Outcomes of Democracy Important Questions and Answers

JAC Board Class 10th Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 7 Outcomes of Democracy

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
How many countries of the world today claim and practise some kind of democratic politics?
(a) Less than 25 countries
(b) More than 25 countries
(c) Less than 100 countries
(d) More than 100 countries
Answer:
(d) More than 100 countries

Question 2.
On what idea is democracy based on?
(a) Deliberation and negotiation
(b) Dictatorial rule .
(c) Corruption and inefficiency
(d) Delayed decisions and procedures
Answer:
(a) Deliberation and negotiation

Question 3.
Democracy is preferred to dictatorship everywhere except
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Pakistan
(d) Bangladesh
Answer:
(c) Pakistan

Question 4.
Which form of governance has slightly higher rate of economic growth?
(a) Monarchy
(b) Democracy
(c) Federal
(d) Dictatorship
Answer:
(d) Dictatorship

Question 5.
Name two countries where the top 20 per cent take away more than 60 per cent of the national income, leaving less than 3 per cent for the bottom
(a) Denmark and Hungary
(b) South Africa and Brazil
(c) Russia and USA
(d) United Kingdom and USA
Answer:
(b) South Africa and Brazil

Question 6.
What was the rate of economic growth of all democratic regimes from 1950 to 2000? ‘
(a) 4.42
(b) 4.28
(c) 3.95
(d) 4.34
Answer:
(c) 3.95

Question 7.
Name the country where the top 20 per cent people take away 34.4 per cent of the national income.
(a) Hungary
(b) Russia
(c) United Kingdom
(d) Denmark
Answer:
(a) Hungary

Question 8.
In which country does more than half of its population live in poverty?
(a) Bhutan
(b) China
(c) Nepal
(d) Bangladesh
Answer:
(d) Bangladesh

Question 9.
Democratics usually develop a procedure to conduct their
(a) inefficiency
(b) competition
(c) atrocities
(d) debates
Answer:
(b) competition

Question 10.
Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in
(a) delaying decision making
(b) promoting dignity and freedom of the individual
(c) being biased towards certain communities
(d) creating conflicts between communities
Answer:
(b) promoting dignity and freedom of the individual

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Why is democracy a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative?
Answer:
Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative because it:

1. promotes equality among citizens;
2. enhances the dignity of the individual;
3. improves the quality of decision-making;
4. provides a method to resolve conflicts; and
5. allows room to correct mistakes.

Question 2.
What should be the first thought towards the outcome of democracy?
Answer:
The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something. The citizens have to take advantage of those conditions and achieve those goals.

Question 3.
What should be the most basic outcome of democracy?
Answer:
The most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.

Question 4.
Why are non-democratic governments quick and efficient in decision making and implementation?
Answer:
Non – democratic governments do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. Therefore, they can be very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation.

Question 5.
When do democratic governments not have a good record?
Answer:
Democratic governments do not have a good record when it comes to sharing information with citizens.

Question 6.
Why is there an overwhelming support for democratic government?
Answer:
There is an overwhelming support for democratic government because it is a legitimate government. A democratic government is people’s own government. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them.

Question 7.
What does democracy fall behind in when compared with dictatorship?
Answer:
When compared with dictatorship, democracy falls short in economic growth. Dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth.

Question 8.
What is one definite plus point of democratic regimes?
Answer:
Democratic regimes have the ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts.

Question 9.
How does democracy stand much superior to any other form of government?
Answer:
Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.

Question 10.
What is the most distinctive feature of democracy?
Answer:
The most distinctive feature of democracy is that its examination never gets over. As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make democracy even better.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What are the common features of democracy? How are democracies, different from each other?
Answer:

1. Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practise some kind of democratic politics.
2. They have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens.
3. These democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. What may be achieved and not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different.

Question 2.
How is a democratic government transparent?
Answer:

1. In a democracy, if a citizen wants to know whether a decision was taken through the correct procedures, one can find this out.
2. One has the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency.
3. Democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable and mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit.

Question 3.
Why is democracy a legitimate government?
Answer:

1. Democratic government may be slow, less efficient, not always responsive or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government. That is why it is a legitimate government.
2. There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. Support exists for democracy in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries without democratic regimes.
3. People wish to be ruled by the representatives elected by them.

Question 4.
Why do economic developments of a democratic country worry us?
Answer:

1. When we consider all democracies and dictatorships for all the fifty years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth.
2. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries people.
3. This alone cannot be the reason to reject democracy.
4. Economic development depends on several factors, such as country’s population, size, global economic priorities adopted by the country etc.
5. The difference in rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible.

Question 5.
Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. Discuss.
Answer:

1. The poor constitute a large proportion of voters and no party would like to lose their votes. Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be as keen to address the question of poverty as one would expect them to.
2. The situation is worse in certain countries. In Bangladesh, more than half of its population lives in poverty.
3. People in several poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies.

Question 6.
How does democracy stand much superior to any other form of 1 government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual?
Answer:

1. Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect.
2. The passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies.
3. For example, long struggles by women have created sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.

Question 7.
Some delay is bound to happen in decision making and implementation in a democracy. Explain this in terms of costs.
Answer:
Decision making and implementation in a democracy.

1. Non – democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. Therefore, they can be quick and efficient in decision making and implementation.
2. The decisions may not be accepted by people and therefore face problems. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. Hence, it will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
3. Because it has followed procedures, its decisions will not only be acceptable to the people and effective, but the cost of time that democracy pays will be worth it.

Question 8.
Write reasons why a democratic government is preferred to other forms of governments.
Answer:

1. Democracy promotes equality among its citizens. It enhances the dignity of the individual and people are free to make decisions.
2. In a democracy conflicts are solved amicably and there is room to correct mistakes.
3. These are the reasons why a democracy is preferred to other forms of governments.

Question 9.
Mention a few factors that determine the economic growth of a country.
Answer:
The factors that determine the economic growth of a country are:

1. Population
2. Size
3. Natural resources
4. Relationship with other countries
5. Global situation
6. Geographic position
7. Economic policies of the government.

Question 10.
What is the political outcome of democracy?
Answer:

1. Political outcome of democracy can be seen in the form decentralisation of powers. It is expected from the democracies that power should be decentralised and be divided from higher levels to lower levels.
2. Powers in India are divided from central government till local bodies.
3. In a democracy, there should be a retirement age for the politicians so that young individuals can come forward and take charge of the country.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
The prime duty of any democratic governfnent is to reduce inequality in wealth among its citizens and eliminate poverty. Discuss.
Answer:

1. The development strategies of a democracy should always work towards •the goaf of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.
2. Economic growth should ensure that wealth is distributed in such a way that all citizens of the country will have a share and lead a better life.
3. In a democracy it is possible to provide equal opportunity to all the citizens to prosper because democracies are based on political equality as all individuals have equal right in electing their representatives. In practise we find that democracies have not been able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
4. In most democracies a small number of rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth while the poor find it difficult to meet the basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house, education and health.
5. It is the duty of a democratic country to lift the poor from the clutches of poverty, for all citizens have equal rights in a democracy.
6. Programmes, for the upliftment of the poor are necessary. Free education, free healthcare is very necessary in poor democracies.
7. India is implementing many schemes for the upliftment of the poor. The gap between the poor and the rich is slowly becoming narrower in India.

Question 2.
Wat are the two conditions that a democracy must fulfil to accommodate social diversities in a community?
Answer:
Two conditions that a democracy must fulfil to accommodate social diversities in a community are:

1. The majority always need to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view. Majority and minority opinions are not permanent.
2. Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group, etc. Rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time.

Question 3.
Does a democratic government respect the dignity of women?
Answer:

1. Yes, democratic governments respect the dignity of women. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.
2. It does not mean that women are actually always treated with respect but once the principle is recognised, it becomes easier for women to wage a struggle against what is unacceptable legally and morally.
3. In a non – democratic regime, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have legal and moral force.

Question 4.
The fact that people are complaining in a democracy is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer:

1. Complaints from people about the government in a democracy shows that democracy is a success in that nation as it shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to expect and look critically at people in power, and the high and mighty.
2. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic country. It transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen.
3. People believe that they can make a difference with their votes about the way a government is supposed to run.

Question 5.
Distinguish between democratic government and non-democratic government.

Democratic Government	Non – democratic Government
(i) Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation.	(i) Non – democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion.
(ii) Opinions of the people are considered. Hence, decision making and implementation takes time.	(ii) Opinions of the people are not considered. Therefore, decisions are taken quickly and efficiently.
(iii) It is a transparent government. There are mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable for its action.	(iii) There is no transparency in non-democratic governments.
(iv) Democratic governments are legitimate. People are ruled by representatives elected by them.	(iv) In non – democratic governments people are ruled entirely by the rulers of the nation and the citizens have no say in it.
(v) Economic growth and development is little slow.	(v) Dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth.
(vi) Democracies usually develop a procedure to resolve conflicts among different groups.	(vi) Non – democratic regimes do not pay attention to internal social differences or suppress it.
(vii) Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.	(vii) In non – democratic governments, the principle of individual freedom and dignity does not have legal and moral force.

Activity Based Questions

Question 1.
Divide the class into two groups and organise a debate on ‘Are democratic governments more successful or Communist regimes’?
Hints:

1. List a few countries following democratic regime and communist regime.
2. Compare the advantages of democratic governments and communist governments in those nations.
3. Discuss the history of democratic nations and communist nations and the struggle they had to go through.
4. Analyse which type of government was more successful in overcoming the challenges faced by them.
5. Let the moderator decide the pros and cons of having both the regimes.

JAC Class 10 Social Science Important Questions