DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

Secunderabad
NACHARAM | MAHENDRA HILLS | NADERGUL

SUBJECT: SOCIAL SCIENCE OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY CLASS: X

Name:_________________________, Class/Sec:________, Roll No:________

1. Why is democracy better than any other form of government?

Democracy is better than any other form of government because it
A. Promotes equality among citizens,
B. Enhances the dignity of the individual
C. Improves the quality of decision making.
D. Provides a method to resolve conflicts.
E. Allows room to correct mistakes.
2. Why is there an overwhelming support for democratic form of government all over the world?
 It is a representative form of government.
 Decision making is based on norms and procedures. As it is takes decision after deliberation and
discussion, it is both acceptable to the people and more effective.
 All the decisions taken are based on needs of the people
 It is a form of government where freedom and dignity of individual is recognized.
3. How does democracy produce an accountable , responsive and legitimate government ?
 In a democracy people have the right to choose their representatives who form the government and the
people will have control over them.
 Whenever possible and necessary , citizens should be able to participate in decision making
 It is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation
 Democracy ensures that decision making is based on norms and procedures .A citizen has the right and
means to examine the decision making process which is called transparency
 A responsive government is one which responds positively to the needs and aspirations of the people.
 Government takes decisions and frames policies which are acceptable to the people
 A legitimate government is people’s own government .People wish to be ruled by representatives
elected by them in a free and fair manner
4. “Democracies have had greater success in setting free and fair elections.”
 An Independent election commission conducting election as per the norms and procedure
 Election conducted at regular intervals.
 All individuals have the right to vote irrespective of cast , gender, religion.
 Contesting candidate should submit affidavit of properties and cases pending against him /her if any to
bring down the influence of money and muscle power.
 Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties.
 Parties to hold organizational meeting and ensure decision based on consensus.
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5. ‘Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation.’ Explain.
1. Democracy gives importance to deliberation and public opinion.
Democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
So It’s decision may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
2. Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedures.
People have the right and means to examine the process of decision making.
3. Democratic government develops mechanism for citizens to hold the government accountable.
6. How can we say that democracy accommodates social diversities?
 Democracies accommodate various social divisions. It has successfully negotiated differences among
ethnic population in Belgium.
 It develops a procedure to conduct their competition .This reduces the possibility of social tension
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 evolve mechanism to negotiate the differences .Democracy is best
suited to produce this outcome
 Non democratic regimes often a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences.
 In a democracy majority always needs to work with minority so that the government represents the
general view.
 Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion , race or linguistic
group.
 Every section of society is involved in the democratic process.
7. Explain any three weaknesses of democracy.
 Democracy takes more time in decision making.
 Democracy has not been able to reduce economic inequalities.
 The record of democracy shows that most of the democratic countries have failed to remove or reduce
corruption.
 Most democracies have failed to attend to the needs of the majority of its population.
8. Decision making in democracy is slow. Discuss.
 Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation .So some delay is bound to take place.
More over the decisions are taken based on norms and procedures.
 In a dictatorship the rulers can be very quick in decision making and implementation .But it may take
decision that are not accepted by the people and may face problems.
 In contrast the decision taken in a democracy may both be more acceptable to the people and more
effective because it had followed procedures. So the cost of time taken is worth it.
9. What are the two conditions that democracy must fulfil to accommodate social diversifies?
 Democracy is not simply the rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the
minority so that governments function to represents the general view .
 Majority and minority opinions are not permanent.
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  It is also necessary that the rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of
religion, race or linguistic group.
 Rule by majority means that incase of every decision or in case of every election different persons and
groups may and form a majority.
 Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some
point of time If someone barred from being in majority on the basis of birth .the democratic rule ceases
to be accommodative for that person or group.
10. Compare democracy and dictatorship in terms of their ability in their ability to deliver faster
economic growth.
 In terms of faster economic growth dictatorship has shown a better record than democracy.
 Records show that even poor countries under dictatorship have shown faster growth rate than
democracy.
 The difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with democracy
and dictatorships is negligible. (Poor countries under democracy 4.28% poor countries under
dictatorship 4.34%).
 It has also been observed that development depends upon various other factors other than the form of
govt like the population of the country, global situation, cooperation from other countries, economic
priorities adopted by the countries etc.
 Moreover if the opinion of the people is taken they still prefer to have democracy in spite of its inability
to provide better growth and development because democracy provides freedom of choice and liberty,
legitimate, responsive, accountable govt, and right to change the rulers.
11. Explain the outcomes of democracy in terms of equal distribution of wealth and removal of poverty.
 Democracy is based on the principle of equality.
 Though all citizens of the country get political equality, we find growing economic inequalities.
 A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a huge part of the wealth and income of the nation. Their share in
the total income of the country has been increasing.
 The income of the poorer section has been declining and many of them find it difficult to meet their
basic needs of life.
 Though poor constitute a large proportion of voters, governments of many countries do not seem to do
much for their improvement. It is easy to muzzle the voice of the poor.
 Many welfare programmes are initiated by the govt for the welfare of the poorer sections of the society
but not implemented effectively.
 The rich also influence the government policies and programmes because of money power.
 The situation is much worse in other countries like Bangladesh where more than half the population
live in utter poverty.
 Democracies don’t appear to be very successful in reducing the gap between the rich and poor.

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12. ‘Democracy stands much superior than any other govt in promoting dignity and freedom of
individual.’ Discuss.
 Democracies all over the world provide equality to all its citizens. No individual is discriminated on the
basis of caste, religion, gender etc.
 Equality implies every individual enjoys freedom and dignity.
 Because these principles are recognized legally it is possible to organize struggles whenever there is
violation of these principles.
 For example in a male dominated society it is possible for women to organize movements and struggles
for enforcement of equal rights whenever there is a violation .This is not possible in a non-democratic
country because freedom and dignity is not legally enforced.
 The same is true in case of cate inequalities .Democracy in India has strengthened the disadvantaged and
the discriminated castes for equal status and opportunity.
 There are instances of caste based inequalities and atrocities but they lack moral and legal foundations.
 It is this recognition which makes ordinary citizens value their democratic rights.
.
13. What is the most distinctive feature of democracy? How do complaints by people become a testimony
to the success of democracy?
 The most distinctive feature of democracy is that its examination never gets over. It is said so because
the expectation from democracy never ends.
 As people get some benefits of democracy they ask for more and want to make democracy even better.
 The fact that people are complaining about the way democracy functions is itself a testimony to the
success of democracy.
 It shows that people have developed awareness and ability to expect and look critically at the
functioning of democracy.
 It shows the success of democracy and transforms people from the position of a subject to that of a
citizen.
 Eg The reservations for women in local self-governing institutions comes from the demands of the
people.
 Most individuals believe that their votes make a difference to the way the government is run.