RBSE Class 9 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 9 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?  Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 9 Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1. 
When did Pervez Musharraf came to power in Pakistan?
(a) Sep. 2000 
(b) October 1999
(c) April 1995 
(d) May 2005
Answer:
(b) October 1999

Question 2.
Name the country where free and fair elections are not held
(a) China 
(b) Mexico 
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d)All the above
Answer:
(d)All the above

 

Question 3. 
In which country, woman do not have the right to vote
(a) India 
(b) China 
(c) USA 
(d) Saudi Arabia
Answer:
(d) Saudi Arabia

Question 4. 
Who is the President of Zimbabwe ?
(a) Pervez Musharraf 
(b) Robert Mugabe 
(c) Robespierre 
(d) None of these
Answer:
(b) Robert Mugabe 

Question 5. 
Name any democratic country of the world
(a) India 
(b) USA 
(c) Sri Lanka 
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these

Question 6. 
In which of the following country an indigenous citizen has more value than of outsiders
(a) Saudi Arabia 
(b) China 
(c) Fiji 
(d) Estonia
Answer:
(c) Fiji 

Question 7. 
Which organ of the government is required to protect the rights of the citizens
(a) Legislature 
(b) Executive 
(c) Judiciary 
(d) Army
Answer:
(c) Judiciary 

Question 8. 
Which of the following system is an example of direct democracy?
(a) Gram Sabha 
(b) Panchayat Samiti
(c) Municipal Corporation 
(d) Legislative Assembly 
Answer:
(d) Legislative Assembly 

Question 9. 
Which of the following is not an argument against denfocracy?
(a) Instability 
(b) No morality
(c) Delays 
(d) Accountable
Answer:
(d) Accountable

Question 10. 
Which of the following is an argument in favour of democracy?
(a) Accountable 
(b) Good decision making
(c) Dignity of citizens 
(d) All the above
Answer:
(d) All the above

Question 11. 
Who was the ruler of Ghana during non-democratic rules?
(a) Nkrumah’s 
(b) Robert Mugabe
(c) Parvez Musharraf 
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Nkrumah’s 

Question 12. 
From which Greek word Democracy has been derived?
(a) Demo’s and Kratia 
(b) Demo and Carta
(c) Carta 
(d) None tof these
Answer:
(a) Demo’s and Kratia 

Question 13. 
In which year Mexico got Independence?
(a) 1930 
(b) 1925 
(c) 1975 
(d) 1980
Answer:
(a) 1930 

Question 14. 
Name the country where the people belonging to Russian minority do not get voting rights
(a) Pakistan
(b) China 
(c) Saudi Arabia 
(d) Estonia
Answer:
(d) Estonia

Question 15. 
Which type of Party system in China?
(a) One-party system 
(b) Two-party system
(c) Multiparty system 
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) One-party system 

Question 16. 
Which type of party-system is there in India?
(a) Single Party 
(b) Two Party 
(c) Multi-Party 
(d) None of these 
Answer:
(c) Multi-Party 

Question 17. 
When was Robert Mugabe forced out of office?
(a) 2017 
(b) 1998 
(c) 2000 
(d) 2006
Answer:
(a) 2017 

Question 18. 
Who is responsible to protect the basic rights given by state?
(a) Legislature 
(b) Executive 
(c) Judiciary 
(d)All of these
Answer:
(c) Judiciary 

Question 19. 
To whom is the ruling party accountable in democracy ?
(a) President 
(b) Judiciary 
(c) People    
(d) Government  
Answer:
(c) People    

Question 20. 
Which is the most preffered form of government in the world?
(a) Monarchy 
(b) Military Rule 
(c) President Rule  
(d) Democracy
Answer:
(d) Democracy

Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. 
Political Party of Mexico is named as .................   
Answer:
PRI

Question 2. 
ZANU-PF is the political party of ................. 
Answer:
Zimbabwe

Question 3. 
In the year ................. Zimbabwe attained independence.
Answer:
1980

Question 4. 
Legal Framework Order was introduced by General Parvez Musharraf in the year .................
Answer:
China

Question 5
in 1958-61, ................. faced the worst famines
Answer:
China

True or False:

Question 1. 
Democracy is a form of government in which people elect rulers.
Answer:
False

Question 2. 
In democracy, final decision is taken by army officials.
Answer:
False

Question 3. 
Democracy consists of universal adult suffrage.
Answer:
True

Question 4. 
Decisions are taken quickly in a democracy.
Answer:
False

Question 5. 
In a system .of democratic governance, rulers are not accountable to people.
Answer:
False

Match the column:
 

Column A	Column B
(1) Ba’ath Party	(a) Mexico
(2) School teacher are forced to influence the parents to vote for a particular party	(b)Myanmar
(3) Indirect Democracy	(c) Fiji
(4) More weightage to indigenous voters	(d) Syria
(5) Military rule	(e) India

Answer:

Column A	Column B
(1) Ba’ath Party	(d) Syria
(2) School teacher are forced to influence the parents to vote for a particular party	(a) Mexico
(3) Indirect Democracy	(e) India
(4) More weightage to indigenous voters	(c) Fiji
(5) Military rule	(b)Myanmar

Very Short Answer Type Questions:

Question 1. 
What was the Legal Framework Order passed by Pervez Musharraf in August 2002?
Answer:
In August 2002 Pervez Musharraf issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies. .

Question 2.
Name any four democratic countries of the world.
Answer: 
(i) India
(ii) USA
(iii) Sri Lanka
(iv) South Africa 

Question 3. 
Highlight any two features of a Democratic Government?
Answer: 

1. The Government is answerable to the people as it is elected by the people.
2. It enhances the dignity of the citizens.

Question 4. 
How can you say that Mexico till 2000 was not a democratic country? 
Answer: 
Until 2000 every election was won by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Opposition parties never managed to win.

Question 5. 
What do you know about the electoral system in Fiji?
Answer: 
The electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.

Question 6. 
How can you say that media is not independent in Zimbabwe?
Answer: 
Television and radio are controlled by the government in Zimbabwe, and give only 
the ruling party’s session. The Government has harassed those journalists who go against it. .

Question 7.
Over the years President Mugabe’s Government of Zimbabwe has changed the constitution several times. Why?
Answer: 
His Government had changed the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less accountable.

Question  8.
Mention any two limitations of a democratic government.
Answer: 

1. Leaders keep changing in the democracy. This leads to instability.
2. Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.

Question 9.
Which form of government allows people to choose their rulers?
Answer: 
Democracy.

Question 10.
Which form of government is considered non-democratic?
Answer: 
Military rule or monarchy. '

Question 11.
What is the name of the Chinese Parliament?
Answer: 
The National People’s Congress.

Question 12.
With whom does the final decision of making power rest in a democracy?
Answer: 
Elected representatives of the people.

Question 13.
After how many years does Mexico held elections for electing its President?
Answer: 
After every six years.

Question 14.
By whom is the President of China appointed?
Answer: 
Members of the National People’s Congress.

Question 15.
Before contesting elections in China, whose approval does a candidate need to have? .
Answer: 
The Chinese Communist Party. .

Question 16.
Which is the most common form of democracy in today’s world?
Answer: 
Representative Democracy.

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question 1. 
What amendments did General Pervez Musharraf bring in the constitution of Pakistan by issuing a ‘Legal Framework Order’ in August 2002?
Answer: 
In August, 2002 Musharraf issued a ‘Legal Framework order’ to amend the constitution of Pakistan. According to this order the President could dismiss the national or provincial assemblies. The work of the civilian cabinet was supervised by a National Security Council which was dominated by military officers. After passing this order elections were held to the National and State Assemblies, elected representatives held some powers but the final power rested with military officers and Musharraf himself.

Question 2. 
Why Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is not called a democracy? 
Answer: 
akistan under General Pervez Musharraf is not called a democracy because the rulers were not elected by the people. People might have elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies but these elected representatives were not really the rulers. They could not take the final decisions. The power to take final decisions rested with army officials and with General Pervez Musharraf. 

Question 3. 
How did General Pervez Musharraf become the president of Pakistan? 
Answer: 
General Pervez Musharraf led a military troop in October 1999. He overthrew democratically elected government and declared himself the chief executive of the country.

1. Later he changed his designation to President.
2. In 2002, he held a referendum in the country granted him a five year extension. This referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.

Question 4. 
Elections in China do not represent people’s verdict.” Explain the statement.
Answer: 

1. In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s Parliament. It is called National People’s Congress.
2. The Parliament has nearly 3000 members from all over the China.
3. Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is always formed by the Communist Party.

Question 5. 
The Institutional Revolutionary Party in Mexico never lost any election till 2000. What were the reasons behind it?
Answer: 
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was very strong in Mexico till 2000 due to the following reasons:

1. The PRI used many dirty tricks to win the elections.
2. All those who were employed in government offices had to attend all the meetings held by the PRI.
3. Teachers of Government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.
4. Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties in addition to criticising them.

Question 6. 
WhyareChina,EstoniaandSaudiArabianottrulydemocraticcountries? State one reason for each one of them.
Answer: 
There are many instances of denial of equal right to vote.

1. In Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote until 2014.
2. Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to et the right to vote.
3. In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fijian has more value than that of an Indian . Fijian.

Question 7. 
Show the way to establish rule of law and respect of right.
Answer: 
Rule of law and respect of right can be established by the following way:

1. The state should respect some basic rights of the citizens.
2. Citizens should be free to think, to have opinions, to express their poinions in ' public, to form associations, to protest and take other political actions.
3. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of law.
4. Rights must be protected by an independent judiciary whose orders are obeyed by everyone.

Question 8. 
Assess any three conditions that apply to the way a democratic government is run after the elections.
Answer: 

1. People should have the freedom to express their views. They should have freedom to form associations and to protest also. 
2. Country is governed by the constitutional law. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of law.
3. Every officer bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the constitution and the law. Each of these is accountable not only to the people but also to other independent officials.

Question 9. 
Democracy allows us to correct its own mistakes” Analyse the statement.
Answer: 
There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in a democracy. No form of government can guarantee that. But in a democracy mistakes can not be hidden for long time. People can change their leaders and leaders can change their decision to correct mistakes. In democracy there is a space for discussion. This is not possible in non-democratic government.

Question 10.
China’s famine of 1958-61 was the result of government policies”. Elucidate it.
Answer: 
China’s famine of 1958-61 was the worst recorded famine in the world history. Nearly three crore people died in this famine. During those days India’s economic condition was not much better than China. However, India did not have a famine of the kind China had.

The existence of democracy in India made the Indian Government respond to food scarcity in a way that the Chinese government did not. If China too had multi-party elections the opposition parties and the press were free to criticise the government, so many people would not have died in the famine.

Question 11. 
Why is democracy called a “government by discussion”?
Or
Democracy improves the quality of decision making. Explain.
Answer: 
Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. Democratic decision 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 takes time but it reduces the chances of irresponsible decision. Hence, democracy improves the quality of decision making.

Question 12. 
Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. Explain.
Answer: 

1. Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. So, all the citizens whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated have the same status.
2. People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.
3. The rulers have to work according to the needs of the people. If the people do not like the rulers they can be changed through election.

Question 13. 
Give any four reasons why democracies resolve conflict in a better way than Other forms of governments.
Answer: 
Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than other forms of government because 

1. It improves the quality of decision making as it provides scope for consultation and discussion to resolve conflicts. 
2. In democracy conflicts are not solved by brutal force but by peaceful solutions.
3. When government and people make mistakes in democracy, it allows them to correct their mistakes.

Question 14. 
Differentiate between a democracy and Good Democracy ? 

Answer:

Democracy	Good Democracy
(i) A democratic government is elected by the people.	(i) It is also elected by the people but people also take part in decision making.
(ii) In a democracy regular elections are held.	(ii) In it regular, free and fair elections are held.
(iii) It enhances political equality.	(iii) It enhances political, social and economic equality

Question 15. 
Rulers and the ruled both are responsible for making of an ideal democracy. Justify by giving suitable reasons.
Answer: 

1. The fate of the country depends not just on what the rulers do, but mainly on what we, as citizens do.
2. What we do as citizens, can make a difference in making our country more or less democratic.
3. In fact most non-democratic governments would like citizens not to take part in politics, but democracy depends on active political participation by all the citizens.

Question 16. 
Is it possible for any country to become a perfect democracy? Give reasons.
Answer: 
No country is a perfect democracy as every democracy has to realise the ideals of democratic decision-making. This cannot be achieved once and for all. This requires a constant effort to save and strengthen democratic forms of decision-making. What we do as citizens can make a difference to making our country more or less democratic.

Long Answer Type Questions: 

Question 1. 
What is Democracy? What are the features of Democracy?
Answer:
Meaning of Democracy: Democracy is a form of governance in which-
(a) The representatives are elected by the people.Those representatives make all the major decisions.
(b) In this, free and fair elections are held at regular intervals.
(c) Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people that they can change the current rulers if they want.
(d) This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.
(e) The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the . constitution and citizens’ rights.
Features of democracy¬Following are the salient features of democracy

(i) Public elects the representatives: 
Democracy is a form of governance in which the public elects the representatives.

(ii) Major decisions in the hands of elected representatives:
In a democracy, ‘ the final decision-making power rests with those chosen by the people.

(iii) Free and fair term elections: 
In a democracy, there is a system of term elections.But just holding elections is not sufficient for democracy.The elections must offer a real choice between more than one political alternative. It should be possible for people that if they want, they can remove the existing ruler. Thus democracy is based on free and fair elections.

(iv) One person-one vote-one value: 
In democracy, every adult citizen has one vote and each vote has one value.

(v) Rule of law and respect for rights: 
In a democracy, the government provides some basic rights to the citizens. It gives to citizen the freedom to think, to have their opinions, to express their Opinions publicly, to form association, to protest and to do other political activities.
Everyone is equal in the eyes of law and these rights are protected by an independent judiciary whose orders are obeyed by everyone. The government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights.

Question 2. 
Explain the main merits and demerits of democracy.
Answer: 
Merits of democracy: 
Democratic government is better than non-democratic governments because democracy has the following characteristics.

(a) Accountable government:
Democracy is better than other form of government because they responds to the need of the people and fulfill them and they are accountable to the people in fulfilling their needs. The leaders ,of non- democratic government are not accountable to the people. Therefore meeting the needs of people depends on their wishes.

(b) Right decision: 
Democracy is based on discussion and consultation. Therefore before making a decision it is discussed with many persons. When many people put their thought together in any decision this reduces the chances of error in the decisions.

(c) Dignity of citizen: 
Democracy is based on political equality which gives equal rights and freedoms to all, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.Thus, the status of citizens in a democracy is not same in any other system.

(d) Correction in wrong decision: 
Democratic government is better than other forms of government because it gives us the chance to correct its own mistakes. In democracy mistakes cannot be hidden for long time. There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and there is a room for correction. It means either the rulers have to change their decisions, otherwise . public will change the rulers in coming election. This cannot happen in a non- democratic government. Demerits of democracy Following are the demerits of democracy-

(i) Instability: 
In democracy leaders and political parties keep changing. This leads to political instability.

(iij No scope for morality: 
Democracy is all about political competition and power play. Therefore there is no scope for morality.
(iii) Delay in decision making: 
It takes a long time to make decisions in a democracy because decisions are taken after extensive discussions among a large number of people and organizations.
Civ) Wrong decision: 
Popular leaders dominate democracy. But it is not necessary for these leaders to be fully aware of best interest of the people. So they often take wrong decisions. 

(v) Corruption and expensive system: 
Electoral competitions are important and expensive in a democracy, therefore it leads to corruption.

(vi) Politically uneducated voters: 
In most of the developing countries, voters are uneducated and unaware of politics. An ordinary voter does not know what is good and bad for them. So they choose the wrong candidate.

Question 3. 
Mention some common characteristics of non-democratic countries.
Answer: 
Some common characteristics of non-democratic countries are as follows
(a) Lack of free and fair term election: 
Non-democratic countries either do not have any regular elections and if they happen then they are only for the sake of showing. These elections are not free and fair. There are no options in voting for the public. Therefore, the public cannot remove the ruling party or the rulers by vote.

(b) Lack of opposition and opposition party: 
Opposition is not tolerated in non-democratic governments. So there is no question of opposition political party. It also lacks independent labor organizations. Only trade unions that support government policies can remain safe. In this, the government also controls the media.

(c) Lackoffundamentalrightsandfreedomsofcitizens: 
FundamentalRights and Freedom are not given to citizens in non-democratic governments. Everyone is dependent on the mercy of dictators and military rulers. Anyone can be put behind the bars without any reason or punished without trial.

(d) Lack of constitutional governance: 
Where democratic governments works within the limits of constitutional law, in non-democratic government, the command of the ruler is the law and its will is the constitution.