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    What Is Democracy Why Democracy NOTES

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    This document contains notes from a civics lesson on democracy for 9th grade social science students. It defines key features of democracy, explains how democracy improves decision making, and compares democracy to other forms of government. It also discusses principles like universal suffrage, the rule of law, and provides examples of countries that deny equal voting rights. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is used as an example of a regime that was not considered democratic.

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    What Is Democracy Why Democracy NOTES

    Uploaded by

    Tillu babi
    312 views4 pages
    This document contains notes from a civics lesson on democracy for 9th grade social science students. It defines key features of democracy, explains how democracy improves decision making, and compares democracy to other forms of government. It also discusses principles like universal suffrage, the rule of law, and provides examples of countries that deny equal voting rights. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is used as an example of a regime that was not considered democratic.

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    What is Democracy Why Democracy NOTES

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    This document contains notes from a civics lesson on democracy for 9th grade social science students. It defines key features of democracy, explains how democracy improves decision making, and compares democracy to other forms of government. It also discusses principles like universal suffrage, the rule of law, and provides examples of countries that deny equal voting rights. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is used as an example of a regime that was not considered democratic.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    312 views4 pages

    What Is Democracy Why Democracy NOTES

    Uploaded by

    Tillu babi
    This document contains notes from a civics lesson on democracy for 9th grade social science students. It defines key features of democracy, explains how democracy improves decision making, and compares democracy to other forms of government. It also discusses principles like universal suffrage, the rule of law, and provides examples of countries that deny equal voting rights. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is used as an example of a regime that was not considered democratic.

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    of 4

    Birla Open Minds International School,

    Hyderabad

    GRADE IX Social Science

    CIVICS CHAPTER 1: What Is Democracy? Why Democracy? Notes

    Question 1. What are the three features of democracy?


    Answer:
    Features of democracy are:

    ● Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.


    ● Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the
    current rulers.
    ● This choice and opportunity is available to all people on an equal basis;
    ● The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules
    of the constitution and citizens’ rights. (Any three)

    Question 2. How does democracy improve the quality of decision-making?


    Answer:
    Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. A democratic decision always involves
    many persons, discussions, and meetings. When a number of people put their heads
    together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision. This takes time. But
    there is a big advantage in taking time for important decisions. This reduces the chances of
    rash or irresponsible decisions. Thus, democracy improves the quality of decision-making.

    Question 3. How is democracy better than other forms of government?


    Answer:

    ● It is correct that democracy is better than other forms of government


    because it allows us to correct our own mistakes. There is no guarantee
    that mistakes cannot be made in a democracy.
    ● No form of government can guarantee that. The advantage of a
    democracy is that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long.
    ● There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes. And there is
    room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or
    the rulers can be changed. This cannot happen in a non-democratic
    government.

    Question 4. What does ‘one person, one vote, one value’ mean? Name the countries
    that deny the equal right to vote.
    Answer:
    Democracy is based on a fundamental principle of political equality. In a democracy,
    each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.
    Democracy is linked to the demand for Universal Adult Franchise. Yet, there are
    many instances of denial of the equal right to vote.

    ● Until 2015, in Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote.
    ● Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people
    belonging to the Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.
    ● In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has
    more value than that of an Indian Fijian.

    Question 5. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf is not called a democracy.


    Why?
    Answer:
    Pakistan under the General Pervez Musharraf is not called a democracy because :

    ● The rulers are not elected by the people in Pakistan. People may have
    elected their representatives to the national and provincial assemblies
    but those elected representatives are not really the rulers.
    ● They cannot take the final decisions.
    ● The power to make the final decision rests with army officials and with
    General Musharraf, and none of them are elected by the people.

    Question 6.How popular governments can be undemocratic? Explain with an example.


    Answer:
    In Zimbabwe, since it attained independence in 1980, elections have been held regularly and
    always won by ZANU-Ph the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader, President Robert
    Mugabe, is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. His government has changed
    the constitution several times to increase the powers of the President and make him less
    accountable. Opposition party workers are harassed. Public protests and demonstrations
    against the government are declared illegal. There is a law that limits the right to criticise the
    President. Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling
    party’s version.

    Question 7. What is the significance of the rule of law and respect for rights in a democratic
    country?
    Answer:
    A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won an
    election. It must respect some basic rules. It must respect some guarantees to the
    minorities. Every major decision has to go through a series of consultations.

    Every office bearer has certain rights and responsibilities assigned by the
    constitution and the law. Each of these is accountable not only to the people but also
    to other independent officials.
    Question 7. What are the merits of a democratic government?
    Answer:
    The merits of a democratic government are :

    ● A democratic government is a better government because it is a more


    accountable form of government.
    ● Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
    ● Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
    ● Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
    ● It is better than other forms of government because it allows us to
    correct its own mistakes.

    Question 8.What are the drawbacks of a democracy?


    Answer:
    The following are the drawbacks of a democracy :

    ● Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.


    ● Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no
    scope for morality.
    ● So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to
    delays.
    ● Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to
    bad decisions.
    ● Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
    ● Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not
    decide anything.

    Question 9. What were the steps taken by Musharraf in Pakistan to empower himself?
    Answer:
    The following steps were taken by Musharraf in Pakistan to empower himself:

    ● In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October


    1999. He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared
    himself the ‘Chief Executive’ of the country.
    ● Later, he changed his designation to President and in 2002, held a
    referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension.
    ● In 2002, he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the
    Constitution of Pakistan. According to this Order, the President can
    dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.
    ● The power to take final decisions rested with army officials and with
    General Musharraf.
    ● The work of the civilian cabinet was supervised by a National Security
    Council which was dominated by military officers.

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