
Why was every election won by PRI in Mexico?
Answer:
PRI managed to win every election mainly through unfair means. They spent a lot of money in campaigning for its candidates and forced people to vote for them.

Question 22.
How can we say that people in Mexico did not have any choice in the elections?
Answer:
These was no choice for people in Mexico. There was no way PRI could be defeated, even if the . people were against it. The elections were not fair.

Question 23.
In which country women do not have the right to vote until 2015?
Or
Who does not have the right to vote in Saudi Arabia? [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Until 2015, women do not have the right to vote in Saudi Arabia.

Question 24.
Name the country where the minorities find it difficult to get the right to vote.
Answer:
In Estonia, the Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.

Question 25.
Which party of Zimbabwe led the struggle for independence? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe led the struggle for independence.

Question 26.
Who was the President of Zimbabwe since independence?
Or
Robert Mugabe is the president of which country? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
The President of Zimbabwe was Robert Mugabe.

Question 27.
How did the ruling party in Zimbabwe deal with the opposition party?
Answer:
Opposition party meeting got disrupted and their workers were harassed.

Question 28.
How can you say that media is not independent in Zimbabwe?
Answer:
Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling party’s version. The government also harasses those journalists who go against it.

Question 29.
When was Robert Mugabe forced out of office?
Answer:
In 2017 he was forced out of office.

Question 30.
What do you derive from a democratic government like the one in Zimbabwe?
Answer:
Popular governments can be undemocratic and popular leaders can be autocratic.

Question 31.
Which factors, barring at the elections must be considered to assess democracy?
Answer:
To keep a vigilant eye before and after the election is also required to assess democracy.

Question 32.
What basic rights were given by state to citizens to ensure democracy before elections?
Answer:
The state should respect the basic rights of the citizens which include freedom to think, to have opinions, to express these in public, to form associations, to protest and take other political actions.

Question 33.
Who is responsible to protects the basic rights given by state?
Answer:
The judiciary protects the basic rights.

Question 34.
To whom is the ruling party accountable?
Answer:
The ruling party is accountable to the people. .

Question 35.
What limits a democratic government’s power to make rules?
Answer:
The constitutional laws and citizens’ rights limit the democratic government.

Question 36.
Which is the most preferred form of government in the world?
Answer:
Democracy is the most preferred form of government in the world.

Question 37.
Point out one non-democratic feature of democracy. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.

Question 38.
In which condition does democracy lead to bad decisions?
Answer:
When elected leaders are unaware of the best interests of the people, it leads to bad decisions.

Question 39.
List the cause for delay in decision-making.
Answer:
Involving many people in the decision-making and taking their consent lead to delay in decision-making in democracy.

Question 40.
In which period did China record its worst famine?
Answer:
China’s famine of 1958-1961 was the worst-recorded famine in the world history.

Question 41.
Mention the advantage of involving many persons in decision-making.
Answer:
The advantage is that it reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Question 42.
What is the basic sense behind taking a decision in democracy?
Answer:
In a democracy decision-making involves consultations and the consent of all those who are affected by that decision.

Question 43.
A democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. How?
Answer:
Democracy provides political equality to all recognising that the poor, the rich, the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated.

Question 44.
How does democracy allow us to correct our mistakes?
Answer:
In a democracy there is room for public discussions on government’s rules or mistakes and there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers can be changed.

Question 45.
What is a representative democracy?
Answer:
It is a form of democracy where the majority of people rule through their elected representatives.

Question 46.
Why is the representative democracy considered the most common form of democracy?
Answer:
A large number of people in democracies can’t sit together and take decisions collectively, so representative democracy is the most common in practise.

Question 47.
What is direct democracy?
Answer:
Direct democracy is also known as pure democracy. It is one in which entire people decide e.g. vote form consensus on policy initiative directly, e.g Switzerland.

Question 48.
Which forms of governments do not require all citizens to take part in politics?
Answer:
Governments like monarchy, dictatorships and one-party rule do not require all citizens to take part in politics.

Question 49.
Mention the constraints of citizens if they have an option to take part in decision-making.
Answer:
A citizen does not have time, desire or skills to take part in decision-making.

Short Answer Type Questions [3 Marks]

Question 50.
What is democracy? Give examples of non-democratic countries?
Answer:.
Democracy is a form of government where leaders are elected by the people.
The examples of non-democratic countries are:

Army rulers of Myanmar are not elected by the people i.e. those who are in the government are not elected by the people. People have no say in the government.
Pinochet like dictators in Chile was not elected by the people.
The king ruled in Saudi Arabia and Nepal because he bom in a royal family.

Question 51.
What amendent did General Peraz Musharraf bring in the constitution of Pakisthan by issuing a “Legal Framework Order” in August 2002?
Answer:
The Legal Framework Order, 2002, By General Musharraf amending the constitution of Pakistan was as follows:

The President could dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.
The work of the civilian cabinet was to be supervised by a National Security Council headed by military officers.
Elections were to be held to the national and state assemblies. But the final powers rested with military officers and General Musharraf.

Question 52.
Compare the democratic system in China with that in Mexico.
Answer:

System in China	System in Mexico
(a) In China elections do not offer any choice.	(a) In Mexico the people seem to have a choice but practically they did not have any choice.
(b) People have to choose the ruling party and the candidates approved by it.	(b) There was no way the ruling party could be defeated even if the people were against it.

Question 53.
Mention three instances which are exceptions of the principle of one person, one vote and one value.
Or
Write any three instances of denial of equal right to vote in the world politics. [CBSE 2010]
Answer:
Democracy is based on the basic principle of political equality. In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote has one value. Three instances where this is denied are:

In Saudi Arabia, the women are not given the right to vote.
In Estonia, the citizenship rules are made in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.
In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fiji an has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

Question 54.
Explain with an example how popular governments can be undemocratic and popular leader can be autocratic.
Or
ZANU-PF wins the elections every five years in Zimbabwe. Are the leaders of ZANU-PF close to the values of democracy? Explain. [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Since its independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has been ruled by ZANU-PF and Robert Mugabe as its leader. The leaders of ZANU-PF were not close to the values of democracy in the following ways:

Elections have been held regularly and 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 make the President more powerful and less accountable.
Opposition party workers are harassed and their meetings disrupted. Public protests and demonstrations against the government are declared illegal.
Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the government’s version.
(any three)

Question 55.
Mention three essential features of democracy. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The three essential features of democracy are as follows:

In a democracy, the final decision-making power must be with those elected by the people.
A democracy must be based on free and fair elections where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
In a democracy each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote have one value.
A democratic government rules within the limits set by the constitutional law and citizen’s rights.
(any three)
Independent newspapers and were journalists/harassed when write against the President.

Question 56.
“China’s famine of 1958-61 was a result of government policies.” Explain.
Answer:

China’s famine of 1958-61 was the world’s worst recorded famine in the world history. Nearly three crore of people died in this famine. During this time India was not much better than China yet it did not face such a famine.
According to economists, it was the result of different government policies in the two countries. The existence of democracy in India made it respond to food security in a way that the Chinese government did not.
If China had a multi-party system then it would have been checked by the opposition and if the press was free to criticise the government then so many people would not have died.

Question 57.
How does democracy improve the quality of decision-making? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Democracy improve the quality of decision-making in the following ways:

Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. In a democracy, decision-making 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 procedure takes time. But there is a big advantage in taking time over important decisions as it prevents one from taking rash or irresponsible decisions.

Question 58.
Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. Explain. [HOTS]
Answer:

In any society, people are bound to have difference of opinion and interests. These are particularly
sharp in India which has an amazing social diversity.
People belong to different regions, speak different languages, practise different religions, have different castes. The preferences of one group may clash with those of others.
This clash of decisions can be solved by brutal power. Whichever group is more powerful will dictate its terms and others will have to accept that. But this will lead to resentment.
But in a democracy, one can find a solution to this. Here no one is a permanent winner. No one is a permanent loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully e.g. In India different people live together.

Question 59.
How does democracy enhance the dignity of the citizens?
Answer:

Democracy is based on the principle of political equality stating that the poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated.
People are not the subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.
Even when they make mistakes they are responsible for their own mistakes.
Thus, democracy enhances the dignity of the citizens.

Question 60.
Why is democracy considered the best form of government?
Answer:
Democracy is considered the best form of government for the reasons as follow:

Democracy cannot give us everything but it is clearly better than any other alternative. It is a government responsive to the needs of the people.
It is likely to respect people’s wishes and allows different kinds of people to live together.
Even when it fails to do some of these things, it allows ways of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all its citizens. That is why its is considered the best form of government.

Question 61.
What according to you is the broader meaning of democracy?
Or
What do you understand by the “broader meaning of democracy”? Explain in three points.
Answer:

Democracy is a form of government in which people’s representatives sit together to take decisions.
Elections are held to choose the representatives and native people or citizens are allowed to participate in the elections.
Democracy, as a principle, can be applied to any sphere of life. In a true democracy no one goes to bed hungry, or denied equal information, basic education and equal resources.

Question 62.
What is the role of citizens in a democracy?
Answer:
No democracy can function in the absence of socially responsible and informed citizens.

Citizens maintain social harmony by mutually respecting and tolerating differences and views of all others who disagree with them.
As citizens have the right to express their dissent, they act as a director to the government where they express their grievances through channels provided by the democratic system.
Citizens also play a decisive role in the establishment of a welfare government by participating and seeking to influence public opinion.
When the citizens exercise their right to vote, they provide directions to the whole democratic process.

Long Answer Type Questions [5 Marks]

Question 63.
Compare the features of Democratic and non-democratic governments.
Answer:

Democratic Government	Non-Democratic Government
(a) Only these elected by the people, rule the country. The electorate choose their representatives at the time of election.	(a) People can not choose their rulers or change them. They are either military dictators or hereditary rulers e.g. in Myanmar and in Saudi Arabia.
(b) Citizens enjoy various freedoms like freedom of expression or freedom to form associations.	(b) People do not have any freedom. They cannot criticise the government. They cannot form associations.
(c) Major decisions are taken by the elected leaders.	(c) People may not have any elected representatives e.g. in Pakistan. Even if they elect they cannot take final decisions. The decisions are taken by their leaders (dictators and monarchs).
(d) A democratic government is based on free and fair elections where those in power have a fair chance of losing.	(d) There are no free and fair elect’ons e.g. In China only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party are allowed to contest elections and form the government.
(e) In a democracy, each adult has one vote and each vote has one value. There is political equality.	(e) There are many instances of denial of political equality e.g. Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia women are denied the right to vote.
(f) A democratic government functions within the limits set by the constitutional laws and citizens’ rights.	(f) A non-democratic government can do whatever it likes, e.g. Robert Mugabe, a popular leader became an autocratic ruler. He also changed the constitution to because more powerful and less accountable. (any five)

Question 64.
What steps were taken by Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe to remain in power?
Answer:

Robert Mugabe’s government made changes in the constitution to make him more powerful and less accountable.
Opposition party workers were harassed and their meetings were disrupted.
Protests by public and demonstration were declared illegal.
He made laws to limit the right to criticise the President.
The media too has been forced to write and speak in favour of the ruling party. Independent newspaper and journalists were harassed when write against the President.

Question 65.
Describe the arguments against democracy;
Answer:
The major arguments against democracy are:

Leaders keep changing in a democracy which leads to instability.
Democracy is all about political competition and power play. These is no morality.
So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays in decision-making.
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 politics or competition.
Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them, they should not decide anything, (any five)

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