Untitled Document 20
Untitled Document 20
Untitled Document 20
Civics Chapter 3 Electoral Politics provide detailed answers to the exercise questions. These
solutions are helpful for students preparing for the CBSE exams. Our subject experts have
created these answers for Class 9 students. You can use these solutions to prepare for your
Social Science exam too, as they provide accurate guidance.
1. Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are
false?
Answer.
2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections are democratic?
Answer.
Some constituencies are reserved for Everyone has an equal opportunity to elect
SCs and STs so that their representative
Everyone has one and only one vote so All candidates must have a fair chance of
that competing in elections
Party in power is not allowed to use Some people may have moved away from
government vehicles because the area where they voted last
Answer.
It is necessary to keep the voters list up Some people may have moved away from
to date because the area where they voted last
Some constituencies are reserved for There is a fair representation of all sections
SCs and STs so that of our society
Everyone has one and only one vote so Everyone has an equal opportunity to elect
that their representative
Party in power is not allowed to use All candidates must have a fair chance of
government vehicles because competing in elections
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:
election campaign
casting of votes
ordering of re-poll
Answer.
1. Election campaign
2. Polling day
3. Counting day
Answer.
1. Election Campaign
1. Check law and order
2. Keep a check on muscle and money power
3. Keep a check on the expenditure limit of a candidate
4. To ensure no promotion on the grounds of religion, caste or sex
2. Polling Day
1. Check the voters’ list
2. Check on voters’ id
3. Prevent booth capturing
4. Ensure free and fair elections
3. Counting Day
1. Keep a fair counting practice
2. Prevent the rigging of votes
6. The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates
who won elections to 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?
Blacks 8 13
Hispanics 5 13
Whites 86 70
Answer.
Yes, the system of reservation should be present in the US Congress for Hispanics and Blacks.
Their representation in the US Congress is comparatively lower than Whites, who are the
majority in the US.
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.
1. Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and
fair elections in the country.
2. There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
3. It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
4. Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Answer.
1. No. The given conclusion for the Election Commission cannot be drawn because:
1. Election Commission released the code of conduct for elections and has the
power to punish whoever violates them.
2. During elections, the election in-charge works under the Election Commission of
India and not the government.
2. Yes, the given conclusion can be drawn because:
1. Voter-turnout has soared in the past few years
2. There has been an increase in people’s participation in election-related activities
3. No, it is not the right conclusion because:
1. The ruling party in one election loses the power in the next
2. Despite a lot of expenditure in the election campaign, candidates lose
4. Yes, the conclusion is fair because:
1. Reforms will make it easier for small parties to face no major challenge in fighting
an election
2. To stop candidates’ facing criminal charges from running an election
8. Chinappa was convicted of torturing his wife for dowry. Satbir was held guilty of
practising untouchability. The court did not allow either of them to contest elections.
Does this decision go against the principles of democratic elections?
Answer.
No. The decision to not allow both Chinappa and Satbir to contest elections for the crime they
committed is totally fair. According to the elections’ rule, no criminal can participate in elections.
Hence, it is a fair verdict.
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?
Answer.
1. On the vote-counting day, the representatives of each party that has contested in the
election should be present. Nigeria should follow this rule of the election that is practised
in India.
2. In Fiji, the election commission should set up an enquiry-committee, and the party or the
candidate who was involved in this negative propaganda should be debarred from the
election.
3. The US should have one Election Commission, who can make rules for states for the
election.
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?
Answer.
1. As per the code of conduct that a candidate has to obey during the election, they should
not announce any promises. Hence, in this case, the Election Commission should take
this up with the minister.
2. Election Commission should ensure free and fair representation to all parties in the
government-owned media.
3. Election Commission should announce re-elections, as the presence of fake votes
shows the vote-rigging.
4. Election Commission should ban the party, as the use of muscle power and money
power is totally illegal.
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?
1. Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them
the right to vote?
2. Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by
consensus not by competition.
3. Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Answer.
1. In elections, the secret-ballot system is used where an individual can vote for the party
he/she likes. Hence, women can also use their discretion and cast a vote as per their
wish.
2. Competition is important for any profession, as it motivates one to improve. Competition
in elections ensures that candidates work hard for society. Hence, it should be
encouraged.
3. Educational qualification is not the only factor for a candidate to understand the social
needs of the people. Hence, it should be fair if someone who is not a graduate decides
to run for an election.
Why Elections?
● Exploring the rationale behind holding elections, with a focus on democratic ideals and
political competition.
● Examining the factors contributing to the democratic nature of elections in India, such as
the role of the independent Election Commission, popular participation, and the
acceptance of election outcomes.