A simple Definition: Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY

The rulers are elected by the people.

Free and competitive elections are held.

Each adult irrespective of religion, education, caste, color, wealth have one vote, one value.

The elected rulers take decisions within limits set by constitutional law and citizens rights.

Rule of Law.

The rights of the citizens must be protected through Constitution.

There must be an independent judiciary.

MAJOR DECISIONS BY ELECTED LEADERS

In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999 and overthrew dramatically
elected government and became President of the country.

In 2002, he held a referendum in the country which was based on malpractices and fraud granted him
a five year extension.

After passing law, 'Legal Framework Order' which gave the president power to dismiss the national
and provincial assemblies, elections were held to the national and provincial assemblies.

In this case, Pakistan has had elections, elected representatives have some powers. But the final
power rests with military officers and General Musharraf himself. So, this should not be called a
democracy.

In a democracy, the final decision making power must rest with those elected by the people.

FREE AND FAIR ELECTORAL COMPETITION

In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country's Parliament called
National People's Congress.

Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.

The government is always formed by the Communist Party.

Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President.

But until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win as PRI was known to use many
dirty tricks to win elections.

Both the cases should not be called a democracy.

A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair
chance of losing.

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE

There are many instances of denial of equal right to vote.

In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.

Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it
difficult to get the right to vote.

In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an
Indian Fijian.

In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.

RULE OF LAW AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS

Since Independence, Zimbabwe ruled by Zanu-PF.

Its leader, Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country. He is popular but also uses unfair practices in
elections.

Elections have been held regularly and always won by Zanu PF.

Opposition party workers are harassed and their meeting disrupted.

Public protests and demonstrations against the government and given only the ruling party's version.

Independent newspapers are there but the government harasses those journalists who go against it.

The government has ignored some court judgements that went against it and has pressurized judges.

In this case, government is not democratic as there is no citizen basic rights, no political opposition, no
judiciary.

A democratic government rule within limits set by constitutional law and citizen's rights.

WHY DEMOCRACY?

Arguments against Democracy

Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to stability.

So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays.

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 competition.

Ordinary people don't know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.

Arguments for Democracy

A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of

Democracy improves the quality of decision making.

Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.

Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.

Democracy allows us to correct its own mistakes.

BROADER MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

The most common form that democracy takes in our times is that of a representative democracy
where majority is allowed to take decisions on behalf of all the people.

The majority of people rule through their elected representatives.

A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that
decision.

Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life.

Democracy can apply to a government or a family or any other organisation.

Definitions:

Referendum: A general vote by the electorate on a single political issue which has been referred to
them for a direct decision.

Cabinet: The committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government policy.

Dictatorship: A form of government in which a person or a group of persons possesses absolute power
without effective constitutional limitations.

Morality: Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong.

Q1. Write 3 arguments in favour of Dmocracy.

· Democratic government is the more accountable form of government. A democracy requires that
the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people.

· Democracy is based on consultation and discussion which improves the quality of decision
making.

· Democracy is based on the principle of political equality and enhances the dignity of citizens.

· It allows to correct our own mistakes. In democracy there is always a scope that the rulers can
change their wrong decision or the rulers themselves can be changed.

Q2. Is China a democratic country or not? Give your arguments in the favour of your answer.

· China is not a democratic country in true spirit.

· For the consisting the election to the Chinese parliament the candidates need the approval of
Chinese communist party. Only the members of communist party and its 8 allies are allowed to
contest the election.
· Ther is only one party rule that is communist party in China, which is not a indication of true
democratic country. Henceforth, China cannot be considered as a democratic country.

Q3. Giving an example of Zimbabwe, show how laws were made by one single ruler.

· Zimbabwe got independence in 1980, it is being ruled by ZANU-PF which led the freedom
struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence by unfair
practices in elections.

· His government has made changes in the constitution several times to increase the power of the
President and make him less accountable.

· The oppposition party workers were harassed and their meeting were disrupted.

· Public protests demonstrations are declared illegal. Laws wre made to limit the right to criticise
the President.

· The media had been forced to write and speak in favour of the ruling party.

· The government has ignored some court judgements that went against it and has pressurized
judges.

Q4. Examine 3 common factors for democratic countries.

· Citizens are given freedom of speech, expression and thought.

· Free and fair elections are held on regular basis.

Q5. Why is democracy considerd the best form of government?

Democracy cannot give us everything but is clearly better than any other form of government.

· it works for the welfare of the people and perfoms better regarding the removal of poverty and
backwardness in the country.

· It offers better condition of living and implemets policies to ensure equal opportunities for all the
citizens in education and employment.

· It respects people’s wishes and allows different kinds os people to live together. Even if it fails on
some of its promises, it allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all the
citizen.

· That is why democracy is considered the best form of government.

Q6. Is Mexico a democratic country or not, give argument for the answer.

· Since independence in 1930, Mexico hold elections every six years to elect their President. PRI
( Institutional Revolutionary Party) won all the elections till 2006.

· All those who were employed in government offices had to attend party meetings.

· The teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote fot the PRI.
· Media largely ignores the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.

· Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win. The PRI was known to use
many dirty tricks to win elections.

· The PRI spent large sums of money in the campaign for its candidated and booths were shifted
from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for the people to cast their votes.

Q7. Explain the difficulties faced by people in the non democratic countries.

The difficulties faced by the people in non democratic countries are:

· People cannot choose or change the ruler. They cannot question the authority or the dictator.

· People do not enjoy their rights. Supporter of democracy are torchered or killed. For eg: in Chile
more than 3000 people were killed by military.

· In non democratic government, public protest are considered as illegal. Sometimes political
activist are imprisoned for indefinite time. For eg: Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar spent long time
under house arrest.

· In non democratic government people cannot enjoy political equality. Universal adult franchise is
sometimes denied.

· In a non democratic government people may have elected their representatives but they are not
actual rulers. The power of taking final decision rest with army official. For eg: Pakistan- the realpower
is enjoyd by the army.
Q8. Write any 3 instances of equal right to vote in the worl of politics.

OR

Why are China, Saudi Arabia amd Estonia not truly democratic country? State one reason for each of
them.

OR

Why are China, Estonia and Saudi Arabia non democratic countries though they have declared
themselves as democratic? State one reason for each.

One major demand of democracy is Universal adult franchise that is every adult citizen have right to
vote. But in the world of politics there are many instances of denial of equal right to vote.

· In Saudi Arabia, women did not have right to vote untill 2011. On 25th September 2011, king
Abdullah declared that women will have right stand and vote in future.

· Estonia made its citizenship rule in such a manner that people belonging to Russian minority
finds it difficult to get right to vote.

· In China before contesting the election the candidates need to get aproval from Chinese
communist party.

· Although the countries declared themselves as democratic the fundamental principle of political
equality is denied in all the cores. Thus they cannot be called as deocratic countries.

Q9. Explain representative democracy. Why is the representative democracy is the most common
form of government in modern times? Explain any 4 reasons.
OR

What is representative democracy? State its significance in contemporary world.

Representative democracy is the type of democracy founded on the principle of elected

· It allows to elect representative to have knowledge about specific subject of interest and can
take decisions accordingly.

· Representative and political parties are able to misjudge between differen pressure, groups and
sections of society.

· As the needs and demands od minorities and depressed classes are considered in a
representative democracy, their helplessness is removed.

· Representative dempcracy can make bettersense of needs and demand of people and convert
them to practical action plan.

Q10. In a democracy, no one is a permanent winner or loser. Why do we say that? Give three reasons.

· In any country we find people of different ethnic groups, differrnt communities living together. In
that kind of social diversity government take different ways of power sharing.

· There canbe difference of opinion or history proves divisions of the countries are all due to these
variations in a society.
· But these different groups can be able to live amiably if a government is able to accommodate
all. Then government cannot be permanent winner or loser.