STUDENT’S COMPANION- UNIT PLAN 1

INDEX
 DEMOCRATIC POLITY

Introduction to the Unit: -

This unit contains the content related to Democratic Polity. In this unit we will study about
Democracy and its different parameters such as What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Electoral
Politics, Constitutional Design and Working of Institutions

Learning Objectives: -

The unit will enable to: -

● Understand the characteristics of democracy to identify the features of democratic

government
● Suggest how democracy can be established and argue in favour of democracy.
● Sympathize for rule of law and respect for others’ rights.
● Explain how democracy provides the best way of conflict resolution.
● Understand the need of constitution and explain the evolving process of Constitution
● Familiarise with electoral system and draw conclusion how an electoral system is the
pioneer institute of democracy.
● Recognize and identify the significant role of institutions in democracy

Key Concept – System

Related Concept- System, Governance

Global Concept: Fairness and development

(Sharing the planet: an inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite
resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within
and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.)

Statement of Inquiry: - The polity of a nation is the outcome of its historical experience and
people's aspirations.
 WEEK 1

Activity: Group discussion and case studies of Chile, Poland and Bangladesh.

Conduct a group discussion on the Political Upheaval of different countries (refer to case studies
of Chile and Poland given in NCERT Book “DEMOCRATIC POLITICS-I at page no 4-7 for the
discussion). After the group discussion reflect your understanding on the following questions and
write your reflections in the space provided:

What have you understood regarding Democracy? Write your answers after reflecting on the
following points:

❖ “What is Democracy?”
❖ Features of democracy
❖ Different ways of defining democracy
❖ Democracy as a most prevalent form of government.
❖ Democracy and International Organisation
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Worksheet: WRITE YOUR OPINIONS and UNDERSTANDING

❖ Does your opinion matter in your family decisions?

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❖ “In U.N.O. Security council only five countries have VETO Power.” Do you think that
such a system is diluting the feature of Democracy? Justify your answer.

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❖ Do you think that there is any alternate form to Democracy?

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 Additional Information (Interesting Facts)
❖ India is the largest democracy in the world.
❖ Bhutan is the youngest democracy in the world.
❖ The top 25 richest countries in the world are democratic.
❖ Enlist the name of the countries with minimum age to cast their vote.

You may explore many more interesting facts about democracy. Record your findings in the box
given below and share it in your class:

For further understanding the video links and texts provided below can be referred:

Textbooks to refer to

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess401

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess402

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eu6G5YrBt4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XLE0VYTYhw

https://youtu.be/2ynVQKQVJDU
Section end Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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 WEEK 2

Activity: Situation analysis.

Write your ideas related to non-democratic situations, the merit and demerit of Democracy and
needs as well as challenges of democracy. (Activity given in NCERT on page no 34)

Ideas related to non-democratic situation:

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Merits & Arguments for democracy

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Arguments against democracy

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Need and challenges of democracy

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Worksheet: Write your Opinion and Understandings

If you were the facilitator of a class, how will you make your class more democratic?

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Should every democracy have the same institutions and values?

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Why has democracy become the most prevalent form of government in present time?

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Why democracy is valuable in your life? Give some examples from your own experiences.

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Additional Information (Interesting Facts)

❖ Our pioneer leaders of freedom struggle envisioned our country as democracy before
independence.
❖ The General Assembly of United Nation has equal status for its 193 member countries but
not in Security Council.

You may explore many more interesting facts about democracy. Record your findings in the box
given below and share it in your class:

Textbooks to refer to

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess402

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess401
Section end Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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 WEEK 3

Activity: Poll Referendum

After participating in the poll survey conducted by the facilitator in the classroom through ICT
reflect on the following,

Do you think your opinion matters in decision making? Justify your answer in the space provided
below:

(A) Matters
(B) Doesn’t matter

(C) Don’t Know

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Discuss and record your understanding on the points provided in the Unit with topic. “Electoral
Politics”

Need for and importance of election in democracy

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Features of democratic election

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Election process in India

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Electoral constituencies

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Independent Election Commission

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Challenges to free and fair election

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Section end Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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 WEEK 4

Activity:

Collect newspaper clippings about elections in India and any other country. Classify them into the
following categories.

a) System of representation
b) Voter eligibility
c) Role of NGOs, Civil Societies
d) Role of the election commission

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/legal-voting-age-by-country.html

Enlist the name of countries that have different political set up other than democracy?

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Explore the name of countries which have minimum age to vote to elect their representatives.

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Through which activities NGOs and Civil Societies are trying to campaign to make election more
participative.

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For further understanding the text links and video links provided below can be referred:

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess404
https://youtu.be/CG9wDhw6eI4

https://youtu.be/r_VuXsjBHKg

Section end Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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 WEEK 5

Activity:

Watch the video “SAMVIDHAAN” https://youtu.be/0U9KDQnIsNk

After watching the video write down the steps to make your own rules and regulation framework
for the smooth functioning of school.

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Which modern mechanism will you suggest to get more participative and democratic ideas for
debate and discussions while framing a constitution in contemporary society?

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Worksheets: YOUR OPINIONS and UNDERSTANDINGS

● Why do we need constitution?

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● What were the circumstances at the time of making the constitution of India?
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● Our constitution is a living document. Compare and analyse with the different
constitutions.

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For further understanding the text book and video links provided below can be referred

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess403
https://youtube.com/watch?v=P6JXnR5SfEA&feature=share

https://youtu.be/GfAkL-me3YA

Section end Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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 WEEK 6

Activity listed: “Walls of Institutions”

Classify the news from provided newspapers on cardboards for display on classroom walls by
identifying and categorizing news related to the different political institutions. Paste news of
different institutions on specified cardboards.
Reflect your thoughts on the following points

1. Specify any law made by judiciary except legislature.

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2. Clarify the function of temporary executive as well as permanent executive
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3. All the institution are pioneer in itself, if you would like to contribute your role then which
one be your preference and why?
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Worksheets

While watching the movie Nayak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXno0KbzIPw, three

friends started discussion, Ramesh said to Naresh this is what the country needs. Naresh said this
kind of a personal rule without institutions is dangerous. Rekha said all this is a fantasy. No
minister can do anything in one day. What would be your reaction to such a film?
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Why are parliamentary democracies seen as Prime Ministerial form of government in recent
decades?

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How does centralization of power within a single entity harm the core of democracy? You can
think on the pointers given below and write your reflections:

● Recognize the significant role of institutions in democracy

● Identify institutions as a pillar of democracy
● Know the importance of democratic process in decision making

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For further understanding the text book and video links provided below can be referred

https://www.philoid.com/app?o=all&a=ncert&n=/9/136/iess403

https://youtu.be/p0moBiWUUYM

https://youtu.be/oU4VvQ3LWNE
https://youtu.be/V8hf7bC4Yf0

https://youtu.be/2g56PMeuKMo

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P6JXnR5SfEA&feature=share

https://youtu.be/Ch0xIaQmRK0
Unit End Reflections:

1.What got created at the end of the section? (My learning)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.What worked well for me? (Understood well)

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3. What did not work? (Not understood)

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4. What are we going to do differently?

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5. How will I use learning from the unit in my daily life?

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6. Any other topic related to the concept you want to explore?

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