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Power
Sharing
CH 1 Civics | Class 10
Hand Written Notes
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 POWER {HARING
* An intelligent sharing of power among legislature ,

executive and judiciary is

very important to
design of
democracy .

* Case
of Belgium :

•
Small country in Europe .
.

•
Population is about 9 crore .

• Shames border with France ,

Netherlands
Germany ,
Luxemburg .

* Ethane composition of Belgium :

→
59% Dutch live in Flemish region .

→
40% French live in Wallonia .

* Population composition in Brussel

.se :

Dutch majority in country but

minority in
→ -

capital .

→ French -
were rich and powerful which was
resented by Dutch
speaking community .

→ In 9950 , -
60 -
tension between these communities
were severe in Brussels .

* Ease of Sri Lanka :

a Island nation on the south coast of Tamil Nadu .

4 Population is about 2 crore .

 4 It has diverse population .

* Tamil Population :

4 Two sub-groups which were :

Religious Composition

v
v v

Sinhala Tamil Speaks

speakers speakers both
(Buddhist)
( 74%)
( Hindu
Muslim )
and
thy;D;ian)
* Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka :

4
Emerged as an independent country in 9948 .

Leaders of the Sinhala community dominated

the
government .

a Results :
Democratically elected government adopted a
series MAJORITARIAN
of measures to establish
Sinhala
supremacy .

* Steps Taken by Government :

49956 : Sinhala become the only official language ,

Tamil
thus
disregarding .

4 Government jobs and universities position were given

to them .

4A new constitution stipulated that the state shall

and
protect foster Buddhism .

* Reaction of Tamils :

Launched panties and struggle for :

Recognising Tamil
e. as official Language .
 e.
Regional autonomy .

e.
Equal opportunities .

* However the demands of Tamils were not

considered and make them feel like outsiders .

*
Result of this civil war
,
in which 9000,
of
people were killed .

* Accommodation in
Belgium :

They recognised the existence

of cultural and regional
difference .

Ammended the constitution 4

times to resolve this problem .

* Elements of Belgium model :

•
Both French and Dutch
got equal representation in
central government .

Many powers of central government have been

given
to state government .

•
Separate Government in Brussels with equal representation
of both the community .

* What did we learned ?

Belgium
-

Sri Lanka
•

Unity in the country -

the possible only by respecting

•
Country 's unity get
feelings and interests .
crippled -

majority community
forces its dominance and
Result -

Mutually acceptable refuses to share power .

arrangements for
power sharing .
* Why is power sharing desirable ?

Prudential Reason Mal Reason

→
Helps to reduce the →
Power sharing is the
possibility of conflict very spirit of Democracy .

between social
group .

* Forms of Power Sharing :

Horizontal Distribution Vertical Distribution

Among different Political parties and

social groups pressure groups

 1 Mark Questions

1. Define Majoritarianism.
[1M, 2021 Sample Paper]
A1. 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.

2. Define Ethnicity
[1M, 2021 Sample Paper]
A2. A social division based on shared culture/ people belonging to
. same ethnic group believes in their common descent.

3. Correct the following statement and rewrite:

In Srilanka, an Act was passed in 1956 to recognise Tamil as
the only official language, disregarding Sinhala.
 [1M, 2020]
A3. In Srilanka, an Act was passed in 1956 to recognise Sinhala
. as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.

4. Correct the following statement and rewrite:

Belgium is a small country in Europe and share borders with
France, Italy, Germany and Luxembourg
[1M, 2020]
A4. Belgium is a small country in Europe and share borders with
. France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.

5. Recognize the form of power sharing which is represented by

the Community Government in Belgium
[1M, 2019]
A5. Power sharing among different social groups like the religious
. and linguistic groups
 6. How did the feeling of alienation develop among the Sri Lankan
Tamils?
[1M, 2019]
A6. The measures of the act of 1956 introduced by Sinhalese
. Government made the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated. They
. felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist
. Sinhalese were sensitive towards their language and culture.
. They also felt that the constitution and policies of the
. government denied them equal political rights, discriminated
. against them in terms of jobs and other opportunities by
. ignoring their interests.

7. After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of

which community?
[1M, 2015]
A7. Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the
. democratically elected government adopted a series of
. measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.

8. What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’?

[1M, 2015]
 A8.
The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is
shared among different organs of government—the
legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs
of government placed at the same level to exercise different
powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also called a
system of checks and balances. This system ensures that
none of these organs can exercise unlimited power. Each
organ checks the other.

9. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected

government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala Supremacy?
[1M, 2014]
A9.
• In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official
language.
• The government followed preferential policies favouring
Sinhala applicants for University positions and government
jobs.

10. What is the language spoken by the people residing in the

Wallonia region of Belgium?
 [1M, 2014]
A10. People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

3 Mark Questions

11. What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in

a country rules? Give reasons to justify your answer.
[3M, 2018]
A11. 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 is majoritarianism.

Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.

• The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in
opposition to the notions of undivided political power.
• A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to
accommodate it, is good for democracy.
• Power in the hands of one community will make the
other community feel marginalised, deprived and
discriminated.
12. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies
adopted by the Sri Lankan government.
[3M, 2013]
A12. Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The
. democratically elected government adopted a series of
. majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy.
Consequences of these majoritarian policies:

1. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political
parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive
to their language and culture and the government policies
denied them equal political rights which led to increased
feeling of alienation among them.
2. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied
them equal rights in politics, in getting jobs and ignored
their interests. The relation between the Tamil and
Sinhala communities became extremely strained as a
result.
3. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for
the recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and
equality of opportunity in every field.

13. How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is
keeping with the spirit of democracy?
 [3M, 2012]
A13.
• Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to
reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Conflict between social groups 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, in the

long run may undermine 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.

• 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. Prudential
reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes
whereas moral reasons emphasize the act of power sharing
as valuable.

14. Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri
Lankans have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity.
[3M, 2012]
A14. Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have
.. dealt with the problem of cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:
1. Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is
important to respect the feelings and interests of different
communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number
of Dutch and French speaking people shall be equal in the
Central Government.
2. Both Dutch and French communities share power on an
equal basis at the Centre. Along with the State
Government, both communities have a third kind of
Government called ‘Community Government’ which decides
on cultural, education and language related issues.
3. Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended
four times to enable all linguistic groups to live together
within the same country.

Sri Lanka:
1. In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the
Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking (18%). The
majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their
domination over Tamils, refusing to share power.
2. Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese
have denied political, educational, religious, employment
and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.
3. In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise
Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding
Tamil.
 5 Mark Questions

15. ‘Power sharing is the essence of a democratic government.’

Examine the statement.
[5M, 2021 Sample Paper]
A15.
(i) Power is shared among different organs of government,
such as the legislature, executive and judiciary also called as
Horizontal power sharing. Example – India

(ii) Power can be shared among governments at different levels

– a general government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial or regional level. Example –
India (Union Government & State Government)

(iii) Community government – Power may also be shared among

different social groups such as the religious and linguistic
groups. Example – Belgium

(iv) Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups

and movements – Such competition ensures that power
does not remain in one hand.

(v) In the long run, power is shared among different political

parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
16. Explain with examples the accommodative experience of
Belgium for peace and harmony
[5M, 2020]
A16.
i. Dutch and French speaking ministers got equal in the
central govt.

ii. Many Powers of the central government have been given to

state government

iii. The state Government was not subordinate to the Central

Govt.

iv. Brussels has a separate Govt. in which both the

communities have equal representation.

v. There is a third kind of Govt. called community Govt.

elected by the people belonging to Dutch, French and
German no matter where they live.

17. ‘Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and

negotiation’. Examine the statement.
[5M, 2020]
A17.
i. Democracy gives importance to deliberation and public
opinion.
 ii. The democratic government will take more time to follow
procedures before arriving at a decision.

iii. Its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and
more effective.

iv. Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on

norms and procedures.

v. Transparency as Persons have the right and the means to

examine the process of decision making.

vi. It follows procedures and is accountable to the people.

18. ‘Respect and equal treatment of women are necessary

ingredients of a democratic society’. Examine the statement.
[5M, 2020]
A18.
i. Economic independence or access to an inherited or self-
generated income is considered to be the major means of
empowering women.

ii. Equal political and civil rights as men

iii. Ways of autonomy and freedom.

iv. Distributive justice to reduce inequalities in resources and

power.
 v. Love, universal brotherhood, sincerity, honesty and integrity
of character, firm attitude of rendering help

vi. Removing social evils including violence, torture, humiliation

etc.

19. Compare the situation of Belgium and Sri Lanka considering

their location, size and cultural aspects.
[5M, 2019]
A19.
20. How does the idea of power-sharing emerge? Explain different
forms that have common arrangements of power-sharing.
[5M, 2019]
A20. Power-sharing has emerged as a strong substitute to the
. idea of undivided political power, which believed in giving
. power to one person or group of people located in one place.
. The core principle of power sharing is that people are the
. source of all political powers. Common forms of power-
. sharing are:

• Vertical division of power: The sharing of power can be

done at the different levels of the govt. – a central govt,
for the entire country and governments at the provincial
or regional level. This type is usually called the federal
government.
• Horizontal division of power: In this form, the power is
divided among different organs of govt, such as the
legislature, the executive and the judiciary. It places
different organs of the government at the same level.
• Power is also shared among different social groups such
as religious and linguistic groups eg: community govt.
• Various power-sharing arrangement can also be seen in
the way political parties, pressure groups and
movements control or influence those in power.
21. “Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the
statement.
[5M, 2015]
A21.
1. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected
by its exercise. Power sharing ensures that people have the
right to be consulted and have equal participation in the
government.
2. In a democracy, each individual has a say in governance
through their elected representatives. This is the essence of
power sharing that grants equal rights to each citizen.
3. Sharing of power ensures that respect for diversity and desire
for living together becomes a shared ideal amongst different
communities in a country. It actually makes the country united
and the administration easier.
4. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing would bring out
better outcomes by helping to reduce the possibility of any
conflict between the social groups.
5. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political
order through unity of the nation.

22. Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of

alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils?
 [5M, 2014]
A22. Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The
. democratically elected government adopted a series of
. measures to establish Sinhala supremacy:

1. In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official

language.
2. The government followed preferential policies favouring
Sinhala applicants for University positions and
government jobs.
3. The Constitution provided for State protection and
fostering of Buddhism.

The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political
parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to
their language and culture and the government policies
denied them equal political rights which led to increased
feeling of alienation among them.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the
recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of
opportunity in every field.

Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to

establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust between the two
communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil
War.