RUBY PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL

POLITICAL SCIENCE - POWER SHARING

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

Power sharing is important because it reduces the conflict between different social
groups.power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
- 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.
- One basis of principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.
- Power is shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
- Power can be shared among governments at different levels a Central government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial or regional level.
IMPORTANT TERMS OF THE CHAPTER

1. Coalition Government: When the alliance of two or more parties gets elected and forms a government it is known
as the Coalition Government. This is another form of power sharing.
2. Prudential: Decisions that are based on carefully calculated gains and losses and not based on purely moral
considerations.
3. Majoritarian: A belief that a majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants.
4. Ethnic: Social division based on shared culture. People of the same ethnic group believe in their common descent
5. Community Government: A type of Government which is elected by people belonging to the language
community is called “Community Government”.
6. Horizontal Distribution of Power: A type of distribution in which power is shared among different organs of
government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
7. Vertical Division of Power: It is a very of distribution of power that involves the higher and lower levels of
government such as central, provincial or regional levels.

CBQ-MCQ

1. Identify the correct feature of Unitary form of government from the following options:
(CBSE 2021)
A. There are two or more levels of government.

B. Different tiers of the government govern the same citizens.

C.Each tier of government has its own jurisdiction.

D.The sub-units are subordinate to the central government.
Explanation: The sub-units are subordinate to the central government.
The sub-units are subordinate to the central government is the feature of Unitary form of government

There are two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and select the correct
option. (CBSE 2021)

1. Assertion (A): Power Sharing is good for democracy.

Reason (R): It helps to reduce the possibility of conflicts between social groups.
Explanation: It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Power sharing is a good
way to ensure the stability of political order, since social conflict often leads to political instability and
violence. The possibility of conflict between social groups will be reduced if the power is shared. Power
sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order, since social conflict often leads to political
instability and violence.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

C. Assertion is true but reason is false.

D. Both assertion and reason are false.
2. Assertion (A) : French speaking community in Belgium was rich and powerful.

Reason (R) : Belgian Government favoured French speaking community.

Explanation. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
There was ethnic tension between French speaking and Dutch speaking communities in Belgium.
For resolving, the government adopted a power sharing armgemnt where all the communities got
equal representation.
3. Assertion (A) : Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethical tension among different communities.

Reason (R) : Both the countries resolved the conflict by power sharing arrangement which
gave equal representation to all the communities.
Explanation. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false. Belgians adopted a power sharing model where all the
communities got equal representation; this helped in solving tension between different communities.
However, Sri Lanka tried to promote the supremacy of Sinhala community which eventually led to
civil war. Thus the reason is false.
4. Assertion (A) : Power should reside with one person and group located at one place in a democracy.

Reason (R) : If the power is dispersed, it will not be possible to take decision quickly and enforce it.
Explanation: (d) Both assertion and reason are false. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to
diverse groups and views that exist in the society. Hence, political power should be distributed
among citizens
5. Which of the following aspect best signifies this image of Cartoon? (Fine German
Engineering, pg. 6)
A. Problems of two-party system.

B. Historical rivalry between the party in power and the opposition party.

C. Problems of coalition government.

D.None of above

Explanation-The cartoon refers to the problems of running a coalition government. If any

one party fails to get a majority, they are left with no option but to form a coalition
government. In a coalition government, conflicts are maximum, decision making becomes
slow and they generally result in fall of the government as all the parties want to have the
charge of the key areas (steering wheel as depicted in this cartoon). There cannot be two
steering wheels in car, as it will make it directionless.

6. Study the given caricature. Which of the following options best signifies this cartoon?

A) Concentration of power in few hands

B) Democracy is like a horse-cart

C) Putin and Bush are good friends

D) Democracy was under the control of Putin and Bush

Explanation : In 2005, some new laws were made in Russia giving more powers to its
President. During the same time the US President visited Russia. Here, Putin can be seen
advising. Bush that they got to keep their rein tight, i.e. they should have the maximum
cont
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1. Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies but they follow different systems of
power sharing. Support the statement by giving three points of difference.
Ans. Difference in power sharing of Belgium and Sri Lanka:
i In Belgium the government does not follow preferential policies in matters of jobs and
education. In Sri Lanka the government follows preferential policies in matters of
government jobs and education.
ii In Belgium there is a special government called Community Government to look after the
cultural educational and language related issues. In Sri Lanka the major political parties are
not sensitive to the language and culture of the Tamils.
iii In Belgium there is no discrimination between different religions. In Sri Lanka Buddhism
is the official religion.
2. Explain two main reasons why power sharing is important in a democracy.
Ans.Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict
between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability,
power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. 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.
3. State the main elements of the power sharing model evolved in Belgium.
Ans. The main elements of the power-sharing model evolved in Belgium were:
i Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be
equal in the Central Government. Some special laws require the support of majority of
members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions
unilaterally.
ii Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments of the two
regions of the country. The State Governments are not subordinated to the Central
Government.
iii Brussels had a separate government in which both the communities have equal
representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels
because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central
Government.
iv Apart from the central and the state Government there is a third kind of government called
the Community Government.
v This community government is elected by people belonging to one language community-
Dutch French and German speaking. This government has the power regarding cultural
educational and language related issues.

4. Explain the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing.

Sl. Horizontal Power Sharing Vertical Power Sharing
No.
1. The power is shared among different organs of the Power is shared among the different levels of the
government such as the government like Central, State and
Legislature, executive and judiciary. Panchayats.
2. Organs of the government are placed at the same The Vertical division of Power involves the highest and
level to exercise different powers. lowest levels of government.
3. Each organs checks the other. The state and local government work
independently of higher levels as prescribed by the
government.
HOME ASSIGNMENT
1. “The ethnic composition of Belgium was very complex”. Explain.
2. ‘In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements can take many forms.’ In this
context, describe the different forms power sharing. Why do you think power
sharing is desirable in a democracy?
3. Reading of relevant newspaper articles/clipping on Power sharing and present the
findings in the form of flow chart.
OUTLINE
Division of power between different organs of government
↓
Division of power between central and state government
↓
Power sharing between different political parties
↓
Sharing of power between different social groups
↓
Conclusion
4. Create maps of Belgium and Sri Lanka using various colours to emphasise the
various ethnic groups residing in each nation.