Class 10th Social Science Political Science Chapter 6 Political Parties

Xam idea Class 10th Social Science Political Science Chapter 6 Political Parties

Very Short Answers Question

What is the basic outcome of democracy?

The most basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a government that is accountable to citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

What are the common features of democracy in most of the countries of the world?

Most of the democratic countries of the world today have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens.

Are non-democratic rulers quick and efficient in decision making? Explain.

It is true that non-democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberations in assemblies or worry about majesties and public opinion. So, they can be very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation.

“In comparison to non-democratic government, decision of government takes time.”Does democracy pay its price? Explain.

The democratic governments take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision. But because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective. So, the cost of time that democracy pays is perhaps worth it.

What do you understand by ‘transparency’ in democracy? or Explain the meaning of transparency in democracy.

In democracy, decision making are based on norms and procedures. A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency.

Are democracies corrupt? Explain your argument.

Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population. The routine tales of corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free of this evil.

How far does economic inequalities exist in democratic countries?

In democracies, a small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society suffer.

How democracy is considered best to accommodate social diversity?

In democracy, we can certainly learn to respect social differences and we can evolve mechanism to negotiate the differences. In fact, democracy is best suited to reduce this outcome.

How does democracy remove the gap between majority and minority in the country?

Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time.

Do you agree that democracy promotes dignity of the citizen? Explain.

Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect. The passions for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracy no doubt promotes dignity of the citizen and treats everyone equally.

Has democracy in India straightened the claims of discriminated castes for equal status?

In India, these are instances still of caste-based inequalities and atrocities but these lack the moral and legal foundations. Democracy has helped providing equal status and equal opportunities to the discriminated castes in India.

Explain the dilemma with respect to the practical aspect of democracy.

As per principle, democracy seems good but fails to impress in practice. This dilemma provokes to give a thought to the outcomes of democracy. Do we prefer democracy over moral reasons? Or there are some sensible reasons to support democracy too?

Explain any one difference between a pressure group and a political party.

One difference between a pressure group and a political party is
Political parties contest elections and hold power in the government while pressure groups attempt to influence government policies.

Why is there an overwhelming support to democracy all over the world ?Explain one reason.

There is an overwhelming support to democracy all over the world:
Because it is accountable, responsive and legitimate government.

Short Answers Question

What is democracy? What are its various characteristics?

In modern usage, democracy is a system of government, in which the citizens exercise power. It is formed by two Greek words ‘demos’ and ‘Kratia’. ‘Demos’ means people and ‘Kratia’ means the government. Democracy, thus means ‘rule by the people.’ In a democratic set up, every citizen has a right to take a part in the decision making process. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy is ‘government of the people, government by the people and the government for the people’ Citizens choose their representatives who would form the government.
Characteristics:

It promotes equality among citizens.
It looks after the interest of the people.
It allows room to correct mistakes.

What are the prudential reasons to support democracy?

Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practise some kinds of democratic politics.
They have formal constitution, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights to citizens.
While these features are common to most of them, these democracies are very much different from one another in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures.

Should we blame democracy for socio-economic and political problems?

If some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of democracy.
The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something.
The citizens have to take advantage of those conditions and achieve their goals.

What are our expectations from democracy?

In a democracy, we are most concerned with ensuring that people have the right to choose their rulers and people have control over the rulers.
Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to participate in decision-making that affects them all.
Thus, the most basic outcome of democracy should be that the government is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

What is the normal procedure of a democratic government?

It should hold regular, free and fair elections.
Open public debates on major policies and legislations.
Right to information about the government and its functioning should be provided to citizens.

On the basis of which values will it be a fair expectation that democracy should produce a harmonious social life? Explain.

The values that are associated with democracy producing a harmonious social life are:

Equality among all human beings.
Respect for individual freedom.
Democracies accommodate various social divisions.
Democracies reduce the possibility of tensions becoming explosive or violent.
Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts.

How does democracy promote the dignity and freedom of an individual?

Every individual wants respect from fellow beings.
Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect.
The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy all over the world—in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries without democratic regimes.
For societies which have been built for long on the basis of subordination and domination, it is not a simple matter to recognise that all individuals are equal.

On what factors does the country’s economic development depend?

A country’s economic development depends on the following factors:

Country’s population, size
Its global situation
Cooperation from other countries
Economic priorities adopted by the country

However, the difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorship and democracies is negligible.

Is it true that democracies are not very successful in reducing economic inequalities?

It is true. The following points justify that:

A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a disproportionate share of wealth and income. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been declining.
Sometimes, they find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and health.

In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.

How can you say that democracy is better than dictatorship?OR Which values make democracy better than any other form of government? Explain.OR Analyse any three values that make democracy better.

Democracy promotes equality among citizens as it is people’s own government.
It enhances the dignity of the individual
It also improves the quality of decision-making
It provides methods to resolve conflicts, if any
Only democracy allows room to correct mistakes
It is a legitimate government
Gives equal status and respect to women and weaker sections.
It promotes transparency.
Values of social justice, equality, fraternity.
It gives importance to public opinion.
It provides rights to people.
It gives the feeling of collective belonging.
It encompasses the feeling of integrity secularism and tolerance.
It inculcates the feeling of integrity feeling of integrity and dutifulness.
It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. A democratic government is the people’s own government.
There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world—in countries with democratic regimes as well as with non-democratic regimes.

How much time is taken in democracy to take decisions as compared to other governments?

A government may take decisions very fast but it may take such decisions that are not accepted by the people and may, therefore, face problems.
In contrast, the democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
But because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.

So, the cost of time that democracy pays is perhaps worth it.

How much transparency is there in democracy as compared to other governments?

A citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find that out. He/She has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. This is known as transparency.
This factor is often missing from a non-democratic government. Therefore, when we are trying to find out the outcomes of democracy, it is right to expect democracy to produce a government that follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
We can also expect that the democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable and mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision-making whenever they think fit.

“Democracy is accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.” Evaluate the statement. OR “Democratic government is known as responsive government.” Assess the statement.

Democracy is accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens:

The most basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens , and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Economic growth and development –level of economic development is slow because of delay in decision making. Accomodation of social diversity – majority should work with minority. Dignity and freedom of citizens-every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Equality of women.

How does democracy stand better to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of the citizens ? Explain with examples.

Democracy stands better to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of citizens:

The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy which is recognized throughout the world in principle.
Dignity of women : Democracy provides dignity to women by giving them the freedom to fight for their rights.
Right to equality: equal status and equal opportunity has a legal sanction in democracy.
Individual freedom : In democracy every individual has the freedom to pursue his goal.

Explain briefly the outcome of democracy.

The first step towards evaluating outcome of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It means democracy provides an opportunity and it is the citizens who can take advantage of it.
The most basic outcome of democracy is that it is accountable to citizens and responsive to their needs and expectations.
Another outcome of democracy is that it is a legitimate government. It means all decisions are taken as per the constitution only.

Why is there a sound support for the idea of democracy all over the world?

It is so because a democratic government is people-run government duly elected by them.
It is a legitimate government since it follows all the laws provided in the constitution.
People wish to be ruled by the representatives elected by them. The voters enjoy to form political parties and elect the government of their choice.

“The economic growth rate in dictatorship is better than that in democratic rule.” Why is it so?

The economic growth rate in all dictatorial regimes was 4.42 per cent as compared to all democratic regimes’ 3.95 per cent during the period 1995–2000.
In dictatorial regimes, the rules and regulations are rigid and compulsory. The citizens who disobey are severely punished.
In democratic regimes, as the leaders and bureaucrats think about their profits only, the government is not much keen to remove poverty and develop the country economically.

Suggest some broad guidelines that can be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India.

Guidelines for political reform:

Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes, the results may be counter-productive.
The main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice.
Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how?

“Democratic government is legitimate government”? Support the statement with arguments.OR How is ‘democratic government’ a ‘legitimate government’? Explain with examples.

Democratic government is a legitimate government: It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is peoples’ own government. That is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. People wished to be ruled by representatives elected by them. They also believe that democracy is suitable for their country. Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.
Democractic Government known as legitimate government:

Democracy produce a government that follows and is accountable to the people.
It provides mechanism for citizens to hold the government accountable and allows citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit.
If you wanted to measure democracies on the basis of this expected outcome you would look for the following practices and institutions regular free and fair election, open public debate on major policies.

Democracy accommodates social diversities. Support the statement with examples. OR How is social diversity accommodated in democracy ? Explain with examples.

“Democracy accommodates social diversities”. Democracy develops a mechanism which successfully negotiates difference among ethnic population.

Democracies develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent.
No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and can evolve mechanism to negotiate these differences.
Ability to handle social differences , divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
For example: Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among ethnic population. This reduces the possibility of tensions.

“Democratic governments in practice are known as accountable.” Support the statement with arguments.

Democratic governments in practice are accountable:

It is right to expect democracy to produce a government that follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
It is also expected that the democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think it is fit.
The democratic government is accountable to the people. If it ignores the will of the people, they will not elect their ruler in the next general election.
The procedures and decision making process should be transparent for democratic government to be accountable to the people.

Long Answers Question

1. Why does modern democracies could not exist without political parties? OR Explain any five needs to have political parties in a democratic country.

Answers:

i) (i) We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation without parties. Every candidate in the elections will be independent. So no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes.

ii) (ii) Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituencies for what they do in the locality. But no one will be responsible for how the country runs.

iii) (iii) India also has non-party based elections to the panchayats in many states. Although parties do not contest formally, it is generally noticed that the village splits into more than one faction, each of which puts up a ‘panel’ of its candidates. This is exactly what the party does. That is why, we have political parties in almost all the countries in the world.

iv) (iv) The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. Large-scale societies need representative democracy. Large societies need some way to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government can be formed.

v) Thus we can say that parties are a necessary condition for a democracy.

2. Describe the various party systems existing in different countries.

Answers: Party systems:

(i) One-party system:

i) (a) In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. It is called one-party system.

ii) (b) We cannot consider one-party system as a good option because this is not a democratic option.

iii) (c) Any democratic system must allow at least two parties to compete in elections and provide a fair chance for the competing parties to come to power.

Example: Communist Party of China.

(ii) Two-party system:

i) (a) In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties.

ii) (b) Here, only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority seats to form the government.

Example: USA and UK.

(iii) Multi-party system:

i) (a) If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power, either on their own or in alliance with others, it is called a multi-party system.

ii) (b) The multi-party system often appears very messy and leads to political instability.

iii) (c) At the same time, this system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

Example: India.

Major Coalitions—NDA, UPA, Left Front.

3. How are Political parties recognised as regional and National parties in India?

Answers: India has a multi-party system, where political parties are classified as national, state or regional level parties. All parties are registered with the Election Commission.

· Criterion for Recognition by The Election Commission as national or state level parties.

National Party

· A party has to live up to at least one of the following qualifications to be recognised as a national party:

State Party.

· A party has to live up to at least one of the following qualifications to be acknowledged as a state party.

Examples : Janta Dal, Asom Gan Parishad etc.

National Parties in India

· Despite the large number of political parties operating in India, very few are able to make their presence felt at the national level except when it comes to alliances.

4. Describe the role of Political Parties in Indian Democracy.

Answers: Role of Political Parties :

i) (i) The Political party or parties with majority seats form and run the government.

ii) (ii) They contest elections and put forward different policies and programmes among which the voters opt.

iii) (iii) They play a decisive role in law making for the country.

iv) (iv) They also play an important role as opposition parties.

v) (v) They play an important role in shaping public opinion.

vi) (vi) They provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.

5. What are recognised political parties?

Answers:

i) (i) National parties are some countrywide parties and almost follow similar policies and programmes at the national level.

ii) (ii) Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. The Commission offers some special facilities to the large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol—only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol.

iii) (iii) Parties that get this privilege and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called ‘Recognised Political Parties’.

iv) (iv) The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised party.

6. What are the main policies of Indian National Congress?

Answers:

i) (i) It was founded in 1885 and played a dominant role in Indian politics at the national and state level for several decades after India’s independence.

ii) (ii) A centrist party in its ideology, it favours secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. It supports new economic reforms but with a human face.

iii) (iii) It emerged as the largest party with 145 members in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004. It led the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government at the Centre.

iv) (iv) It lost elections in 2014 and secured 44 seats. Currently, it is the principal opposition party in Lok Sabha.

7. Who formed BSP? What are its main policies?

Answers: BSP was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Shri Kanshi Ram.

8. What do you know about Communist Party of India (CPI)?

Answers: It was formed in 1925 and believes in Marxism, Leninism, secularism and democracy.

9. Define Political Party. Describe any four challenges before the political parties in India.

Answers: Definition of Political parties in India :

i) A political party is a group of people to contest election and hold power in the government.

ii) Challenges before political parties in India:

iii) 1. Lack of internal democracy.

iv) 2. Lack of transparency.

v) 3. Dynastic succession

vi) 4. Money and muscle power

vii) 5. Lack of meaningful choice.

10.What are the chief characteristics of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)?

Answers: It was founded in 1964 and believes in Marxism and Leninism.

11.How was Nationalist Congress Party formed? What are its policies?

Answers: It was formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress Party.

12.What is the status of regional parties in India

Answers:

i) (i) Some of the regional parties have succeeded only in some states.

ii) (ii) Parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level political organisation with units in several states.

iii) (iii) Over the years, the number and strength of these parties have expanded.

iv) (iv) No single national party is able to secure majority on its own in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with state parties.

v) (v) Since 1996, nearly everyone of the state parties got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition government. This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy in our country.

13.Elucidate some of the recent efforts taken in our country to reform political parties and its leaders OR Examine any two institutional amendments made by different institutions to reform political parties and their leaders

Answers: The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now, if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature.

14.“All over the world, people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well. Analyse the statement with arguments

Answers: Popular dissatisfaction and criticism: It has focused on four areas in the working of political parties, need to face and overcome these challenges in order to remain effective instruments of democracy. Lack of internal democracy within parties.

i) (i) Dynastic succession: Since most political parties do not practice open a transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Those who happen to be leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family member.

ii) (ii) Growing role of money and muscle power in parties: Since parties are focused only on mining elections, they land to use short cuts to win elections. They feed to nominate those considers who have or can raise lot of mercy. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. In some cases parties support climates who can win election.

iii) (iii) There is not a meaningful choice to the voters: In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological parties of the world. Sometimes different leaders either because shifting from one party to another.

15.What suggestions are often made to reform political parties? OR Suggest any five effective measures to reform political parties.

Answers: A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow its own constitution, to act as a judge in case of party disputes and to hold open elections to the highest post.

16.What is meant by dynastic succession in politics?

Answers: A rule in which the family’s generation rules forever and there it is no change.

i) (i) Since most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.

ii) (ii) Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members.

iii) (iii) In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.

iv) (iv) This is unfair to other members of that party. This is also bad for democracy, since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support, came to occupy positions of power.

v) (v) This tendency is present in some measure, all over the world, including in some of the older democracies.

Eg. Nehru family in India.

Nixon family in USA

Clinton family in USA

HOT Questions

1. “Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy. Analyse the statement with examples. OR “About hundred years ago there were a few countries that had hardly any political party. Now, there are a few countries that do not have political parties. Examine this statement.

Answers: Political parties are necessary condition for a democracy.

i) (i) Without political parties democracies cannot exist.

ii) (ii) If we do not have political parties - in such a situation every candidate in elections will be independent.

iii) (iii) No one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes.

iv) (iv) The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As we have seen, large societies need representative’s democracy.

v) (v) The government may be formed but its utility will remain uncertain. They needed same ways to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed.

vi) (vi) They needed some mechanisms to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them.

vii) (vii) Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in their locality.

viii)(viii) Political parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the legislature in which ruling party plays a major role.

ix) (ix) Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.

x) (x) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising for its failure or wrong policies.

xi) (xi) Parties shape public opinions. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people.

xii) (xii) But no one will be responsible for how the country will run.

xiii)(xiii) The role of opposition party in a democracy necessiates the existence of political parties.

xiv) (xiv) As societies become large and complex, they also needed some agencies to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government, that is why political parties are needed.

xv) (xv) Political parties fulfil these needs that every representative government has. We can say that parties are necessary condition for a democracy.

The problem of bad politics can be solved by more and better politics.

2. What is the role of an ordinary citizen in reforming the political parties? Or Examine critically the role of an ordinary citizen in strengthening and deepening democracy.

Answers:

i) (i) People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups, movements and the media can play an important role.

ii) (ii) In a democracy, everybody has been given the right to speak, right to express his ideas and right to agitate.

iii) (iii) Political parties can improve if those who are interested, also join the political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation.

iv) (iv) If political parties feel that they would lose public support by not taking up reforms, they would become more serious about reforms.

It is difficult to reform politics if ordinary citizens do not take part in it and simply criticise it from outside. The problem of bad politics can be solved by more and better politics.

3. Is it true that meaningful choice is not given to the voters?

Answers:

i) Often parties do not seem to offer meaningful choice to voters.

ii) In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different from each other.

iii) In recent years, there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.

iv) In our country, the differences among all the major parties on the economic policies have reduced.

v) Those who actually want different policies, have no option available to them.

vi) Sometimes, people cannot even elect very different leader either because the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.

4. Analyse the role of political parties in shaping public opinion

Answers: Role of political parties in shaping public opinion

i) (i) They raise and highlight issues of public interest.

ii) (ii) Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread over the country.

iii) (iii) Many of the pressure groups are extensions of political parties

iv) (iv) Parties sometimes also launch movement for the resolution of problems faced by people

5. Which three challenges do you feel are being faced by political parties in India? Give your opinion

Answers: The three challenges faced by Political parties in India are:

(i) Lack of internal democracy.

i) (a) All over the world, there is a tendency of political parties towards the concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top.

ii) (b) Parties do not keep membership register.

iii) (c) They do not conduct internal elections regularly.

iv) (d) Ordinary members of the party do not have sufficient information as to what happens inside the party.

(ii) No Transparency

v) (a) Since most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning, these are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.

vi) (b) Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to famous people close to them or even their family member.

vii) (c) In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.

(iii) Money and Muscle Power

viii)(a) Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend to use short cuts to win elections.

ix) (b) They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise a lot of money.

x) (c) Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.

6. What are the main features of BJP manifesto?

Answers:

i) (i) It was founded in 1980 by reviving Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

ii) (ii) It wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values. Cultural nationalism is an important element of its manifesto.

iii) (iii) It wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu & Kashmir with India.

iv) (iv) It also promotes a Uniform Civil Code for all people living in the country, irrespective of religion and ban on religious conversions.

Important Terms

1. Partisanship is a tendency to support a particular group, cause or viewpoint over another.

2. Election: A formal and organised choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.

3. Ruling Party or governing party in a democratic parliamentary system is the incumbent political party or coalition of the majority in parliament that administers the affairs of state.

4. Opposition Party: The opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country. It is the party that goes against another party.

5. Election Commission is a body charged for overseeing the implementation of election procedures.

6. Two-party System is a party system where two major political parties dominate the government. One of the two parties typically holds a majority in the legislature and is usually referred to as the majority or governing party while the other is the minority or opposition party.

7. Communism: A theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.

8. Communist: A person who supports or believes in the principles of communism.

9. Multi-party System is a system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national election, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition.

10. Alliance: A union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organisations.

11. Federal: Having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.

12. Federalism: The federal principle or system of government.

13. Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch. The name is used by a number of countries, including member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations and other countries.

14. Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the Lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, with the Upper house being the Rajya Sabha.

15. Rajya Sabha: Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Membership of Rajya Sabha is limited by the Constitution to a maximum of 250 members, and current laws have provision for 245 members.

16. Marxism: Marxism is a method of socioeconomic analysis that analyzes class relations and societal conflict using a materialist interpretation of historical development and a dialectical view of social transformation.

17. Internal Democracy also known as intra-party democracy, refers to the level and methods of including party members in the decision making and deliberation within the party structure.

18. Defection: The desertion of one’s country or cause in favour of an opposing one.

19. Affidavit: A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.