In this post, we have provided the Power Sharing Class 10 Notes in detail which describes the power-sharing between the legislature, executive, and judiciary for the design of democracy to depict similar stories between Belgium and Sri Lanka. This post contains the solutions to the questions and exercises given in the chapter of the book. In this chapter, students will find answers to questions related to the vertical division of power-sharing among different levels of government.
Power Sharing Class 10 Notes in Points
What is the history behind Belgium’s power-sharing system?
Belgium is a small country in Europe. Its neighbouring countries are France, The Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. Its population is nearly one crore less than Haryana. Belgium has power-sharing between its two main linguistic communities, the Dutch-speaking (59%) and the French-speaking (40%), and the remaining 1% speak German. See the map below for the language variations of Belgium.
Although The French-speaking community was in the minority, it was rich, and powerful, so they enjoyed all benefits of economic development and education. This led to creating tensions between both communities Dutch-speaking and French-speaking during the 1950s and 1960s.
What is the history behind Sri Lanka’s power-sharing system?
Sri Lanka is an island nation. Its population is 2 crores, about the same as in Haryana. This country has a diverse population. The social groups are in majority-the Sinhala-speakers (74%) and the Tamil-speakers (18%). In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community has a majority and imposes its will on the entire country.
There are two subgroups among Tamils, “Sri Lankan Tamils” and “Indian Tamils”. See the map below for the population distribution of different communities of Sri Lanka.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka became an independent country in 1948. The Sinhala community had formed the government as it was in the majority. The Sinhalese majority has often used its political power to marginalize the Tamil minority, resulting in discrimination, violence, and political unrest.
For instance, in 1956, the government introduced Sinhala was made the only official language of Sri Lanka, despite the Tamil community’s opposition. This move marginalized the Tamil community and fuelled ethnic tensions that eventually led to the Sri Lankan Civil War.
The conflict resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of people, particularly the Tamil community.
Although the war ended in 2009, majoritarianism continues to be a concern in Sri Lanka.
What have you learned from the Stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka?
- Both countries are democracies but they have different concepts of power sharing.
- In Belgium, the country’s history has been marked by linguistic and cultural tensions between the French-speaking and the Dutch-speaking communities, which have resulted in political instability and demands for regional autonomy.
- Sri Lanka has experienced conflict between the majority Sinhalese community and the minority Tamil community, which has resulted in a protracted civil war.
Why is power sharing desirable?
There are two reasons which make Power sharing desirable:
i) Prudential: This includes promoting stability, enhancing legitimacy, improving governance, preventing authoritarianism, and reducing the risk of violence.
ii) Moral: This includes promoting justice, respecting diversity, enhancing human dignity, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring accountability.
What are the various forms of Power Sharing?
i) Horizontal power sharing: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared among different organs of government, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This helps to prevent the concentration of power in a single organ and promotes a system of checks and balances.
ii) Vertical power sharing: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared between different levels of government, such as the central government and state or provincial governments. This helps to promote decentralization and allows for local decision-making.
iii) Power sharing among different social groups: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared among different communities or groups based on their ethnic, linguistic, or religious identities. This helps to promote inclusivity and prevent the marginalization of certain groups.
iv) Power sharing among Political parties: In this form of power-sharing, power is allocated among different political parties based on their vote share in the legislature. This helps to ensure that all groups are represented in the decision-making process.
Power Sharing Class 10 Notes Question Answers
1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer: The different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies are the following:
i) Horizontal power sharing: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared among different organs of government, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This helps to prevent the concentration of power in a single organ and promotes a system of checks and balances.
For example, in India legislation enacts laws. The executive implements them and the judiciary checks the functioning of the executive & the laws made by the legislative.
ii) Vertical power sharing: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared between different levels of government, such as the central government and state or provincial governments. This helps to promote decentralization and allows for local decision-making.
For example in India, Power is divided between the Center and the States including three lists i.e., Union list, State list, and Concurrent list.
iii) Power sharing among different social groups: In this form of power-sharing, power is shared among different communities or groups based on their ethnic, linguistic, or religious identities. This helps to promote inclusivity and prevent the marginalization of certain groups.
For example, in Switzerland, the government is composed of members from different linguistic groups: French, German, and Italian
iv) Power sharing among Political parties: In this form of power-sharing, power is allocated among different political parties based on their vote share in the legislature. This helps to ensure that all groups are represented in the decision-making process.
For example, in Belgium, the government is composed of both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking parties.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer: One prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing:
(a) Prudential Reason is a democratic and federal country where power is shared between the central government and the state governments.
(b) Moral reason-India is a multicultural society. Different groups are treated as equals, and their rights and interests are respected.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies that have religious, linguistic, or ethnic divisions.
Mattai – Power sharing is suited only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ousep – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions.
- Answer: I agree with the conclusion given by Ousep. Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions because power sharing serves as a check on the arbitrary exercise of power.
- It helps to ensure that no single individual or group dominates decision-making and that different viewpoints are taken into account.
- It helps to prevent such abuse of power by ensuring that decision-making is not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or groups.
- It helps to promote accountability and transparency in decision-making.
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said the ban would help all non¬Dutch speakers integrate into this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer: No, this measure is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements because it violates the principle of linguistic equality and goes against the spirit of the country’s federalism. Belgium has a complex power-sharing arrangement between its French-speaking and Dutch-speaking regions, and such a ban only serves to create divisions and promote exclusion rather than inclusion.
5. Read the following passage, and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realize the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. The Panchayati Raj established true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption, and increase administrative efficiency.
When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus the Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Answer: One of the prudential reasons for power sharing is offered in this passage.
to reduce corruption, and increase administrative efficiency by giving power to the people.
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power-sharing. Identify those who are in favour of power-sharing and select the answer using the codes given below.
Power sharing:
A. Reduces conflict among different communities
B. Decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C.Delays the decision-making process
D.accommodates diversities
E.Increases instability and divisiveness
F.Promotes people’s participation in government
G.undermines the unity of a country
Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.
7. Consider the following statements about power-sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka :
A. In Belgium the Dutch-speaking majority of people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka the policies of government ensured the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language, and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from a unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given is correct?
(a) A, B, C, and D
(b) A, B, and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C, and D
Answer: (d) B, C, and D are correct.
8. Match List I (forms of power-sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using codes given below the lists :
Answer: Option (c) is the correct answer.
9. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of the statements are true and false?
(a) A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true.
Answer: Both A and B are true
Glossary | Power Sharing Class 10 Notes
1. Ethnic: Ethnicity refers to the cultural and social characteristics that define a particular group of people and distinguish them from other groups based on ancestry, language, religion, customs, and traditions.
2. Majoritarianism: Apolitical philosophy that asserts that the majority community in a society should have the power to make decisions and govern the country according to their preferences, without regard for the rights or interests of minority groups.
3. Civil war: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
FAQs | Power Sharing Class 10 Notes
What are the two forms of democracy mentioned in the chapter?
Answer: The two forms of democracy mentioned in the chapter are:
i) Direct Democracy: In this form of democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making. They can express their views and vote on important issues.
ii) Indirect Democracy: In this form of democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions. The representatives are chosen through free and fair elections. This form of democracy is also known as representative democracy.
What is meant by “majoritarianism”?
Answer: Majoritarianism refers to a political practice in which a majority group holds the power to make decisions that affect the entire population, often at the expense of minority groups.
What are the different forms of power-sharing?
The various forms of Power Sharing are:
i) Horizontal power-sharing
ii) Vertical power-sharing
iii) Power sharing among different social groups
iv) Power sharing among Political parties
How is power divided and shared?
Power is divided & shared in horizontal (the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary) & vertical systems (state, parish, county, local, and special district).
What is horizontal power sharing also known as?
Horizontal power sharing is known as the system of checks and balances
Conclusion | Power Sharing Class 10 Notes
We have given Political Science Power Sharing class 10 Notes & NCERT solutions with an important glossary above. You can access them by visiting CBSE Class 10 Social Science Notes & Solutions at Free homework help. Extra questions will be provided at Free homework help soon.
If you have any other queries about the chapter feel free to reach out to us so that we can revert back to us at the earliest possible.