Political Science NCERT Notes | Class 9

Team Shashank Sajwan

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

(Rule by the people)
● Features:
○ Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the
people.
○ A democracy must be based on free and fair elections where those currently
in power have a fair chance of losing.
○ In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must
have one value.
○ A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and
citizen's rights.
● Arguments for:
○ A democratic govt. is a better govt. 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.
○ Democracy is better than other forms of govt. because it allows us to correct
our own mistakes.
● Arguments against:
○ Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
○ Democracy is all about political competition and power play.
○ Many people have to be consulted in a democracy that leads to delays.
○ Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad
decisions.
○ Democracy leads to corruption because it is based on electoral competition.

CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
● Lays down the procedures for the formation of a government.
● The Constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people
living in a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and
government.
○ Functions:
■ First, it generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary
for different kinds of people to live together.

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 ■ Second, it specifies how the government will be constituted, who will
have power to take which decisions.
■ Third, it lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells
us what the rights of the citizens are.
■ Fourth, it expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a
good society.
● Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of the:
○ French revolution.
○ The practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain.
○ The bill of rights in the US.
○ The Socialist revolution in Russia had also inspired many Indians.
● Assembly of elected representatives is called the constituent assembly.
● The constituent assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution had 299 members. The
assembly adopted the constitution on 26-Nov-1949 but it came into effect on 26-
Jan-1950. To mark this day, we celebrate 26 January as "Republic Day" every year.
● Dr. Ambedkar, "On the 26th Jan 1950, we are going to enter a life of contradictions.
In politics we will have equality and in social & economic life we will have inequality."
○ In the following quotation “WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA having solemnly
resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic
Republic and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE social economic and
political; LIBERTY of thought expression belief faith and worship; EQUALITY
of status and of opportunity: and to promote among them all; FRATERNITY
assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and the integrity of the
Nation. In our Constituent Assembly this ‘X’ do hereby adopt, enact and
give to ourselves this Constitution.” ‘X’ stands for:
a) twenty-sixth day of January 1950
b) twenty-sixth day of November 1949
c) twenty-sixth day of January 1949
d) None of the above

ELECTORAL POLITICS
● In a democracy the will of the people is supreme.
● Mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals &
change them.
● The country is divided into different areas for the purposes of elections. These areas
are called electoral constituencies.
○ Each state is divided into a specific no. of assembly constituencies.

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 ● Famous Slogans:
○ Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’
(remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971.
○ 'Save Democracy’ was the slogan given by Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha
election held in 1977.
○ Protect the self-respect of the Telugus' slogan was used by N.T Rama Rao,
the leader of the (TDP) in AP assembly elections in 1983.

WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS
● The President is the head of the state.
○ The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions
in the country so that they operate in harmony.
● The Prime Minister is the head of the government.
○ The PM & the Cabinet take all important policy decisions.
○ The PM is the most important political institution in the country.
● Civil Servants, working together are responsible for taking steps to implement the
government’s decisions.
● The Supreme Court is an institution where disputes between citizens and the
government are finally settled.
○ A judge can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately
by two-thirds members of the two houses of the parliament.
● Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country.
○ Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues
and national policy in any country.
○ Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters.
● Ministers:
○ Council of Ministers: all ministers (60-80).
○ Cabinet Ministers: top level leaders that have important ministries.
○ MoS with independent charge: in-charge of smaller ministries.
○ Minister of State: attached to & required to assist the cabinet minister.
● Parliamentary form of government also known as Cabinet form of government.

DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
● Rights are claims of a person over other fellow beings, over the society and over the
government.
○ Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognised by society and
sanctioned by law.
○ Rights protect minorities from the oppression of the majority.
● Fundamental rights(six): fundamental (essential) to our life are given special status.
○ Right to Equality (Art. 14-18)

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 ○ Right to Freedom (Art. 19-22)
○ Right Against Exploitation (Art. 23-24)
○ Right to Freedom of Religion (Art. 25-28)
○ Cultural & Educational Rights (Art. 29-30)
○ Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art. 32): right to seek the enforcement of
the above-mentioned right.
“The heart & soul of the constitution” - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
● “Equality does not mean giving everyone the same treatment, no matter what they
need. Equality means giving everyone an equal opportunity to achieve whatever one
is capable of”.

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