Power Sharing notes

Question 1. Which language was recognized as the only

official language of Sri Lanka in 1956?
Answer:
Sinhala
Question 2.Apart from the Central and the State governments, which is the
third type of government practised in Belgium? (2012)
Answer:
Community government

Question 3.Define majoritarianism. (2013)

Answer:
Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and
wishes of the minority community.

Question 4.What measure was adopted by the democratically elected

government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala Supremacy? (2014)
Answer:

 In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

 The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala
applicants for University positions and government jobs.

Question 5.
What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of
Belgium? (2014)
Answer:
People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

Question 6.
What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)
Answer:
The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is shared among
different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It
allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise
different powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system
of checks and balances. This system ensures that none of these organs can
exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the other.
Question 7.
After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of which
community? (2015)
Answer:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the
democratically elected government adopted a series of measures to
establish Sinhala supremacy.

Question 8.
Define the term ‘Ethnic’.
Answer:
Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent.
People belonging to an ethnic group need not have the same religion or
nationality.

Question 9.
What is vertical division of power?
Answer:
When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union
or the Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and
Panchayat at the lower level. This division of power involving higher and
lower levels of government is called the vertical division of power.

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Question 10.
Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have
dealt with the problem of cultural diversity. (2012)
Answer:
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the
problem of cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:

1. Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to

respect the feelings and interests of different communities. The
Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French
speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.
2. Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal
basis at the Centre. Along with the State Government, both
communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community
Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language
related issues.
 3. Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four
times to enable all linguistic groups to live together within the
same country.

Sri Lanka:

1. In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese

speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking (18%). The majority
community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over
Tamils, refusing to share power.
2. Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have
denied political, educational, religious, employment and economic
rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.
3. In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as
the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

Question 11.
How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with
the spirit of democracy? (2012)
Answer:
Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the
possibility of conflict between social groups. Conflict between social groups
leads to violence and political instability. Power sharing is a good way to
ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may
undermine the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just
oppressive for the minority, it often brings ruin to the majority as well.

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. A legitimate government is one where citizens,
through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Prudential reasons
stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas moral reasons
emphasize the act of power sharing as valuable.

Question 12.
Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the
Sri Lankan government. (2013)
Answer:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically
elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish
Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences of these majoritarian policies:
 1. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties
led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their
language and culture and the government policies denied them
equal political rights which led to increased feeling of alienation
among them.
2. The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal
rights in politics, in getting jobs and ignored their interests. The
relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities became
extremely strained as a result.
3. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the
recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of
opportunity in every field.
4. Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish
Sinhala supremacy led to distrust between the two communities
which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War. As a result,
thousands of people of both communities were killed and many
families were forced to leave the country as refugees and lost
their livelihoods.

Question 13.
Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?
Answer:
Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one
crore.

 59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish

region and speak Dutch language.
 Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak
French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German.
 Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the
population is French-speaking and 20 per cent is Dutch-speaking.

Question 14.
How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?
Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.
Or, Why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped
to prevent conflict and division of the country on linguistic lines?
Answer:
The power-sharing arrangements made by the Belgian leaders were different
and more innovative than any other country. To recognise the existence of
regional differences and cultural diversities, they amended their Constitution
four times between 1970 and 1993.
The major elements of the Belgian Model are:
 1. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-
speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. No
single community can take decisions unilaterally.
2. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central
Government.
3. Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the
communities have equal representation.
4. A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’, is elected
by people belonging to one language community — Dutch, French
and German speaking —no matter where they live. This
government can decide on cultural, educational and language
related issues.

Question 15.
What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in a country
rules? Give reasons to justify your answer.
Answer:
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in
whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the
minority is majoritarianism.
Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.

 The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the

notions of undivided political power.
 A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to
accommodate it, is good for democracy.
 Power in the hands of one community will make the other
community feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated.
 The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path
of conflict and defiance of State power as in Sri Lanka.

Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks

Question 16.
Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among
the Sri Lankan Tamils? (2014, 2015)
Or
Mention the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala
supremacy.
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically
elected government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala
supremacy:

1. In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

 2. The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala
applicants for University positions and government jobs.
3. The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of
Buddhism.

The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the
Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and
the government policies denied them equal political rights which led to
increased feeling of alienation among them.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of
Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala

supremacy led to distrust between the two communities which turned the
widespread conflict into a Civil War.

Question 17.
“Power Sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the statement. (2015)
Answer:

1. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by

its exercise. Power sharing ensures that people have the right to
be consulted and have equal participation in the government.
2. In a democracy, each individual has a say in governance through
their elected representatives. This is the essence of power sharing
that grants equal rights to each citizen.
3. Sharing of power ensures that respect for diversity and desire for
living together becomes a shared ideal amongst different
communities in a country. It actually makes the country united
and the administration easier.
4. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing would bring out
better outcomes by helping to reduce the possibility of any
conflict between the social groups.
5. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political
order through unity of the nation.

Question 18.
Describe the vertical and horizontal forms of power sharing exercised in
India.
Answer:
Vertical distribution of power. Power can be shared among governments at
different levels —a general government for the entire country and
governments at provincial or regional level. This is the federal form of
government.

When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union
or the Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and
Panchayat at the lower level. This division of power involving higher and
lower levels of government is called the vertical division of power.

The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of

government. This federal division of power involving higher and lower levels
of government is also called the vertical division of power. Example: A key
change in the Constitution of Belgium in 1993 was that the regional
governments were given constitutional powers that were no longer
dependent on the Central Government. Thus, Belgium shifted from a unitary
to a federal form of government.

Horizontal distribution of power. Power is shared among different organs of

government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is
horizontal distribution of power. It ensures that power is shared among
different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It
allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise
different powers.

In a democracy, ministers and government officials exercise power. They are

responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. The judges appointed by
the executive can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the
legislature.

The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and

balances.

This system ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.
Each organ checks the other. This results in a balance of power among
various institutions.

Example: In India the judiciary has an independent status. The Supreme

Court is the apex court of justice. The Parliament is the legislative body
where the laws governing the country are made and the Executive is the
implementing body.