Power Sharing

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 SRI LANKA

• An island country with Colombo as

its capital.
• 74% people speak Sinhala and 18%
people speak Tamil.
• Sinhala is the official language of
Sri Lanka.

MAJORIARIANISM IN SRI
LANKA

• Sri Lanka was

independent in 1948.
• Sinhala community
dominated the
government.
• 1956 Act recognise
Sinhala as the only
official language.
• The state shall protect
and foster Buddhism.
• Political organisation

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formed – (Tamil
Eelam).

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SYNOPSIS
✓ POWER SHARING is a term used to describe a system
of governance in which all major segments of society
are provided a permanent share of power.
✓ Belgium has a very complex ethnic composition
✓ The population of Sri Lanka is diverse, with
74% of Sinhala’s and 18% of Tamils.
✓ Sinhala supremacy was established by the
democratically elected government by adopting a
series of Majoritarian measures.
✓ Equal representation of both communities has made
the Belgium government a unique one. In Belgium
and Sri Lanka, the question of POWER
SHARING was dealt differently.
✓ POWER SHARING helps to reduce the possibility
of conflict between social groups which is the very
spirit of democracy is power sharing.
✓ There are 4 forms of POWER SHARING
➢ Horizontal distribution of power
➢ Vertical distribution of power
➢ Community government
➢ Coalition government, Pressure groups , Social Groups

IMPORTANT TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Ethnic Majoritarianism Civil war

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Prudential Moral Power sharing
Organs of government Federal government Coalition
CASE BASED QUESTIONS
1 In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only
official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments
followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for
university positions and government jobs. A new constitution
stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism. All
these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually
increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan
Tamils. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the
Buddhist.
Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture.
They felt that the constitution and government policies denied
them equal political rights, discriminated against them in
getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
As a result, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil
communities strained over time. The Sri Lankan Tamils
launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an
official language, for regional autonomy and equality of
opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demand for
more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils was
repeatedly denied. By 1980s several political organisations were
formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam in northern and
eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

1. What is the moral reason behind power sharing?

2. Which is the official language of Sri-Lanka?
3. Population of Sri-Lankan Tamils is concentrated in which
regions of Sri-Lanka. What were their demands?

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2 The Belgian leaders took a different path. They recognized the
existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. Between
1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times to
work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live
together within the same country. The arrangement they worked
out is different from any other country and is very innovative.
• 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.
• Many powers of the central government have been given to state
governments of the two regions of the country. The state
governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
• Brussels has 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.
• Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a
third kind of government. This ‘community government’ is
elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch,
French and German-speaking – no matter where they live. This
government has the power regarding cultural, educational, and
language- related issues.

4. How many times did the Belgian Government amend their

constitution during the period 1970-1993?
5. Who elects the community government in Belgium?
6. In what all areas do the community government has power?

3. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as

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the legislature, executive and judiciary. Let us call this horizontal
distribution of power because it allows different organs of
government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise
unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. This results in a
balance of power among various institutions. Last year, we
studied that in a democracy, even though ministers and
government.
Officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or
State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by
the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws
made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of
checks and balances. Power can be shared among governments at
different levels – a general government for the entire country and
governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general
government for the entire country is usually called federal
government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union
Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level
are called by different names in different countries.

1. What are the different forms of Power Sharing?

2. Why is the system of Horizontal Power Sharing called the
system of Checks and Balances
3. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called
by different names in different countries. What is the so-called
government called in India?
ASSERTION AND REASONING

DIRECTION: Mark the option which is most suitable:

(a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct
explanation of assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct
explanation of assertion.

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 (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false but reason is true
1 Assertion: Power sharing is good for democracy.
Reason: It leads to ethical tension
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
2 Assertion: The minority French –speaking community was
relatively rich and powerful in Belgium.
Reason: Paris is the capital city of France
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
3 Assertion: In Belgium, the leaders realized that the unity of the
country is possible by respecting the feelings and interest of Sri-
Lankan people.
Reason : The social disparity led to tensions between Dutch and
French speaking communities during 1950’s and 1960’s.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
4 Assertion: Power sharing among different organs of government
such as the legislature executive and judiciary is known as
horizontal distribution of power.
Reason : It allows different organs of government placed at the
same level to exercise different powers.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
5 Assertion: Tyranny of majority is highly desirable.
Reason: It helps in making the political order more stable.
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 (a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
6 Assertion: French speaking community in Belgium was rich and
powerful.
Reason: Belgian Government favoured French speaking
community.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true.
7 Assertion: Power should reside with one person and group located
at one place in a democracy.
Reason: If the power is dispersed, it will not be possible to take
decision quickly and enforce it.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
8 Assertion: Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethical tension among
different communities.
Reason: Both the countries resolved the conflict by power sharing
arrangement which gave equal representation to all the communities.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
9 Assertion: There was a feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan
Tamils.
Reason: The Sri Lankan government denied them equal political
rights and discriminated against them in getting jobs and other
opportunities
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
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 (c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
10 Assertion: Community government in Belgium is elected by one
language community.
Reason: Community government helped in resolving conflict
between different linguistic groups.
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
11 Assertion: Sinhala was recognized as only official language of Sri
Lanka.
Reason: The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish the
supremacy of Sinhala community
(a). Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b). Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c). A is correct but R is wrong
(d). A is wrong but R is true
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1 Which one of the following countries adopted majoritarianism in

their Constitution?
A. Belgium
B. India
C. Germany
D. Sri Lanka.
2 Consider the following statements on power sharing and select the
answer using the codes given below:
I. It is the very spirit of democracy.
II. It reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
III. It brings transparency in the governance.
IV. It brings socio-political competition among parties.
Options:
A. I, II & III

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 B. II, III & IV
C. I, III & IV
D. I, II & IV
3
Match list I with list II and select the correct answer using the codes
below in the lists

List 1 List 2
1 Sri Lanka as an Independent nation a.1950s and 1960s
2 Belgium constitution amended b.1948
3 Tension between Dutch speaking c.1970-1993
and French speaking communities
4 Sinhala as the only official language d.1956

A. 1.b, 2.c, 3. d ,4. a

B. 1.c, 2.b, 3. d ,4. a
C. 1.c, 2.a, 3. b ,4. d
D. 1.b,2.c, 3. a ,4. d

4 An intelligent sharing of power among legislature, executive and

judiciary is very important to the design of
A. Democracy
B. Political parties
C. Ethnic groups
D. Majoritarianism
5 The population of Sri Lanka is divided into .
A. Sinhala 59 % and Tamil 40%.
B. Sinhala 68 % and Tamil 28%.
C. Sinhala 74 % and Tamil 18%.
D. Sinhala 80 % and Tamil 20%
6 Which one of the following communities is not related to Sri Lanka?
A. Indian Tamil
B. Sri Lankan Tamils
C. Sinhalese
D. German
7 Match the following items given in Column A with those in Column
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 B

Column A Column B

I. Ethnic 1 Power shared among different organs

of Government.
II Vertical division of 2. Power shared among different levels
powers. of Government
III. Community
government 3.A social division based shared culture
4. Power shared by different
IV. Horizontal
distribution of powers. social groups

Choose the correct answer

from the option
A. I-3, II-2, III-4, IV-1
B. I-3, II-4, III-1, IV-2
C. I-4, II-1, III-3, IV-2
D. I-4, II-2, III-1, IV-3

8 Belgium has borders with the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg

and--------
A. Sri Lanka
B. Rome
C. Germany
D. Lebanon

9 Which one of the following systems of power sharing is called

checks and balances?
A. Horizontal distribution of powers
B. Federal division of powers
C. Vertical power sharing
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 D. Power shared among different levels of government

10

The above pie chart shows the ethnic composition of Belgium.

Analyse the pie chart and state the correct statement.
A. Majority of the Belgians are German speakers
B. The majority community in Belgium were Dutch speakers with
more power
C. The majority Dutch speakers were less powerful than the
minority French speakers
D. None of these

11 In Sri Lanka most of the Sinhala speaking people are

, while most of the Tamils are or _______

A. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims

B. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims
C. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus
D. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist
12 What does the given picture represent? Choose the correct one.

A. It refers to German Engineering

B. It refers to problems of running a coalition government of

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 Germany.
C. It refers to problems of education
D. It refers to problems of ordinary people

13 The people whose forefathers came from India to Sri Lanka as

plantation workers during the colonial period are called…….
A. Sri Lankan Tamils
B. Indian Tamils
C. Tamil Indians
D. Indian Sri Lankans
14 In Belgium……
A. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central
Government
B. The State Governments are subordinate to the Central
Government
C. The State Governments have no say before the central
Government
D. The Central Government is subordinate to the State
Governments.

15 When European countries came together to form the European

Union was chosen as the headquarters.
A. Belgium
B. Germany
C. Netherlands
D. Brussels

2 MARKERS
1 What is Power Sharing?
2 What are the languages spoken in Belgium?
3 Where is Sri Lanka located?
4 What is the meaning of ethnic ?
5 Which languages are spoken in Belgium ? What is their percentage ?

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6 What is the percentage of French and Dutch-speaking people in the
capital city of Brussels ?
7 What is Majoritarianism?
8 What was the object of constitutional amendments between 1970 and
1993 in Belgium
9 Which is third unique form of govt, practiced in Belgium? OR
Apart from the central and the state government, what is the other
form of government in Belgium?
10 Which are the two reasons for power sharing and mention one
advantage of each?
11 What is horizontal distribution of power?
12 How power can be shared among governments at different levels?
13 Give an example of power sharing among different political parties
in a democracy
14 Which are the border states of Belgium?

3 MARKERS
1 How Belgian government solved its ethnic problem?
2 Describe three demands of Sri Lankan Tamils. How did they
struggle for their independence
3 Describe the diverse composition of Sri Lanka.
4 Give reason for which power sharing is desirable?
5 What is meant by a system of “Checks and Balances”?
6 Why has the idea of power sharing emerged?
7 Why was the minority French speaking community relatively rich
and powerful?
8 Define the term Ethnic and brief about the ethnic composition of
Belgium.
9 “Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.” Justify the
statement with suitable points.
10 What measures were adopted by the democratically elected
government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala Supremacy?
5 MARKERS

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1 What is majoritarianism? How has it increased the feelings of
alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils? Explain with examples.
2 What are the different forms of power sharing in modern
democracies? Give an example of each of these.
3 Explain the main reasons why power sharing is important in a
democracy
4 Bring out main sharp contrasts between Belgium and Sri Lankan
democracies.
5 Explain the power sharing arrangement among the different political
parties, pressure groups and movements.

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