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Electoral Politics Class 9 Questions and Answers Civics Chapter 4
Make your learning experience enjoyable by preparing from the quick links available on this page. Use the Class 9 SST Civics Chapter 4 NCERT Solutions and get to know different concepts involved. All the Solutions are covered as per the latest syllabus guidelines. Knowing the NCERT Class 9 Civics Chapter 4 Questions and Answers helps students to attempt the exam with confidence.
Electoral Politics NCERT Intext Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Jagdeep and Navpreet read this story and draw the following conclusions. Can you say which of these are right or wrong (or if the information given in the story is inadequate to call them right or wrong):
Jagdeep and Navpreet read this story and drew the following conclusions. Can you say which of these are right or wrong (or if the information given in the story is inadequate to call them right or wrong):
Elections can lead to changes in the policy of the government.
The Governor invited Devi Lai to become the Chief Minister because he was impressed with his speeches.
People are unhappy with every ruling party and vote against it in the next election.
The party that wins the election forms the government.
This election led to a lot of economic development in Haryana.
The Congress Chief Minister need not have resigned after his party lost elections.
Answer:
Elections can lead to changes in the policy of the government.
The party that wins the election forms the government.
This election led to a lot of economic development in Haryana Rest of the points are wrong.
Question 2.
Do you know when the last Assembly election was held in your state? Which other elections have taken place in your locality in the last five years? Write down the level of elections (National, Assembly, Panchavat, etc), when were they held and the name and designation (MP, MLA, etc) of the persons who got elected from your area.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 3.
We have seen why democracies need to have elections. But why do rulers in non-democratic countries need to hold elections?
Answer:
Rulers is non-democratic countries need to hold elections because they want to show the world that they are not unpopular. Instead they have the support of the people of the country. They also want to prove that their government and position has been achieved through the Constitutional provisions and nothing is illegal.
Question 4.
Ah! So. elections are like exams where politicians and parties know if they have passed or failed. But who are the examiners?
Answer:
Here, voters are the examiners, who give them marks in the form of votes.
Question 5.
Read these two cartoons carefully. Write the message of each of them in your own words. Have a discussion in class on which of the two is closer to the reality in your own locality. Draw a cartoon to depict what elections do to the relationship between voters and political leaders.
Answer:
Set both the cartoons as on T.B page 60.
The cartoon given on the left side conveys the message that the knowledge, ideas, planning and promises of a candidate are all useless of he/she does not have enough votes to win and votes come from common men who play a major role in an election.
The cartoon on the right side conveys the message that during an election campaign a candidate makes so many promises but he finds it difficult to fulfil all of them once he is elected. As a result, electorates chase him to keep his promises.
Question 6.
Like in Panchayats, should we not have at least one-third seats in the parliament and assemblies reserved for women?
Answer:
It is good that one-third of the seats reserved for women in the Pachayats. But unfortunately, their representation in the State Assemblies and Parliament is very low even today. The women constitute 50 percent of our society and therefore they need at least one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This helps them to uplift their status in political domain.
Question 7.
Why are the candidates required to give a detailed statement of their property?
Answer:
This checks the candidates from misusing money power in elections. This also provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the basis of the information provided by the candidates.
Question 8.
Match the following features of our electoral system with the principles they reflect.
| Principles | Features of election system |
| 1. Universal adult franchise
2. Representation of weaker sections 3. Open political competition 4. One vote one value |
1. Each constituency has roughly the same population.
2. Everyone who is 18 years of age or older has a right to vote. 3. Anyone can form a party or contest elections. 4. Reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs |
Answer:
| Principles | Features of election system |
| 1. Universal adult franchise
2. Representation of weaker sections 3. Open political competition 4. One vote one value |
1. Everyone who is 18 years of age or older has a right to vote.
2. Reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs 3. Anyone can form a party or contest elections. 4. Each constituency has roughly the same population. |
Question 9.
What was the election campaign like in your constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections? Prepare a list of what the candidates and parties said and did.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 10.
Identify the fair and the unfair electoral practices among the following:
(i) A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day.
(ii) A candidate promises that she will get a new train for her constituency if she is elected.
(iii) Supporters of a candidate take the voters to a temple and make them take an oath that they will vote for him.
(iv) The supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums in return for a promise for vote.
Answer:
(i) Unfair
(ii) Fair
(iii) Unfair
(iv) Unfair
Question 11.
Why are party agents present in the polling booth and the counting centre?
Answer:
Party agents are present in the polling booth to ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way and the rival candidates are not able to indulge in any unfair practices. Similarly, they are also present in the counting centre to ensure that the counting is done properly.
Question 12.
Why does the Election Commission have so much powers? Is this good for democracy?
Answer:
The Election Commission in India is very powerful even if the ruling party or the government does not like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the CEC. Such powers enable the commission to perform its functions properly and efficiently.
Yes, this is good for democracy, Because only a powerful and independent Election Commission can ensure free and fair elections by preventing malpractices in the elections.
Question 13.
Here are some facts on Indian elections. Comment on each of these to say whether they reflect the strength or the weakness of our electoral system.
(i) The Lok Sabha had less than 10 per cent women members till 2009.
(ii) The Election Commission often refuses to accept the government’s advice about when the elections should be held.
(iii) The 14th Lok Sabha has more than 145 members whose assets are more than ₹ 1 crore.
(iv) After losing an election the Chief Minister said, “ I respect the people’s verdict”.
Answer:
(i) Weakness of our electoral system
(ii) Strength of our electoral system
(iii) Weakness of our electoral system
(iv) Strength of our electoral system
Civics Class 9 Chapter 4 NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Answers:
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
Question 2.
Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
(b) India’s Election Commission is very powerful.
(c) In India, everyone above the age of 18 has a right to vote.
(d) In India, the losing parties accept the electoral verdict.
Answers:
(a) India has the largest number of voters in the world.
Question 3.
Match the following:
| (a) It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because
(b) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STc so that (c) Everyone has one and only one vote so that (d) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because |
(i) There is a fair representation of all sections of our society.
(ii) Everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representative. (iii) All candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections. (iv) Some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last. |
Answers:
(a) (iv), (b) (i), (c) (ii), (d) (iii)
Question 4.
List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below:
releasing election manifestos; counting of votes; making of voters’ list; election campaign; declaration of election results; casting of votes; ordering of re-poll; announcing election schedule; filing nomination.
Answers:
The following list contains the different election related activities of the electoral process, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last:
- Making of voters’ list
- Announcing of election schedule
- Filing of nomination
- Releasing election manifestos
- Election campaign
- Casting of votes
- Ordering of re-poll
- Counting of votes
- Declaration of election results
- Acceptance of election outcome
Question 5.
Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on for each of the following stage of election:
(a) Election campaign
(b) Polling day
(c) Counting day
Answers:
(a) Election campaign: During election campaign Surekha should ensure that:
- Every political party and candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete.
- No party or candidate can bribe or threaten voters and appeal to them in the name of caste or religion;
- No party or candidate use government machinery and resources for election campaign and spend more money than the limit fixed by the Election Commission.
(b) Polling day: On polling day Surekha has to ensure that booth capturing does not take place and weaker sections of society are able to cast their votes freely and without fear. She should also ensure that all the EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure place.
(c) Counting day: On counting day, Surekha has to ensure that counting of votes takes place in a careful manner. No unauthorised person should be allowed in the area where counting is done. After the counting, the results should be declared by the authorised official.
Question 6.
The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections of the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US. Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
Answers:
| Proportion of the Community (in per cent in the ) | ||
| House of representatives | Population of US | |
| Blacks | 8 | 13 |
| Hispanics | 5 | 13 |
| Whites | 86 | 76 |
Answer:
From the above table it becomes clear that Blacks and Hispanics enjoy much less representation than their population in the US Congress. Owing to this I would suggest a system of reservations for them in the US Congress.
Question 7.
Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for each of these.
(a) Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
(b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
(c) It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
(d) Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Answer:
(a) No, this conclusion is wrong because the Election Commission of India is powerful enough to conduct free and fair elections. It implements the code of conduct and punishes those candidates or parties that violate it. Also, during the elections, government officials work under the EC and not under the government.
(b) Yes, we can draw this conclusion. In our country, voter turnout has increased over the years. Besides, the interest of voters in election related activities has also been increasing over the years.
(c) No, it is not very easy for the party in power to win an election. It has been seen that the ruling party routinely lose elections. Candidates who are known to spend a lot of money often lose elections.
(d) This is a correct conclusion. Reforms are needed because candidates and parties with a lot of money enjoy undue advantage. Also some candidates have criminal connections which they use to terrorise the voters and other candidates. These practices should be stopped.
Question 8.
Chinappa was convicted for torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of practicing untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections. Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Answer:
No, this decision does not go against the principles of democratic elections because both Chinappa and Satbir are criminals and therefore they must be prevented from holding elections either in centre or in a state. Democratic elections have certain limitations which cannot be ignored.
Question 9.
Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
(a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
(b) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhary will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
(c) In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
Answer:
(a) Election in this case should be declared null and void and a re-poll in that constituency should be arranged. In India, there is no chance for such a situation because on the day of counting, agents of all the candidates are present to ensure that the counting is done properly and in a fair manner. So, Nigeria can learn this from India to improve its elections.
(b) Issuing such a pamphlet is undoubtedly an electoral malpractice and therefore should be stopped. In our country, if such a situation takes place, the Election Commission has enough powers to set up an enquiry and debar the candidate or party involved in distributing such a pamphlet. So, Fiji should learn from India and do accordingly.
(c) Since each state in the USA has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting, and its own authority for conducting elections, the decisions taken by the State of Florida must be as per the election laws passed by that state. So, one has the power to change those decisions. In India, since states are not authorised to make their own laws for election, such a situation cannot take place.
Question 10.
Here are some reports of malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
(a) Following the announcement of elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.
(b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.
(c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain name of 20 lakh fake voters.
(d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
Answer:
(a) The minister cannot make any promises once the elections have been announced. If he/she does so, breaks electoral code of conduct. So, he/she should be debarred from contesting the election.
(b) All the parties should be given adequate time to express their views on Doordarshan and All India Radio. The Election Commission of India has given instructions in this regard and time is fixed for different political parties.
(c) The electoral rolls of a state cannot contain names of fake voters. It is wrong and can be corrected by removing such names from the voters’ list.
(d) Movement of people with guns and other arms must be strictly banned. The hoodlums should be arrested and the party should be warned or banned from contesting elections at least for some period. The state should take measures to ensure that meetings of other parties are not disturbed or attacked. Because all political parties are entitled to hold meetings.
Question 11.
Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements?
(a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
(b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
(c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Answer:
(a) Women should not be denied the right to vote. They are sensible enough to take their own decision without being influenced by the menfolk. Whoever they think is the right person, they can vote for him/her and it cannot be disclosed.
(b) It is right that party politics is one of the major causes of tension in society. But elections should not be decided by consensus because it is difficult to have consensus on election in today’s states where population is so large. It is also not practicable. So, political competition is good.
(c) It is wrong if only graduates are allowed to stand as candidates for elections. In our country putting an educational qualification would go against the spirit of democracy. It would mean depriving a majority of the country’s citizens the right to contest elections. If our politicians are educated, it is very good. But it is not good if only graduates are given opportunity to stand for elections.
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