CBSE Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing VBQs

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing

Question : In which part of Sri Lanka are the Sri Lankan Tamils concentrated ?
(a) North and South
(b) East and West
(c) North and East
(d) South and East
Answer : C

Question : Arrange the following events in correct sequence.
(i) The relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.
(ii) The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.
(iii) In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language.
(iv) All the government measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Options –
(a) ii-iv-i-iii
(b) iii-iv-i-ii
(c) iii-iv-ii-i
(d) i-ii-iv-iii
Answer : B

Question : Which religion is followed by Sinhala speaking people ?
(a) Hinduism
(b) Buddhism
(c) Islam
(d) None of the above
Answer : B

Question : Which of the following was not one of the initial demands of Sri Lankan Tamils ?
(a) Regional autonomy.
(b) Recognition of Tamil as an official language.
(c) Equal opportunities in securing jobs and education.
(d) Creation of an independent Tamil Eelam (state).
Answer : D

Question : In which year Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country ?
(a) 1947
(b) 1948
(c) 1949
(d) 1950
Answer : B

Question : The power sharing arrangement in Belgium prevented the possible division of the country on :
(a) Linguistic basis
(b) Religious basis
(c) Regional basis
(d) None of the above
Answer : A

Question. The population of Sri Lanka is divided into ___________.
(a) Sinhala 59 % and Tamil 40%.
(b) Sinhala 68 % and Tamil 28%.
(c) Sinhala 74 % and Tamil 18%.
(d) Sinhala 80 % and Tamil 20%
Answer : C

Question. Consider the following statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
I. It is the very spirit of democracy.
II. II. It reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
III. III. It brings transparency in the governance.
IV. IV. It brings socio-political competition among parties.
Options:
(a) I, II & III
(b) II, III & IV
(c) I, III & IV
(d) I, II & IV 
Answer : A

Question. Which one of the following systems of power sharing is called checks and balances?
(a) Horizontal distribution of powers
(b) Federal division of powers
(c) Vertical power sharing
(d) Power shared among different levels of government
Answer : A

Question. Which one of the following communities is not related to Sri Lanka?
(a) Indian Tamil
(b) Sri Lankan Tamils
(c) Sinhalese
(d) German
Answer : D

Question. In Sri Lanka most of the Sinhala speaking people are ____, while most of the Tamils are ____ or____
(a) Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims
(b) Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims
(c) Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus
(d) Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist
Answer : A

True / False

Question : The moral reason of power sharing stress on the fact that power sharing brings better outcomes in a democracy. 
Answer : False

Question : Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflicts between social groups.
Answer : True

Question : The forefathers of the Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka went there as merchants and businessmen.
Answer : False

Question : Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948.
Answer : True

Question : Power sharing does not align with the principle of democracy.
Answer : False

Assertion and Reasoning Based Questions

Mark the option which is most suitable :

(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.

Question : Assertion : Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethnical tension among different communities.
Reason : Both the countries resolved the conflict by power sharing arrangement which gave equal representation to all the communities.
Answer : (c) Belgians adopted a power sharing model where all the communities got equal representation; this helped in solving tension between different communities. However, Sri Lanka tried to promote the supremacy of Sinhala community which eventually led to civil war. Thus the reason is false.

Question : Assertion : Tyranny of majority is highly desirable.
Reason : It helps in making the political order more stable.
Answer : (d) Tyranny of majority community is oppressive for the minority community and can also ruin the majority. It is a source of dissatisfaction and tension which is a source of political instability.

Question : Assertion : There was a feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
Reason : The Sri Lankan government denied their equal political rights and discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities.
Answer : (a) An act was passed in 1956 to recognize Sinhala as an official language. The government of Sri Lanka favoured people from Sinhala community for higher education and government jobs. It led to resentment among Sri Lankan Tamils as government was not sensitive towards their culture and language.

Question : Assertion : Power Sharing is good.
Reason : It leads to ethnical tension.
Answer : (c) Power Sharing is good because it helps in reducing the chances of conflict between different social groups and ensures stability of the political system.

Question : Assertion : Community government in Belgium is elected by one language community.
Reason : Community government helped in resolving conflict between different linguistic groups.
Answer : (a) Community government is elected by people of one language community, i.e. French, Dutch and German speaking. Such a government has power related to culture, education and language issues. It helps in resolving conflicts between different ethnical groups by safeguarding the interest of its group.

Very Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing 

Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing 

Question : Describe any three demands of Sri Lankan Tamils. 

Answer : i. Their language that the Tamil should be given equal status with that of Sinhala language.

ii. There should be no discrimination between them and the Sinhala residents of Sri Lanka in government jobs and university admissions.

iii. Their religion whether Hinduism and Christianity should be given equal respect with that of Buddhism.

iv. They should be given equal political rights.

 

Question : What was the series of majoritarian measures adopted by the Sri Lankan Government? 

Answer : In 1948, after independence, the democratically elected Sri Lankan Government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy by passing an Act in 1956.

i. In Sri Lanka, Sinhala was recognized as the only official language. The Tamil language was not given due importance.

ii. The governments followed preferential politics that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.

iii. The new constitution of Sri Lanka declared that Buddhism would be promoted by the state. It shall protect and foster Buddhism.

 

Question : Write down the features of Vertical division of power sharing. 

Answer :  i. In vertical division of Power Sharing power is shared among the different levels of  the government like Union Government, state government and Lower levels.

ii. Different levels of the government exercise the power of the government.

iii. No specification of the system of checks and balance.

iv. It ensures the concept of deepening of democracy.

v. Central Government, State Government and Panchayat Raj are the example of the Vertical division of Power Sharing.

 

Question : Explain the differences between horizontal power sharing and vertical power sharing. 

Answer :  In a modern democracy, power-sharing arrangement can take many forms. It can be horizontal or vertical.

 

 

Long Questions for Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing 

Question : Describe the population composition of Sri Lanka and the reasons for the formation of Majoritarian government in 1948. 

Answer : i. It is an Island nation south of India. Tamil natives are called Sri Lankan Tamils and formed 13% population.

ii. The Indian Tamils whose forefathers had come from India as plantation workers formed 5% population.

iii. The Sinhala Buddhist, who was 74% of the population, formed the majority government after independence in 1948.

iv. Tamils are either Hindus or Muslims, 7% of the people are Christian who are both Tamil and Sinhala.

v. Sinhalese enjoy majority and can impose their will on the entire country.

Source/Extract Based Questions

Read the source given below and answer the following questions.

Thus, two different sets of reasons can be given in favour of power sharing. Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order. Imposing the will of majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. There is a second, deeper reason why power sharing is good for democracies. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Let us call the first set of reasons prudential and the second moral. While prudential reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasons emphasise the very act of power sharing as valuable.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:

Question :  Which statement best defines the term prudential?
(a) Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses
(b) Based on violence and political instability
(c) Decisions based on purely moral considerations
(d) Based on the decisions of the majority
Answer : (a) Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses.

Question : Give the moral reason behind power sharing.
(a) It ensures stability of political order
(b) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed
(c) It reduces the possibilty of conflict between social groups
(d) Tyranny is not only oppressive for the minority but brings ruin to the majority too.
Answer : (b) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

Question : What undermines the unity of the nation in the long run?
(a) Power sharing
(b) Participation of people
(c) People aquiring stake in the functioning of the government
(d) Imposing the will of the majority community over the others 
Answer : (d) Imposing the will of the majority community over the others.

Question : Why is power sharing encouraged?
(a) Reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups
(b) It ensures the stability of political order.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Only (b)
Answer : (c) Both (a) and (b).

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture. They felt that the constitution and government policies denied  them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option

Question :  What is Majoritarianism?
(a) Rule of the Sinhala’s
(b) Rule of the Majority over the minority.
(c) Rule of the stronger political party.
(d) Rule of the common men.
Answer : (b) Rule of the Majority over the minority.

Question : Which major social group constituted the largest share in population of Sri Lanka?
(a) Sinhalas
(b) Sri Lankan Tamils
(c) Indian Tamils
(d) Muslims
Answer : (a) Sinhalas.

Question : Choose the correct option :
Power sharing is desirable because it helps :
(a) To increase pressure on government.
(b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.
(c) To generate awareness among people.
(d) To increase percentage of voter.
Answer : (b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.

Question : The word ‘ethnic’ signifies :
(a) Different religions.
(b) Social division on shared culture.
(c) A violent conflict between opposite groups.
(d) A careful calculation of gains and losses.
Answer : (b) Social division on shared culture.

Question. What is „Power Sharing‟?
Answer : Power sharing means the distribution of power among the organs of the government such as thelegislature, executive and judiciary.

Question. What are the languages spoken in Belgium?
Answer : Belgium is composed of four language areas: the Dutch language area, the French language area, theGerman language area (9 municipalities in the east of Belgium) and the bilingual Brussels-Capitalarea.

Question. Where is Sri Lanka located?
Answer : Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located to the south of Indian Subcontinent. Sprawlingover the area of 65,525 Sq. km.

Question. Which are the border states of Belgium ?
Answer : The border states of Belgium are Netherlands, France and Germany.

Question. What is the meaning of ethnic ?
Answer : Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture.People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of culture or both,They need not always have the same religion or nationality.

Question. Which languages are spoken in Belgium ? What is their percentage ?
Answer : Dutch language – 59 per cent
French language – 40 per cent
German language – 01 per cent.

Question. What is the percentage of French and Dutch-speaking people in the capital city of Brussels ?
Answer : French-speaking – 80 per cent
Dutch-speaking – 20 per cent.

Question. State one special problem in Brussels.
Answer : In Brussels the special problem was that the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country but a minority in the capital (Brussels).

Question. Which language is spoken by majority of Sri Lanka ?
Answer : Sinhala is spoken by 74 per cent people in Sri Lanka.

Question. What is the percentage of Tamil-speaking people?
Answer : 18 per cent people speak Tamil.

Question. What is majoritarianism?
Answer: Majoritarianism is a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.

Question. When was the Act passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language in Sri Lanka?
Answer: In 1956.

Question. What was the result of policy of majoritarianism in Sri Lanka ?
Answer: It increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Question. What was the object of constitutional amendments between 1970 and 1993 in Belgium?
Answer: The object was to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.

Question. The community government in Belgium is a good example of which form of power sharing?
Answer: Power sharing among governments at different levels.

Question. Which is third unique form of govt, practiced in Belgium?
                                                    Or
Apart from the central and the state government, what is the other form of government in Belgium?
Answer: Apart from central and the state government there is a third kind of government viz community government elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they live.

Question. Which type of powers does the community government of Belgium enjoy?
Answer: The community government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.

Question. Which are the two reasons for power sharing and mention one advantage of each ?
Answer: Prudential reason : It helps to reduce the possibility of conflicts between social groups.
Moral reason : It is good for democracies. It is the very spirit of democracy.

Question. Mention four types of power sharing.
Answer: Power sharing among different organs of government.
Power sharing among government at different levels.
Power sharing among different social groups.
Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Question. What is horizontal distribution of power ?
Answer: Under horizontal distribution, power is shared among different organs of government, such as legislature, executive and judiciary.

Question. How power can be shared among governments at different levels?
Answer: Under this, there is a general government for the entire country (central government) and governments at the provincial or regional level (state government).

Question. What are the features of sharing power among governments at different levels? State any one.
Answer: Under this power sharing, there is division of power between central and state governments.
It is vertical division of power.

Question. Give an example of power sharing among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups.
Answer: Community government in Belgium is a good example of power sharing among different social groups.

Question. Why the system of ‘reserved constituencies’ is adopted in India ?
Answer: The system of ‘reserved constituencies’ is adopted to give space/representation in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the government.

Question. Give an example of power sharing among different political parties in a democracy.
Answer: Some time different political parties with different ideologies form an alliance. They contest elections jointly and after winning in the elections, these parties form a coalition government. The example is present NDA government.

Answers should be in about 80/100 words.

Question. Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium.
Answer: The geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium is given below :
(1) Geographical composition :
Belgium is a small country in Europe. It is smaller in area than the State of Haryana in India.
It has borders with Netherlands, France and Germany.
Its population is little over one crore. It is half of the population of Haryana state.
(2) Ethnic composition :
59 per cent of the population lives in the Flemish region. They speak Dutch language.
40 per cent people live in the Wallonia region. They speak French.
Remaining one per cent speak German.
Brussels is the capital of Belgium. Here, 80 per cent people speak French and 20 per cent speak Dutch.
Thus, Belgium is a country of diversities based on languages. Dutch-speaking people are in majority in the country, but a minority in the capital city of Brussels.

Question. What was the cause of tension between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during 1950s and 1960s ?
Answer: The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. On the .pther hand Dutch-speaking community got the benefit of economic development and education much later. This was the cause of tension between two communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

Question. Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka.
Answer: The geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is given below :
Geographical composition :
Sri Lanka is an island nation just a few kilometers off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu.
Its population is about 2 crore.
Ethnic composition :
The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) and Tamil-speakers (18 per cent). ‘
Tamil-speakers are further divided into two groups – Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
Sri Lankan Tamils are the natives of Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils’ forefathers migrated from India as plantation workers during colonial period.
Sri Lankan Tamils live in the north and east of the country.
Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
There are about 7 per cent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.

Question. Explain the three measures taken by Sri Lanka as per the Act passed in 1956.
                                      Or
How was majoritarianism practiced in Sri Lanka ?
                                      Or
What were the reasons for alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils ? What were its effects ?
                                      Or
Which policies of the Sri Lankan government have led to the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils ?
                                      Or
Why Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated ?
Answer: (1) Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The Sinhala community was majority community. Their leaders sought to secure dominance over government. Thus the democratically elected government adopted the following majoritarian measures :
In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language thus disregarding Tamil.
The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
(2) Effects : The above measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture.
They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights.
They also felt that they were being discriminated in getting jobs and other opportunities. Thus the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained and a feeling of alienation grew among the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Question. What were the effects of feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils ?
Answer: The effects of the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils were as mentioned below
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language.
They demanded regional autonomy.
They also demanded equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.
Their demand for regional autonomy was repeatedly denied.
By 1980s several political organisations were formed and they demanded an s independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
The distrust and alienation turned into widespread conflict between the two communities. It soon turned into a civil war.
In the civil war, thousands of people of both the communities were killed. Many
families were forced to leave the country as refugees. Many lost their livelihoods. Thus although Sri Lanka had excellent record of economic development, education and health, but the civil war has caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural and economic life of the country.

Question. What are some of the basic elements of the Belgium model of power sharing ?
                                                                      Or
Describe the path of accommodation adopted in Belgium. What were its consequences
Answer: The Belgian leaders recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. So they adopted a path of accommodation. Its features were as mentioned below :
Between 1970 and 1993, the constitution was amended four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within same country.
The constitution prescribes that the Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government.
Some special law’s require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. No single community not even majority community (Dutch-speaking) can make decisions unilaterally.
The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments.
There is a separate government in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Both the communities i.e., French-speaking and Dutch-speaking, have equal representation in the Brussels government. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the central government.
A third government which is called “community government” is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter
where they live. The community government has power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.The above model is complicated but it has worked so well that there is no civil strife between the two communities. There is no danger of division of the country on the linguistic basis.

Question. How the composition of the capital city of Brussels is different from Belgium as a country ?
Answer: In Belgium, the composition of different communities is as given below :
Dutch-speaking — 59 per cent
French-speaking — 40 per cent
German-speaking — 01 per cent
On the other hand, the composition of Brussels is as follows :
French-speaking — 80 per cent .
Dutch-speaking — 20 per cent
Thus, Dutch-speaking people are in majority in the country but they are in minority in the capital city of Brussels. On the other hand, French-speaking people are in minority in the country but they are in majority in the capital city of Brussels. This composition of different communities has led to the acceptance of principle of accommodation in Belgium by them.

Question. What do you learn from the principles followed in Belgium and Sri Lanka i.e., majoritarianism in Sri Lanka and accommodation in Belgium ?
Answer: We learn the following lessons from the principles of majoritarianism and accommodation followed in Sri Lanka and Belgium :
In Belgium, the leaders respected the feelings and interests of all communities and were successful in maintaining the unity of the country. They recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. They took various steps such as amendments to the constitution in order to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country. The arrangements such as equal number of ministers of Dutch and French-speaking people in Brussels and central govt, have worked successfully.
On the other hand in Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community tried to secure dominance over government and adopted a series of majoritarian measure. The result was alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils and civil war.
Thus it proves that the policy and path of accommodation is better than the path of majoritarianism.

Question. What are the different forms of power sharing in modem democracies ? Explain any two.
Answer: Different forms of power sharing are given below :
(1) Power sharing among different organs of government :
The power is shared by three organs of government i.e., legislature, executive and judiciary.
Generally, legislature enacts laws, executive executes the laws, makes policies and takes decisions,
Judiciary interprets the law and protects the rights of the people,
It is called horizontal distribution of power’because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers,
Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.
Each organ checks the others and a balance of power is maintained.
For example in India, executive i.e., Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers must enjoy the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. If they loose confidence of the Lok Sabha, they have to resign. Similarly judges are appointed by the executive, but they check the function of executive or laws made by the legislatures.
(2) Power sharing among governments at different levels :
There are governments at the National, State and Local levels.
Powers are divided among these governments. For example in India, there is a division of powers between Center and the States. There are three lists i.e., Union list, State list and Concurrent list. The residuary powers which have not been included in the three lists are with the Central Government,Some powers have been given to local governments under the Panchayati Raj system,Such a system is followed in countries where there federal form of government as in the USA and Belgium,Such division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government is called vertical division of power.
However, in countries where there is unitary form of government as in the Great Britain, there is no division of powers. All the powers are vested in the central or national government.
(3) Power sharing among different social groups :
Sometimes religious and linguistic groups too share power as is the case in Belgium where there is a “community government” which is elected by people belonging to one language community no matter where they live.
Such government enjoys power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues,
In India, seats are reserved for SCs and STs in assemblies and parliament. Such a system is adopted to give minority communities a fair share in power so that they are not alienated from the government as has happened in Sri Lanka.
(4) Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements :
When no party gets an absolute majority in legislature, different parties come together and form a coalition government and share power in a democracy. For example, the present NDA (National Democrative Alliance) government headed by Shri Narendra Modi is a coalition government in which power is shared by different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
In addition to this, different pressure groups, interest groups and movements also directly or indirectly influence the decision making process of the government. Thus there is power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Question. Differentiate between horizontal and vertical power sharing in modem democracies.
Answer: The differences between horizontal and vertical power sharing in modern democracies is as mentioned below:
Horizontal Power Sharing
(1) Power is shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(2) It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
(3) It ensures that none of the organs exercise unlimited power.
(4) Each organ checks the other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. It is called a system of checks and balances.
Vertical Power Sharing
(1) Power is shared among governments at different levels i.e., central, state/ provinicial, regional level.
(2) The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government as has been in Belgium/ India. It is federal division of power.
(3) It ensures that each government works according to the constitutional powers.
(4) It is vertical division of power as the powers are divided involving higher and lower levels of government i.e., central, state and local level.

Question. “Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies but they follow different systems of power sharing.” Support the statement by giving three points of difference.
Answer: The points of difference between systems of power sharing in Belgium and Sri Lanka are as mentioned below :
Sri Lanka Belgian
(1) In Sri Lanka the leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. The elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
(2) In 1956 an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language. The govt, followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for university positions and govt. jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
(3) There is no such community govt, regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
(4) In Sri Lanka, there was the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. They felt that the constitution and the government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignore
The Belgian leaders recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. Between 1970 and 1993 they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central govt. Many powers of the central government have been given to the state governments which are not subordinate to the central government. Brussels (capital) has a separate govt, in which both the communities have equal representation. In Belgium, the “community government” is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German-speaking — no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
In Belgi um there is no feeling of alienation among any of the communities because the constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.

Question. Describe basic principles o f democracy about power sharing.
Answer: They elect their representatives through direct or indirect election. Those who win and secure majority in the legislature form government at various levels i.e., national, state or local.
In democracy due respect is given to all social groups including minorities. For example in India, minorities enjoy educational and cultural rights. Reservation has been made for SCs/STs in Parliament and State Assemblies. Thus, in democracy power is shared at various levels and among various social groups.
It is based on prudence or on careful calculation of gains and losses.

SOURCE BASED QUESTION 

Read the source given below and Answer the questions that follow:

In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements can take many forms. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. Let us call this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions in a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances. Power can be shared among government at different levels, a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them State Governments.
Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups.
‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power. In contemporary democracies, this takes the form of competition among different parties.

Question. When power is shared among legislature, executive and judiciary in democracy it is known as….
(a) Separation of powers
(b) Horizontal distribution of powers
(c) Vertical distribution of powers
(d) None of above
Answer : Horizontal distribution of powers

Question. ministers and government officials exercise power and judges check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislature, this is known as…
(a) Separation of powers
(b) Checks and balances
(c) Horizontal distribution of powers
(d) None of the above
Answer : Checks and balances

Question. when power is shared among different social group it is known as-
(a) Third tier government
(b) Special government
(c) Community government
(d) None of the above
Answer : Community government

Question. Power sharing arrangements in democracy is enjoyed by...
(a) Political parties
(c) Pressure groups
(b) Movements
(d) all of these
Answer : All of these