RBSE Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 3 Electoral Politics

Rajasthan Board RBSE Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 3 Electoral Politics Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 9 Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 3 Electoral Politics

RBSE Class 9 Social Science Electoral Politics InText Questions and Answers

Page No:35

Question 1.
Do most leaders fulfil their election promises? 
Answer: 
No, most leaders do not fulfil their election promises. But the leaders, whose party wins the elections and form the government, try to fulfil those promises that will give them popularity among the voters. However, all promises are not ftdfiled.

Check Your Progress

Question 2.
Jagdeep and Navpreet read this following story and drew the following conclusions. Can you say which of these are right or wrong (or if the information given in story is inadequate to call them right or wrong):

1. Elections can lead to changes in the policy of the government.
2. The Governor invited Devi Lai to become the Chief Minister because he was impressed with his speeches.
3. People are unhappy with every ruling party and vote against it in the next election.
4. The party that wins the election forms the government.
5. This election led to a lot of economic development in Haryana.
6. The Congress Chief Minister need not have resigned after his party lost elections.

Answer: 

1. Right
2.  Wrong
3. Not always; many parties win election again
4. Right
5. Inadequate information given in the chapter.
6. Wrong

Page No. 36

Question 3.
We have seen why democracies need to have elections. But why do rulers in non-democratic countries need to hold elections?
Answer: 
Rulers of some of the non-democratic countries like China and Iraq also hold elections. China hold elections among members of their party only. No other party is allowed to contest elections. The purpose of election in non-democratic countries is to get some international respect and standing and to show that slowly and steadily they are moving towards democracy. 

Page No. 37

Question 4.
Ah! So, elections are like exams where politicians were and parties known if they have passed or failed. But who are the examiners?
Answer:
The voters are the examiners.

Read the Cartoon

Question 5.
Read these two cartoons carefully. Write the message of each of them in your own words. Have a discussion in class on which of the two is closer to the reality in your own locality. Draw a cartoon to depict what elections do to the relationship between voters and political leaders.
Answer:
Students need to attempt this on their own.
[Hint: The cartoon shown on the left gives the message that the knowledge, ideas, planning and promises of a candidate are useless if she/he does not have the votes to win the election. So, the emphasis is on vote.

The cartoon shown on the right gives the message that during an election campaign, contesting candidates make plenty of promises but they are unable to fulfil all of them. As a result, electorates chase them to fulfil their promises.]

Page No. 40

Question 6.
Like in Panchayats, should we not have at least one-third of seats in the parliament and assemblies reserved for women?
Answer:
Women constitute 50% of our society, so at least one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and assemblies should be reserved for their proper representation. They deserve to be given chance to uplift the status of women through the parliamentary platform.

Page No. 41

Question 7.
See the map (given on Pg. No. 41 Textbook) and Answer the following questions.
(i) What is the number of Lok Sabha constituencies in your state and the neighbouring two states?
Answer:
There are 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Rajasthan. Our neighbouring two states are Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. There are 26 Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) Which states have more than 30 Lok Sabha constituencies'?
Answer:
Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, UP., West Bengal.

(iii) Why do some states have such a large number of constituencies?
Answer:
They have large number of constituencies since they have large population.
 
(iv) Why are some constituencies small in area while others are very big?
Answer:
Due to difference in the density of people living in those area. A constituency is demarked according to the population of that area.
 
(v) Are the constituencies reserved for the SCs and STs evenly spread all over the entire country or are there more in some areas?
Answer:
These are not spread equally all over the country. Their numbers depend on their population in particular area.

Page No. 42

Question 8.
Why are the candidates required to give the detailed statement of their property?
Answer:
Candidates are required to give a detailed statement of their property at the time of election because through this Election Commission is trying to control the misuse of money power in elections. The candidate has to give detailed information of his assets which is movable and immovable, debts, tax status, income and wealth. Voters will get clear idea about the candidate and it will help voters in making their choice.

Check Your Progress 

Question 9.
Match the following features of our electoral system with the principles they reflect.

Principles	Features of election system
(i) Universal adult franchise	(a) Each constituency has roughly the same population
(ii) Representation of weaker sections	(b) Everyone who is 18 years of age or older has a right to vote.
(iii) Open political competition	(c) Anyone can form a party or contest elections.
(iv) One vote one value	(d) Reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs

 

Question 10.
Why are party agents present in the polling booth and the counting centre? Answer Party agents are present in the polling booth and the counting centre 
(i) To check the bogus voting in the polling booth by any voter or political party.
(ii) To check and respond to any unfair me
Answer:
adopted in counting of votes at the counting centre.

Check Your Progress

Question 11.
Identify the fair and the unfair electoral practices among the following:

1. A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day.
2. A candidate promises that she will get a new train for her constituency if she is elected.
3. Supporters of a candidate take the voters to a temple and make them take an oath that they will vote for him.
4. The supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums in return for a promise for vote.

Answer:

1. Unfair electoral practice.
2. Fair electoral practice.
3. Unfair electoral practice.
4. Unfair electoral practice.

Page No. 47

Question 12.
Why does the Election Commission have so much power? Is this good for democracy?
Answer:
The election commission enjoys so much powers to prevent the malpractices indulged in election and to ensure free and fair election. Yes, it is necessary to give such powers to election commission.

Check Your Progress V

Question 13.
 Read these headlines carefully and identify which powers are used by the Election Commission in each instance to ensure free and fair elections.
(i) EC issues notification constituting 14th Lok Sabha.
Answer:
EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of election to the declaration of results.

(ii) EC tightens norms for poll expenses.
Answer: 
EC regulates campaigns to ensure that every political party or candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete. It also ensures that no party or candidate can spend more than Rupees 25 Lakhs for election in a Lok Sabha constituency or Rupees 10 Lakhs in an Assembly Constituency.

(iii) EC to visit Gujarat again, review poll arrangements.
Answer: 
During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.

(iv) HC asks EC to bar‘criminal netas.
Answer: 
EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections.

(v) EC shoots down HM advice on poll reforms.
Answer: 
During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials. The EC cannot work on the advice of the HM (Home Minister).

(vi) Photo I-cards not mandatory in Bihar polls.
Answer: 
EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of election to the declaration of results. It also includes the powers relating to the identification of voters.

(vii) EC accepts new Haryana DGP.
Answer: 
During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.

(viii) EC will seek power to censure political ads.
Answer: 
EC implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.

(ix) EC says no immediate plan to ban Exit Polls.
Answer: 
EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of election to the declaration of results, It also includes power regarding Exit Polls.

(x) EC orders repoll in 398 more booths.
Answer:
EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of election to the declaration of results. 
 
(xi) EC to keep closer eye on hidden poll costs.
Answer:
It implements election laws and the Code of Conduct to regulate campaigns so that every party or candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete.

Read the Cartoon

Question 14.  
The leader is coming out of a press conference: “What was the need to say that we have distributed tickets only amongst suitable and winnable family relations?” Do you think that family politics is confined to only a few states or parties?
Answer: 
No, the family politics is not confined to only few states and parties. It is more or less found in each and every state and party in India.

Read the Cartoon

Question 15.
Titled ‘Electoral Campaigns’, this cartoon was drawn in the Latin American
context.Does this apply to India and to other democracies in the world?
Answer: 
Yes, the cartoon shown applies to India and to other democracies in the world because each candidate is allowed to spend only a fixed amount of money on election campaign.

Read the Cartoon

Question 16.
Is this an accurate picture of what happens to the voters before and after elections?
Must this always happen in a democracy? Can you think of examples when this did not happen?
Answer:
Yes, it is an accurate picture of what happens to the voters before and after elections. After the elections, representative generally, do not keep contact with the voters. It becomes difficult for an ordinary voter to contact the representative and place his problems before him.No, this does not happen always in democrary. Once people of many colony wanted help from the government to make a park in the colony. We met Chief Minister and he/she helped us.

Check Your Progress 

Question 17.
Here are some facts on Indian elections. Comment on each of these to say
whether they reflect the strength or the weakness of our electoral system:

1. As of2009, the number of women members in the Lok Sabha has been less than 10 percent.
2. The Election Commission often refuses to accept the government’s advice about when the elections should be held.
3. The 16th Lok Sabha has more than 440 members whose assets are more than Rs. 1 crore.
4. After losing an election the Chief Minister said: “ respect the people’s verdict”.

Answer: 

1. Weakness : It shows the weakness of our electoral system who sends only10% women members to Lok Sabha where as women population is 50% of total population.
2. Strength : It is strength of our electoral system. By using this power election commission can refuse or accept the advice of ruling party about the election dates.
3. Weakness : It shows weakness of our electoral system because rich people do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over ordinary candidates. Rich candidates have better chances of winning the election.
4. Strength : The verdict of the people is accepted by everybody - even by a Chief Minister.

RBSE Class 9 Social Science Electoral Politics Textbook Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Answer: 
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.

Question 2. 
Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
(a) India has the largest numbers of voters in the world.
(b) India’s election commission is very powerful.
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
(d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Answer: 
(a) India has the largest numbers of voters in the world.

Question 3. 
Match the following:

Column I	Column II
(a) It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because	(i) there is a fair representation of all sections of our society
(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that	(ii) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representative
(c) Everyone has one and only one vote	(iii) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections.
(d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicle because	(iv) some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last

Answer: 

Column I	Column II
(a) It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because	(iv) some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last
(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that	(i) there is a fair representation of all sections of our society
(c) Everyone has one and only one vote	(ii) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representative
(d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicle because	(iii) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections.

Question 4.
List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below:Releasing election manifestos, Counting of votes, Making of voters’ list, Election campaign, Declaration of election results, Casting of votes, Ordering of re-poll, Announcing election schedule, Filing nomination.
Answer:
Different election related activities

1. Making of voters list
2. Announcing election schedule
3. Filing nomination
4. Releasing election manifestos
5. Election campaign
6. Casting of votes
7. Counting of votes 
8. Declaration of election results 
9. Ordering of re-poll

Question 5.
Surekha is an officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of election :
(a) Election campaign.
(b) Polling day. 
(c) Counting day. 
Answer:
(a) Election campaign:
She will have to focus on various points such as no candidate shpuld bribe or threaten voters, candidates can not appeal to vote in the name of caste and religion, candidates cannot use government resources for election campaign, expenditure limit should not be crossed and parties should follow model code of conduct for election.

(b) Polling day:
She will make cross checking of voter lists. She will make sure that incidents such as rigging and booth capturing do not take place. After the polling is over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) should be taken to secure place. She will also ensure proper police arrangements.

(c) Counting day:
She has to ensure the presence of an agent of each political party. All the EVMs should be opened and counting is carried out in her supervision in the presence of proper security arrangements.

Question 6.
The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US. Based on this would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?

House of representatives	Population of Us	House of representatives
Blacks	8	13
Hispanics	5	13
Whites	86	70

Answer:
Blacks and Hispanics should be given reservation as they do not have their representatives according to their population. Whites should not be given representatives because they are already over represented in proportion to their population.

Question 7. 
Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.
(a) Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Answer:
(a) It is wrong to say that Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections. The Election Commission of India is an independent and powerful body.The Election Commissioner of India is appointed by the President of India. He cannot be removed. If he feels that the elections have not been conducted fairly, he can order repoll in certain booths or even in the entire constituency.

(b) It is a fact that there is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country. During the last 50 years or so, the turnout of voters in the North America and Europe has declined while in India it has either remained stable or increased. It has been found that in our country the poor, the illiterate and the unprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and the privileged classes.

(c) No, it is not very easy for the party in power to win the election. All the ministers have to follow the rules prescribed by election commission they cannot use government resources even if they are in power. Secondly Ruling Parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level.

(d) Yes, some reforms are necessary to make Elections Compelety free and fair. Some families are born to dominate the political parties. Their relatives are given priority in politics. It is also necessary to ensure candidates having criminal records are not allowed to participate.

Question 8. 
Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practising untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Answer:
In both the cases, Chinappa and Satbir, the court has done the right thing by not allowing either of them to contest elections. This decision does not go against the principle of democratic elections. The convicted and the guilty persons should not be allowed to contest elections otherwise they will criminalise the whole election process that jeopardizes the high principles of democracy.

Question 9.
Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?

(a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer-in-charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than 5 lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.

(b) Just before the elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.

(c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the Presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
Answer: 
(a) The officer-in-charge during elections (counting) should have been impartial and should have ordered to repoll. For voting there should be electronic machines so that no fraud could be done in counting. In the event of non-availability of electronic machines, the votes should be counted in presence of representatives of different candidates or political parties. Nigeria can learn this lesson from India.

(b) Yes, Fiji can learn a lesson from India to improve its electoral system. The source of poster a person or a party must be searched and punished as it violated the spirit of principle of democratic election.

(c) In India, one and uniform rule is followed in all states as far as the method of voting, procedure of counting are concerned. Different rules, different authorities, and different procedures of counting lead to the ambiguity and vagueness and take away the sense of justice, which is one of the main principles of democracy. US can take some good points and lessons from India how to follow the same rules, procedures etc. in all states and across the country.

Question 10.
 Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?

(a) Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.

(b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given the due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.

(c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain names of 20 lakh fake voters.

(d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
Answer: 
(a) In this situation the minister broke electoral code of conduct. After the announcement of election, promise of any financial help is the manipulation of voters. The minister should not be allowed to contest the election.

(b) In order to remove this allegation of the opposition parties, the best solution is that Doordarshan and All India Radio must be made autonomous bodies so that government could not influence them in its favour. Equal time should be given to all parties and candidates to present their views in front of the voters.

(c) The Election Commission has the power of remaking of the electoral rolls and seeing that the names of 20 lakh fake voters are removed from the new electoral rolls.

(d) The Election Commission has the power to check this malpractice of moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties. It can withdraw the recognition of any party or disqualify such a candidate from contesting elections if its supporters are found to be moving with weapons. 

Question 11.
Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and reported what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements?
(a) Women always vote the way men tell them. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
(b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should he decided by consensus not by competition.
(c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Answer:
(a) Right to vote must be for every person. Women can not be denied the right to vote. It is not associated with the direction which a person follows to use right to vote. In democracy all are equal.

(b) A healthy competition provides option to the people to choose the better. A consensus can make the people deaf and dumb which is against the spirit of democracy. Electoral competition is necessary because it provides incentives to political parties and leaders and forces them to serve the people better.

(c) Educational qualifications are not necessary to all kinds of jobs. It is also a wrong notion that only graduates should be allowed to contest elections. A majority of people who fought for the independence of the country were almost illiterate. They have equal right with those of the educated to enjoy the fruit of the hard won independence. It is also agreed that if a graduate degree is made an eligibility criteria, then more than 90% of the voters would become ineligible for contesting an election. Would that be a democracy, certainly not? India follows the rule - ‘One person one vote’. This is in true spirit of democracy.