Electoral Politics (Class IX)
Electoral Politics
Q 1. What are elections?
Ans. In democracy people choose their representatives to govern their country. The process to choose representatives is called elections.
Q 2. Why do we need elections?
Ans. We need elections for the following reasons:
i. Voters can choose the people who would make law for them.
ii. Voters can choose the people who would form government and take major decisions for them.
iii. Voters can choose the political party which would guide the government and law making.
Q 3. What are the features of democratic elections?
Ans. Features of a democratic election:
i. Every adult citizen should be able to choose. This means that every adult citizen should have one vote and each vote shall carry equal weight.
ii. Elections should offer choices to the people. There should be various political parties and candidates to choose from.
iii. The choice of selecting the rulers should be offered at regular intervals. In India, elections are normally held after every five years.
iv. The most preferred candidate should get elected. In India, we follow the first past the post system, i.e. the candidate who secures the maximum number of valid votes is declared a winner.
V. Elections should be held in free and fair manner and people should be in a position to cast their votes without fear or favour.
Q 4. Is it good to have political competition?
People often complain that political competition is not good for the society as it tends to breed unhealthy attitude and corruption. Politicians try to win an election by hook or crook. But we should look at the positives also. There are many examples of a powerful politician getting defeated in an election. Many politicians lose elections in spite of putting all the money and muscle power at his disposal. Since politicians have a fear of losing the election so they have no other way but to work for people’s welfare. Chances of winning in an election also work as a motivational factor for a politician. Bay and large, elections are fair in India and political competition plays an important role in making it fair.
Q 5. What is an Electoral Constituency?Ans. For parliamentary elections, the country is divided into more than 543 electoral constituencies. A constituency is usually made on the basis of population of a particular geographical area. Similarly, assembly constituencies are made in different states for the elections to the state assemblies. Voters in a constituency elect their representative.
Q 6. What is a Reserved Constituency? The constitution makers were of the opinion that people from the oppressed sections of the society should be given some leverage so that they could enhance their political representation. They made the provision for reserved constituencies for members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Q 7. What is an Electoral roll?
Ans. A list of all eligible voters is prepared for each constituency a few months before the elections. Voter’s list is updated from time to time to include the new voters and delete those who may have left the area or may have died. Voter’s list is also called electoral roll.
Q 8. What is the election system of India?
Ans. Following are the election system (stages of election) in India:
I. Announcement of the elections by the Election Commission.
ii. Demarcation of the constituencies.
iii. Preparation of the voter list/ electoral roll.
iv. Nominations.
V. Allotment of election symbols.
vi. Election campaign.
vii. Model code of conduct.
viii. Polling.
ix. Counting of votes and announcement of the results.
Q 9. What is required by the candidates while filing nominations?
Ans. Some of the details required from the candidate are as follows:
i. Details of serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.
ii. Details of assets and liabilities of the candidate and family members.
iii. Educational qualification of the candidate.
The candidates also have to deposit security.
Q 10. What is an election campaign?
What are its ways? What is the use of election campaign?
Ans. Election Campaign: The candidates and political party conduct election campaign to educate the voters about their future programmes and policies. Methods of election campaign:
i. Political parties hold rallies, road-shows, mohalla sabhas, etc.
ii. They also spend on hoardings, advertising, banners, posters and pamphlets.
Use of election campaign:
Political parties usually try to focus the voters’ attention on some big issues; like poverty alleviation, corruption, employment generation, provision for electricity, water, food, etc.
Q 10. What activities are banned during election campaign?
Ans. According to law, following activities are banned during election campaign:
I. Threatening or bribing the voters.
Asking for votes in the name of religion or caste.
ii. Use of government resources in election campaign.
iii. Spending more than Rs. 25 lakh in a Lok Sabha constituency and more than Rs. 10 lakh in an assembly constituency.
Q 11. What is Model Code of Conduct? What is prohibited according to it?
Ans. Model Code of Conduct: One the election dates are announced the model code of conduct is enforced by the Election Commission. This code of conduct prohibits the following:
i. Use of any place of worship for election propaganda.
ii. Use of government vehicles, officials or aircraft for election campaign.
iii. Laying of foundation stone for any project and announcing any big ticket programme.
Q 12. What is an EVM? How is EVM better than Ballot Paper?
Ans. An EVM is an Electronic Voting Machine.One needs to press the button against the electoral symbol of his choice to register a vote.One needs to press the button against the electoral symbol of his choice to register a vote.
It is better than that of Ballot paper. EVMs provide many benefits compared to traditional ballot papers. EVMs are lightweight and much less number of EVMs is required to cover a constituency. Counting of votes is less time consuming and more accurate through EVMs. Now-a-days, even paper trail can be printed from an EVM. It is because of the use of EVMs that poll results are announced within a day of beginning of counting.
During the days of ballot papers, carrying the ballot boxes to and from the polling booth used to be a tedious task. Counting of votes used to take three to four days. Chances of malpractices were far too high.
Q 13. What is an Election Commission? How can we say that Election Commission is democratic?
The Election Commission is a constitutional body which is independent from the government. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. Once the election dates are announced, it is impossible to remove the CEC. Moreover, the whole civil administration comes under the Election Commission after the election dates are announced. These provisions ensure that the Election Commission remains and independent and impartial body. Hence, it can be said that elections in India are really democratic.
Q 13. What are the challenges to free and fair elections?
Ans. Challenges to Free and Fair Elections:
i. Candidates from big political parties enjoy an advantage in terms of money and resources. This does not allow a level playing field for smaller parties and independent candidates.
ii. People with criminal background are well entrenched in some constituencies.
iii. Some families have been dominating different political parties. This trend rules out the possibility of a new entrant rising up.
iv. Te major political parties are more or less similar in their policies and programmes and thus voters may not have a real choice.
Q 1. What are elections?
Ans. In democracy people choose their representatives to govern their country. The process to choose representatives is called elections.
Q 2. Why do we need elections?
Ans. We need elections for the following reasons:
i. Voters can choose the people who would make law for them.
ii. Voters can choose the people who would form government and take major decisions for them.
iii. Voters can choose the political party which would guide the government and law making.
Q 3. What are the features of democratic elections?
Ans. Features of a democratic election:
i. Every adult citizen should be able to choose. This means that every adult citizen should have one vote and each vote shall carry equal weight.
ii. Elections should offer choices to the people. There should be various political parties and candidates to choose from.
iii. The choice of selecting the rulers should be offered at regular intervals. In India, elections are normally held after every five years.
iv. The most preferred candidate should get elected. In India, we follow the first past the post system, i.e. the candidate who secures the maximum number of valid votes is declared a winner.
V. Elections should be held in free and fair manner and people should be in a position to cast their votes without fear or favour.
Q 4. Is it good to have political competition?
People often complain that political competition is not good for the society as it tends to breed unhealthy attitude and corruption. Politicians try to win an election by hook or crook. But we should look at the positives also. There are many examples of a powerful politician getting defeated in an election. Many politicians lose elections in spite of putting all the money and muscle power at his disposal. Since politicians have a fear of losing the election so they have no other way but to work for people’s welfare. Chances of winning in an election also work as a motivational factor for a politician. Bay and large, elections are fair in India and political competition plays an important role in making it fair.
Q 5. What is an Electoral Constituency?Ans. For parliamentary elections, the country is divided into more than 543 electoral constituencies. A constituency is usually made on the basis of population of a particular geographical area. Similarly, assembly constituencies are made in different states for the elections to the state assemblies. Voters in a constituency elect their representative.
Q 6. What is a Reserved Constituency? The constitution makers were of the opinion that people from the oppressed sections of the society should be given some leverage so that they could enhance their political representation. They made the provision for reserved constituencies for members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Q 7. What is an Electoral roll?
Ans. A list of all eligible voters is prepared for each constituency a few months before the elections. Voter’s list is updated from time to time to include the new voters and delete those who may have left the area or may have died. Voter’s list is also called electoral roll.
Q 8. What is the election system of India?
Ans. Following are the election system (stages of election) in India:
I. Announcement of the elections by the Election Commission.
ii. Demarcation of the constituencies.
iii. Preparation of the voter list/ electoral roll.
iv. Nominations.
V. Allotment of election symbols.
vi. Election campaign.
vii. Model code of conduct.
viii. Polling.
ix. Counting of votes and announcement of the results.
Q 9. What is required by the candidates while filing nominations?
Ans. Some of the details required from the candidate are as follows:
i. Details of serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.
ii. Details of assets and liabilities of the candidate and family members.
iii. Educational qualification of the candidate.
The candidates also have to deposit security.
Q 10. What is an election campaign?
What are its ways? What is the use of election campaign?
Ans. Election Campaign: The candidates and political party conduct election campaign to educate the voters about their future programmes and policies. Methods of election campaign:
i. Political parties hold rallies, road-shows, mohalla sabhas, etc.
ii. They also spend on hoardings, advertising, banners, posters and pamphlets.
Use of election campaign:
Political parties usually try to focus the voters’ attention on some big issues; like poverty alleviation, corruption, employment generation, provision for electricity, water, food, etc.
Q 10. What activities are banned during election campaign?
Ans. According to law, following activities are banned during election campaign:
I. Threatening or bribing the voters.
Asking for votes in the name of religion or caste.
ii. Use of government resources in election campaign.
iii. Spending more than Rs. 25 lakh in a Lok Sabha constituency and more than Rs. 10 lakh in an assembly constituency.
Q 11. What is Model Code of Conduct? What is prohibited according to it?
Ans. Model Code of Conduct: One the election dates are announced the model code of conduct is enforced by the Election Commission. This code of conduct prohibits the following:
i. Use of any place of worship for election propaganda.
ii. Use of government vehicles, officials or aircraft for election campaign.
iii. Laying of foundation stone for any project and announcing any big ticket programme.
Q 12. What is an EVM? How is EVM better than Ballot Paper?
Ans. An EVM is an Electronic Voting Machine.One needs to press the button against the electoral symbol of his choice to register a vote.One needs to press the button against the electoral symbol of his choice to register a vote.
It is better than that of Ballot paper. EVMs provide many benefits compared to traditional ballot papers. EVMs are lightweight and much less number of EVMs is required to cover a constituency. Counting of votes is less time consuming and more accurate through EVMs. Now-a-days, even paper trail can be printed from an EVM. It is because of the use of EVMs that poll results are announced within a day of beginning of counting.
During the days of ballot papers, carrying the ballot boxes to and from the polling booth used to be a tedious task. Counting of votes used to take three to four days. Chances of malpractices were far too high.
Q 13. What is an Election Commission? How can we say that Election Commission is democratic?
The Election Commission is a constitutional body which is independent from the government. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. Once the election dates are announced, it is impossible to remove the CEC. Moreover, the whole civil administration comes under the Election Commission after the election dates are announced. These provisions ensure that the Election Commission remains and independent and impartial body. Hence, it can be said that elections in India are really democratic.
Q 13. What are the challenges to free and fair elections?
Ans. Challenges to Free and Fair Elections:
i. Candidates from big political parties enjoy an advantage in terms of money and resources. This does not allow a level playing field for smaller parties and independent candidates.
ii. People with criminal background are well entrenched in some constituencies.
iii. Some families have been dominating different political parties. This trend rules out the possibility of a new entrant rising up.
iv. Te major political parties are more or less similar in their policies and programmes and thus voters may not have a real choice.
Comments
Simple........ And thanks for ur effort too