Political Parties Important Questions and Answers

JAC Board Class 10th Social Science Important Questions Civics Chapter 6 Political Parties

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
What is the name of the alliance that formed the government in 1998 in India?
(a) National Democratic Alliance
(b) United Progressive Alliance
(c) National Progressive Alliance
(d) United Democratic Alliance
Answer:
(a) National Democratic Alliance

Question 2.
Which of these is not a good option for a democratic state?
(a) One – party system
(b) Two – party system
(c) Multi – party system
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(a) One – party system

Question 3.
Political parties exercise power through which of these functions?
(a) Parties contest elections
(b) They play a decisive role in making laws for a country
(c) They form and run governments
(d) All the above
Answer:
(d) All the above

Question 4.
Who chooses the candidates for contesting elections in India?
(a) Members and supporters of the party
(b) Top party leadership
(c) The existing government
(d) None of these
Answer:
(b) Top party leadership

Question 5.
When was the Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) formed?
(a) 1956
(b) 1986
(c) 1946
(d) 1964
Answer:
(d) 1964

Question 6.
Which of these statements is incorrect about CPI (M)?
(a) Supports socialism secularism and democracy
(b) Opposes imperialism and communalism
(c) Wants to secure socio – economic justice in India
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(d) None of the above

Question 7.
In which of these states does the CPI (M) enjoy strong support?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) West Bengal
(d) Chhattisgarh
Answer:
(c) West Bengal

Question 8.
What is a signed document submitted to an officer regarding her personal information?
(a) Affidavit
(b) Declaration
(c) Agreement
(d) Appeal
Answer:
(a) Affidavit

Question 9.
Which of these statements is correct?
(a) Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission
(b) The Commission treats all the parties equally
(c) It offers some special facilities to large and established parties
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question 10.
How many parties are registered with the Election Commission of India?
(a) 250
(b) 300
(c) 500
(d) More than 750
Answer:
(d) More than 750

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Mention the three components of a political party.
Answer:
A political party has three components – the leaders, the active members and the followers.

Question 2.
What do you mean by Partisan?
Answer:
Partisan is a person who is strongly committed to a party, group or faction. Partisanship is marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.

Question 3.
Explain the term Ruling Party.
Answer:
The party which wins the election with majority and runs government is called a Ruling Party.

Question 4.
What is meant by multi – party system?
Answer:
If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others we call it a multi – party system.

Question 5.
Define opposition.
Answer:
The party that forms part of a legislature but is not in the Government is known as opposition party. Its main function is to check the activities of the Government.

Question 6.
What is Defection?
Answer:
Changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected (to a legislative body) to a different party is known as Defection.

Question 7.
What is Affidavit?
Answer:
Affidavit is a signed document submitted to an office where a person makes a sworn statement regarding her personal information.

Question 8.
Define Election Commission.
Answer:
It is an independent multi – member body which is constituted for the superintendence, direction and conduct of elections.

Question 9.
What is meant by alliance?
Answer:
When several parties in a multi – party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called an alliance or a front.

Question 10.
Write any one challenge to political parties in India.
Answer:
Challenge of growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially, during elections.

Question 11.
How many parties are registered with the Election Commission of India?
Answer:
There are over 750 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Why do we need political parties? Explain.
Answer:
We need political parties for the following reasons:

1. They put forward different policies and programmes before the people.
2. They play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
3. They form and run the government.
4. They play the role of opposition to the parties in power.
5. They shape public opinion. They raise and highlight the issue of utmost importance.
6. They provide people access to government-run machinery and welfare schemes.

Question 2.
What is the criteria set by the Election Commission of India for political parties?
Answer:
The Election Commission of India has set certain criteria for political parties:

1. National parties must secure at least 6% of the vote in the Lok Sabha elections or 6% of the vote in the election to at least 4 different State assemblies. They must win at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.
2. State parties must secure at least 6% of the vote in an assembly election. They must win at least two seats in the assembly election.

Question 3.
What is meant by a national political party? State the conditions required to be a national political party.
Answer:
The conditions required to be a national political party:

1. A national political party is a party that is present in several or all units of the federation. In other words, it is a country wide party.
2. It has its units in various states. By and large all these units follow the same policies.
3. The following are the conditions required for a party to become a national party:
4. A party has to secure at least six per cent of total votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States.
5. It has to win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha to be recognized as a national party.

Question 4.
What is meant by a regional party? State the conditions required to be recognized as a regional political party.
Answer:
The conditions required to be recognized as a regional political party:

1. A regional party also called a State party is a political party which takes care of regional concerns and State’s interests only.
2. It happens to have succeeded only in some States’ units of the federation. The following are the conditions required for a party to be recognised as a regional party:
3. A party that secures at least 6 per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognised as a regional party.

Question 5.
Write a brief note on the Indian National Congress.
Answer:
The Indian National Congress was started in 1885/It was the dominant party of Indian politics at the national level and to a large extent at the State level for a long time. Since 1989 its influence has declined, but it still maintains a presence across the entire country. The party has seen many splits over the years. Ideologically, the party is centrist. It is neither leftist nor rightist. It Supports secularism and economic growth with a human face, especially towards the weaker sections of the society.

Question 6.
Write a brief note on State parties in India.
Answer:
brief note on State parties in India:

1. Parties which have their presence only in the State level are called State parties. These include parties with national – level political organisations, but which have succeeded in only a few States.
2. Samaj Wadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samata Party are examples of State parties with a national presence.
3. Most State parties maintain a strong State- specific identity, like Biju Janata Dal and the Mizo National Front.
4. Over the last few decades, State or regional parties has grown considerably.
5. Since 1996, every government at the national level has been a coalition of parties headed usually by one national party.
6. This has led to strengthening of the federal structure of our government.

Question 7.
What is the difference between a national party and a State party?
Answer:
There are three major differences between a national party and regional, State party:

1. National parties have influence all over the country or in several States of India. The influence of a State party is limited to a State or a region.
2. National parties take interest in national as well as international issues whereas regional or State parties are interested in promoting regional and State interest only.
3. The national parties have to harmonise the national as well as State interests; whereas State parties usually stand for greater autonomy for States.

Question 8.
Why are symbols allotted to political parties in India? Explain the reasons.
Answer:
In India, every party has to register with the Election Commission. For the Commission, all parties are equal but it offers some special facilities to large and established parties.
The symbol allotted by the Commission shows that:

1. the party is large and established.
2. it has a well – organized presence in a large area.
3. only the official candidate of the party can use this symbol.
4. the party which gets it, is recognized by the Commission.
5. the party is either a national or a State party.

Question 9.
How do money and muscle power play an important role in elections? Explain.
Answer:
Money and muscle power play an important role in elections:

1. There is a great challenge about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections.
2. Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use short-cuts to win elections. They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money.
3. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.

Question 10.
What is the role of an ordinary citizen in reforming the political parties?
Answer:
The role of an ordinary citizen in reforming the political parties:

1. People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups, movements and the media can play an important role.
2. In a democracy, everybody has been given the right to speak, right to express his ideas and right to agitate.
3. Political parties can improve if those who are interested also join the political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation. It is difficult to reform politics if ordinary citizens do not take part in it and simply criticise it from outside. The problem of bad politics can be solved by more and better politics.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Explain the necessity of political parties in democratic politics.
Answer:
Modem democracies cannot exist without political parties. They play significant roles in democracy. Following are the functions and importance of the political parties in a democracy:

1. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties.
2. Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments. This is what the political parties do.
3. Political parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
4. Parties form and run the governments. Parties select leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
5. Losing parties play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticizing government for its failure or wrong policies.
6. Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Many of the pressure groups are the extensions of political parties.
7. Parties sometimes also, launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by the people.

Question 2.
Describe various ways of classifying the political system and the political parties.
Answer:
(i) Ways for classifying party system: The party system can be classified on the basis that how many parties are allowed to form, control and run the government. On this basis the party system can be classified into three categories:

1. One – party system: In this system only one party is allowed to control and run the government. Example: China.
2. Two – party system: In this system, however there may exist several parties but power is generally changed between only two major parties. Example: USA, UK.
3. Multi – party system: In this system several parties compete for power. Example: India.

(ii) Ways for classifying of political parties:
1. On the basis of presence:

• National Parties: These parties operate their functions country – wide. They have their units in various States. But by and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategies that are decided at the national level.
• State Party: These parties do not operate their functions nation – wide. They keep their activities to a region or few states.

2. On the basis of proportion of votes and seats:

• National Party: A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party.
• State Party: A party that secures at least six per cent of total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

Question 3.
What is meant by dynastic succession in politics? Explain with examples.
Answer:
The dynastic succession is a major challenge for political parties in India. It affects the functioning of the political parties adversely in the following ways:

1. The dynastic succession does not allow political parties to practise open and transparent procedures for their functioning. And, there is a limited scope for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.
2. In such a party, the leaders are in a position to favour the people close to them or even their family members.
3. The top positions in the party are always controlled by members of one family which is unfair to other members of that party.
4. There is a concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top.
5. People who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.

Question 4.
Examine the institutional amendments made by different institutions to reform political parties and their leaders.
Answer:
The following are the two institutional amendments made by different institutions to reform political parties and their leaders:

(i) Anti – defection law:
The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. This new law has helped bring defection down. At the same time this has made any dissent even more difficult. MPs and MLAs have to accept whatever the party leaders decide.

(ii) Affidavit:
The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. The new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system to check if the information given by the candidates is true. As yet we do not know if it has led to decline in the influence of the rich and the criminals.

(iii) Mandatory organizational meeting and filling of ITR:
The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns. The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is a mere formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.

Question 5.
Write short note on Indian national Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party.
Answer:
1. Indian National Congress (INC):

• Popularly known as the Congress Party, is one of the oldest parties of the world, founded in 1885.
• Played an important role in Indian politics at the national and state level.
• Under J.L. Nehru it sought to build a modem secular democratic republic in India.
• A centrist, party espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities and supports new economic reforms but with a human face.
• A coalition partners in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress.
• Since 2004 a member of the UPA.

2. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP):

• Founded in 1980 by the Bhartiya Jana Sangh.
• Wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s culture and values.
• Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element with conception of Indian nationhood and politics.
• Wants integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people of all religions, and ban on religious conversions.
• Its support base increased in the 1990’s, it was earlier limited to north, west and urban areas, the party expanded its support in south, east, the north – east and to rural areas.
• Currently leads the mling NDA coalition government at the centre.

Activity Based Questions

Question 1.
Write about the party whose symbol is shown below.

Answer:
Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI – M):
Founded in 1964. Believes in Marxism – Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. It accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective of socio – economic justice in India. CPI – M enjoys strong support in Kerala and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the  intelligentsia.

It is critical of the new economic policies that allow free flow of foreign capital and goods into the country. It had been in power in West Bengal without a break for 30 years. In 2004 elections, it won about 6 per cent of votes and 43 seats in the Lok Sabha. It supported the UPA government from outside, without joining the government.

Question 2.
Look at the picture and answer the following questions:

(a) Who was Berlusconi?
(b) When was Forza Italia founded?
(c) Write about the company owned by him?
Answer:
(a) Berlusconi was Prime Minister of Italy.
(b) Forza was founded in 1993.
(c) Berlusconi owns TV channels, the most important publishing company, a football club (AC Milan) and a bank

JAC Class 10 Social Science Important Questions