Concept of Representation
Short Questions
1. What is meant by representation in a democracy?
Answer : Representation refers to people electing individuals to govern on their behalf.
2. What is a direct democracy?
Answer : A system where people directly govern themselves, as in ancient Greek city-states.
3. What is an indirect democracy?
Answer : A system where people elect representatives to govern, also called representative democracy.
4. What was the Divine Right of Kings?
Answer : A belief that monarchs were chosen by God to rule.
5. What is the House of Commons?
Answer : The oldest representative assembly in the United Kingdom.
6. What was the significance of the Government of India Act, 1935?
Answer : It established predominantly elected provincial legislatures in India.
7. What is the First Past the Post system?
Answer : A system where the candidate with the most votes wins, used in India’s Lok Sabha elections.
8. What is adult franchise?
Answer : The right of all adult citizens to vote, regardless of gender or status.
9. What are political parties?
Answer : Organized groups with shared views aiming to gain power through elections.
10. What is a pressure group?
Answer : An interest group that influences government policy without contesting elections.
Long Questions
1. Explain the difference between direct and indirect democracies.
Answer : Direct democracy involves people governing themselves, as in ancient Athens, while indirect democracy involves electing representatives to govern, as in modern India, due to large populations and areas.
2. How did representative assemblies originate in medieval Europe?
Answer : Monarchs convened gatherings of elected individuals to approve taxes, leading to assemblies like the House of Commons, which later demanded a share in decision-making.
3. What role did the English Civil War play in the development of representation?
Answer : The English Civil War (1640s) marked the UK’s shift toward a constitutional monarchy, reducing monarchic power and strengthening representative assemblies.
4. How did India’s representation system evolve under British rule?
Answer : Starting with nominated members in 1861, India saw elected assemblies by 1935, culminating in universal adult franchise in 1950 with the Constitution.
5. What is the significance of the Single-Transferable Vote system in India?
Answer : Used in Rajya Sabha elections, it allows voters to rank candidates, ensuring proportional representation based on vote preferences.
6. Why is the right to vote important in a democracy?
Answer : The right to vote ensures all citizens, including women and marginalized groups, can choose representatives, making governance inclusive and accountable.
7. How do political parties function as channels of representation?
Answer : Political parties contest elections, present programs based on their ideology, and represent voters’ aspirations in decision-making at various levels.
8. What distinguishes national political parties from state parties in India?
Answer : National parties secure votes across multiple states and win seats in the Lok Sabha, while state parties focus on regional influence, as per Election Commission criteria.
9. How do pressure groups differ from social movements?
Answer : Pressure groups have a formalized structure and focus on specific issues, while social movements, like the Chipko Movement, lack formal organization and pursue broader causes.
10. What is the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in representation?
Answer : NGOs advocate for specific causes like child development or environmental issues, representing public concerns through nonviolent means outside the government system.
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