RENAISSANCE

ACADEMY
CHAPTER -01 , POL. SCIENCE , CLASS -10 , CLASSES BY – SHIVAM KOHLI SIR
3 AND 5 MARKS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q-01 WHAT IS MAJORITISM ? EXPLAIN IN CONTEXT OF SRI-LANKA ?

ANS-01 Majoritarianism in a country means, the needs and wishes of a minority

community is completely disregarded by the majority community and the majority
community believes it should be able to rule the country as per its wishes in any
manner.

MAJORITISM IN SRI- LANKA CAN BE UNDERSTAND BY FOLLOWING POINTS

1. RISE OF MAJORITISM -After Sri Lanka became independent of the colonial rule in
1948, it had two major communities, the Sinhalese (74 per cent) and the Tamilians
(18 per cent). As the Sinhalese were in majority, they elected themselves to power,
introduced a series of majoritarian policies to ascertain the supremacy of their
community.
2. HEGEMONY OF SINHALAS IN GOVT POST -They appointed Sinhalese people to
preferential positions in government and also made Sinhala as the only official
 language of the nation. Various government measures gradually increased the
feeling of alienation among the Tamilians of Sri Lanka.
3. DEMAND OF TAMIL ELAM STATE - This led to dissent among the Tamilian
community, which with time strained the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil
communities. The distrust between both the communities finally culminated into a
Civil war, with Tamilians demanding the formation of independent Tamil state in
northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
4. CIVIL WAR -This led to thousands of people being killed in the civil war.Thus, the
assertive policies of the majority community threatened the unity and integrity of
the country.

Q-02 HOW ACT OF 1951 ESTABLISHED SINHALAS SUPERMACY IN SRI-LANLA?

ANS-02

1. In 1956 an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language thus
disregarding Tamil.
2. The governments followed preferential politics that favoured Sinhala applicants for
university positions and government jobs.
3. A new Constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism
4. Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist
Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture.v As a result the
relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained overtime and it soon
turned into a Civil War.

Q-03 WHAT IS POWER SHARING ? WHY POWER SHARING IS DESIRABLE ?

ANS-03 Power-sharing is desirable due to the following reasons

  It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict and clashes between social groups.

 Secondly, a democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its
exercise, and who have to live with its effects.

 People will have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed and can
change the power in the next upcoming years.
 IT IS SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY , IT GIVE RIGHT TO PEOPLE HOW THEY WANTED
TO GOVERN.

Q-04 WRITE AND EXPLAIN DIFFERENT METHODS OF POWER SHARING ?

ANS-04 There are different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies which are
listed below

 Horizontal distribution of power – Power is shared among different organs of

government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Example – India This
distribution ensures that none of the organs can exercise and utilise unlimited
power. Each and every organ keeps an eye on the others. This system of
arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

 The federal division of power – Power can be shared among governments at

different levels. A general central government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial or state and regional level. Example – India Union
Government that is central government & State Government.

 Community government – Power can also be shared among different socially

active groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. Example – Belgium

 Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups and movements – This

kind of power-sharing competition ensures that power does not remain in one
single hand. For a longer duration, power is shared among different political
parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
 Q-05 Explain the steps taken in Belgium to accommodate the ethinic diversity ?

ANS -05 Belgium accommodated its diverse population by working out an arrangement
which suited to the needs of various communities. It was done in the following ways:
1. Though the Dutch were in majority in the country, the French and Dutch speaking
population was given equal representation in the Central government.
2. Belgium was declared as a Federal state, and thus State governments were given
important powers. The State governments did not act a subordinate to the Central
government.
3. The capital city of Brussels had a separate government. Though the French speaking
population was in majority in the city, they accepted equal representation in Brussels.
This was because the Dutch speaking people had accepted equal representation in
the Central government in spite of being in majority.
4. Community government also existed in Belgium which was elected by major linguistic
groups namely, Dutch, French and German speaking people. This government looked
after educational, language and educational issues
Q -06 what do you mean by system of checks and balances ?

ANS-06 SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES CAN BE UNDERSTAND BY FOLLOWING

POINTS -

● The horizontal power of distribution is called the system of checks and balances.

● It is a means to allow different organs operating at the same level to have different
powers.

● Each organ ‘checks’ the other by ensuring none of the other organs exercises
unlimited.

● It helps to maintain a ‘balance’ of power.

● The ministers are responsible to the Parliament or state assemblies.

● Judges are also appointed to check the functioning of the departments or laws made
by the legislature.