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Electoral Politics: Chapter Notes Class 9 Politics CBSE

• Post last modified: 22 February 2022
• Post category: Class 9 SST Notes

Electoral Politics Class 9 Chapter Notes: The chapter discusses the various components of the electoral process, the role and powers of election commission, the merits and demerits of electoral politics etc. The notes are written under different headings to help students understand the chapter in a proper sequence.

Need for Elections in a Democracy  

The question arises as why we need elections. The chapter starts with an example of electoral process on an Assembly Election in Haryana. We would also know as how elections are necessary despite some demerits of democratic elections.

Assembly Election in Haryana  

• Haryana had been ruled by a Congress-led government since 1982. 
• Chaudhary Devi Lal, the then opposition leader, led the Nyaya Yudh, or Struggle for Justice, movement and formed the Lok Dal political party. 
• After winning 76 seats under Devi Lal’s leadership, the Lok Dal and its allied parties formed a government. 
• Following his election as CM, Devi Lal kept his promise to waive the loans of farmers, businesspersons and agricultural labourers. 
• In the 1991 state assembly elections, Congress reclaimed power from the Lok Dal. 

Why do we need elections?  

The process by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals is known as Election. Therefore, elections are considered essential in our times for any representative democracy.

• People have a say in who makes rules for them. they do so by changing government through their votes during elections. 
• People can choose or change their representatives at regular intervals 
• People have the power to select who forms the government and who makes big decisions 
• People can select the political party whose policies will direct the government and legislative process  

What makes an election democratic? 

Elections are democratic under the following conditions: .

• Everyone has one vote, which has equal value. 
• Parties and candidates are free to contest elections, which give voters options. 
• Elections are conducted every few years, at regular intervals. 
• The people’s preferred candidate is elected. 
• Elections are held in a free and fair way, with people able to vote as they truly desire. 

Electoral competition 

Elections are all about the political competition..

• Political or electoral competition is at the core of elections and is the most obvious form of rivalry between political parties. 
• At the constituency level, political competition can take place between multiple candidates. (A constituency is a geographical area where voters elect one representative to a legislative body.) 
• If there is no competition, elections will become pointless.

Demerits of electoral competition 

Political competition may have the following disadvantages: 

• It creates a sense of disunity and party politics. 
• Parties try to bring their opponent down by all means, including making untrue allegations. 
• Long-term policies cannot be devised. 
• It can create a feeling of ‘factionalism’. 
• Some decent people who want to do public work may opt out of electoral politics because they do not want to engage in unhealthy competition. 

Merits of electoral competition 

Electoral competitions should be allowed because of the following reasons:

• Despite awareness of the problems of electoral rivalry, the framers of the Constitution preferred free elections as the means for choosing our future leaders. 
• Even though political leaders’ desire for position and power fuels political rivalry, they need people’s support to gain and maintain power. 
• This would be unlikely unless they serve the people. 
• As a result, if they want to remain in power for a longer period of time, they would have to work harder for the people. 
• Thus, political rivalry is said to be advantageous in the long run. 
• Regular electoral competition can provide political parties and leaders with the motivation to represent the public in a better manner. 
• Political parties recognise that addressing issues that voters care about boosts their support and chances of winning the next election. 
• On the contrary, if their work is unpopular with the public, they will be unable to win again and will be replaced by their opposing party. 

System of Elections  

We should know the different steps and processes involved in elections in India. The system holding elections is explained here.

Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections 

• Elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (assemblies) are held every five years in India. 
• The term of all elected officials expires after five years, and the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stand ‘dissolved’. 

Types of Elections

General Elections: Elections are held simultaneously in all constituencies, either on the same day or within a few days. This is known as a general election. 

Mid-Term Elections: Sometimes, the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha are dissolved and an election is held before the expiry of their full term of five years. Such an election is called a mid-term election

By-elections: Elections are sometimes held for only one constituency to fill a vacancy created by the death or resignation of a member. This is known as a by-election.  

Electoral Constituencies  

• India follows an area-based system of representation in which the country is divided into constituencies for the purpose of elections. 
• A constituency is a geographic region that has one representative elected by voters registered in that region. 
• For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies. 
• The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament, or an MP. 
• Each state is also divided into a certain number of assembly constituencies and its elected representatives are called Members of Legislative Assembly or an MLAs. 

Reserved constituencies   

• People from scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC) have reserved constituencies. 
• Only someone who belongs to the above categories can stand for elections in these areas. 
• Currently, 84 seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for scheduled castes and 47 seats for scheduled tribes. 

Voters’ list  

• Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. 
• The official document that includes the names and information of eligible voters is called the electoral roll, or more commonly, the voters’ list. 
• All the citizens of age 18 years and above can vote in a election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.
• Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the right to vote, but only in rare situations.
• The Indian Government has introduced the Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] System. Every eligible voter on the list is issued a Photo Identity Card. Carrying this EPIC is not mandatory. Instead, voters can provide proof of identity like ration card or driving licence to exercise their right to vote.

Nomination of candidates  

• Whoever wants to contest an election must fill out a ‘nomination form’ and pay a ‘security deposit’. 
• Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.
• Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family.
• Educational qualifications of the candidate.
• The returning officers are in charge of filing nomination papers. 
• Scrutiny of nomination papers: Scrutiny is performed to determine whether the information provided in the nomination papers is accurate. 
• Withdrawal of nominations: After the scrutiny, the candidates are granted a period to withdraw their nominations. 

Election campaign  

• Election campaigning is the process through which a candidate attempts to convince people to vote for him rather than other candidates. 
• Rallies, conventions, processions, door-to-door visits are different campaigning methods. 
• Threaten or bribe voters 
• Make a religious or caste appeal to them 
• Use government resources for election campaign 
• Spend more than 25 lakhs in a constituency in a Lok Sabha election, and more than 10 lakhs in an assembly election 
• For election campaigns, all Indian political parties have agreed to a model Code of Conduct. 
• Candidates cannot use a place of worship or government vehicles for election propaganda as per this code
• The Congress party led by Indian Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty) in the Sabha elections of 1971.
• Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977.
• The Left Front used the slogan of Land to the Tiller in the West Bangal Assembly elections held in 1977.
• ‘Protect the Self-Respect of Telugus’ given by Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.
• Use any place of worship for election propaganda.
• Use government vehicles, air crafts and officials for elections.
• Once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Polling and counting of votes 

• Presiding officers and polling officers oversee the polling process. 
• Candidates use electronic voting machines (EVMs) to cast their votes. 
• Counting is performed on a set date and time. 
• The candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is declared seated. 

Election Commission of India  

Political parties and candidates adopt unfair practices and dirty tricks to win their seats. Election Commission is the authority to regulate elections to conduct them in a free and fair atmosphere.

Unfair practices in elections to get votes

• The inclusion of false names in voters’ list 
• The exclusion of genuine names in voters’ list 
• The misuse of government facilities for election campaigns 
• The misuse of funds during election campaigns 
• Voter intimidation 
• Election rigging 

Independent Election Commission 

India has a democratic election system. The election system in India is controlled and governed by an independent and very powerful body called the Election Commission (EC).

• The Election Commission of India (EC) is in charge of elections in India. 
• The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). 
• The Election Commission is self-governing and has a wide range of powers. 
• The Election Commission is a strong and independent body. 
• All aspects of elections are decided independently by the Election Commission. 
• The Election Commission has the authority to enforce the code of conduct and penalise any party that violates it. 
• Officials from government bodies who are on election duty work under its supervision. 
• The Election Commission has the authority to order the government to obey certain rules to prevent the government from abusing its powers during elections. 

What makes the electoral system in India democratic and the challenges it faces? 

Popular participation makes the electoral system in india democratic .

• People’s enthusiasm and active participation do a good job of maintaining the quality of the electoral process in India. 
• It helps in ensuring that elections in India are conducted by an independent, strong and neutral body. 
• In India, voter turnout figures have gone up, which is proof of active political participation by the people. 
• In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections.
• The general public’s participation in India’s political activities is so high that one out of every seven voters belongs to a political party. 
• Except for a few debated elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party. 

Acceptance of Election Outcome:

One final test of the free and fairness of the election is the outcome of the election.

• The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level.
• In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
• Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
• Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party

Challenges faced by Indian elections 

There are many constraints and obstacles in Indian elections. 

• In comparison to larger parties, smaller parties and independent candidates face significant disadvantages. 
• Candidates and parties with money and influence have an unfair edge over smaller parties and independent candidates. 
• Candidates with criminal ties have been able to force others out of the race and win a ‘ticket’ from major political parties. 
• Party tickets are sometimes given to family members of these candidates. 
• Ordinary people do not have real choice because major parties are almost similar in their policies and practices. 

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Civics - Class 9

Topic outline

Chapter 3 – electoral politics – 3.

Electoral Politics

Q43. How has the constitution ensured that the weaker sections of society also get representation in the Parliament and state assemblies?

Ans.   The constitution has ensured that the weaker sections of society also get representation in the Parliament and state assemblies through special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections. Some constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes [SC] and Scheduled Tribes [ST].

Q44. Why do common people attach a lot of importance to elections?

Ans.   Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections because:

1. They feel that through elections they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them. 

2. They also feel that their vote matters in the way things are run in the country.

Q45. How does our election law regulate campaigns?

Ans.   According to our election law, no party or candidate can:

1. Bribe or threaten voters;

2. Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion;

3. Use government resources for election campaign; and

4. Spend more than Rs. 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency in an Assembly election.

Q46. Why reserved constituencies were created by the makers of the constitution?

Ans.   The Constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others. So, the makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.

Q47. How has reservation system been extended to other weaker sections?

Ans.   This system of reservation was extended later to other weaker sections at the district and local level. In many states, seats in rural (panchayat) and urban (municipalities and corporations) local bodies are now reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well. Similarly, one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Q48. What choices are given to a voter during election?

What kind of choices does a voter make in an election?

What are the choices generally a voter can make in an election?

Ans.   In an election the voters make many choices:

1.  They can choose who will make laws for them.

2.  They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.

3.  They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

Q49. Are elections in India 'free and fair'?

Ans.   Yes, elections in India are free and fair because in our country elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. All the parties accept the outcome of the elections. Usually, the losing party does not accept the outcome if the election is rigged.

Q50. What is Voters’ List? What is its significance?

Ans.   In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List.

This is an important step for it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election: everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.

Q51. Write some of the important slogans given by different political parties in various elections.

Ans. Slogans:

1. The Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971.

2. Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha election held in 1977.

3. The Left Front used the slogan of Land to the Tiller in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.

Q52. Write a short note on Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC].

Ans.   In the last few years a new system of Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] has been introduced. The government has tried to give this card to every person on the voters list. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else. But the card is not yet compulsory for voting. For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving licence.

Q53. How does a party file a nomination for its candidate?

Ans.  

1. In order to be a candidate a person must be of 25 years of age.

2. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.

3. Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give some money as ‘security deposit’.

4. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of personal information.

Q54. What is the importance of the election campaign?

Do you think that election campaigns are necessary in a democracy? Why?

Why are elections campaigns needed?

Ans.   Election campaign is very important for election because

1. During this period the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election meetings and political parties mobilise their supporters. 2. This is also the period when newspapers and television news are full of election related stories and debates.

3. In election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues. They want to attract the public to that issue and get them to vote for their party on that basis.

Q55. How elections are held in India?

1. Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every five years.

2. After five years the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end. The Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stands ‘dissolved’.

3. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election. 

4. Sometimes election is held only for one constitutency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 4 Electoral Politics(Updated for 2021 – 22)

Electoral politics class 9 notes social science civics chapter 4.

In a democracy, people do not govern directly. They govern through the elected- representatives. Governing through elected representatives is the most common form of democracy. Electoral politics is all about understanding election of representatives, need of elections and how to make election democratic. It also involves examining the role of the election commission in ensuring free and fair elections.

Elections The mechanism or procedure by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals is called election. If people are not satisfied with the working of the government then they can change the government in the next term of elections.

Procedure of Elections The procedure of election can be understood by the real example of Haryana Assembly elections. It will show how candidates standing in election become representatives and how power can be removed from their hands.

Assembly Election in Haryana Formation of New Party ‘Lok Dal’ Haryana had been ruled by Congress party since 1982. At that time, Chaudhary Devi Lai was an opposition leader. He led movement called Nyaya Yudh (struggle for justice) and formed new party ‘Lok Dal’.

Election Campaign of Devi Lai In election campaign of 1987 Assembly election, Devi Lai promised voters that if his party win, he would give loans to farmers and small businessmen.

Voters favoured Lok Dal As people were unhappy with the existing government, they were attracted by Devi Lai’s promise. They voted in favour of Lok Dal and its partners won 76 out of 90 seats.

Results Announced Lok Dal won 60 seats that’s why it had a clear majority in the – Assembly. The party with a clear majority is invited by the governor to form the government. Congress got only 5 seats. As the election result was announced, the existing Chief Minister of Congress resigned.

Devi Lai became Chief Minister The newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Lok Dal chose Devi Lai as their leader. The Governor invited’ Devi Lai to be the new Chief Minister. After three days of the election result, he took the oath. Then his government issued a government order to give loans to small farmers, agricultural labourers and small businessmen.

Congress again forms Government Lok Dal ruled die state for 4 years. In 1991 election, the party did not win people’s support. This time Congress won the election and formed the government.

Need for Elections Elections are needed to elect representatives. The need of elections can be understood by imagifufig of democracy without elections.

In the absence of the election, all the people have to sit together every day and take all the decisions. But this is not possible in any large community. Nor it is possible for everyone to have the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters. Therefore, in most democracies, people rule through their representatives. The elections are needed for any representative democracy because

• They solve the problem of assessing people on the basis of education, knowledge or experience,
• They help in analysing that people like their representatives or not.
• They ensure that the representatives rule as per the wishes of the people and make sure that those who are not working for the people, do not remain their representatives.

In an election, the voters make many choices like

• They can choose who will make laws for them.
• They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
• They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and lawmaking.

What Makes An Election Democratic?

Elections are held in all democratic countries and also in most of the non-democratic countries in many ways. But there is a simple list of the minimum conditions which make an election democratic like

• Everyone should have the right to choose a representative. It means everyone has one vote and every vote has equal value.
• Political parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and offer some real choices to the voters.
• The choices should be offered at regular intervals. For that elections must be held regularly after a certain period.
• The candidates preferred by the people only should get elected.
• Elections are conducted in a free and fair manner where people choose those representatives whom they really wish.

Political Competition Elections are all about competition. Without competition, elections would become meaningless. Political competition takes place when different political parties compete to gain confidence and ultimately the vote of the voters. They make promises and give incentives to motivate the voters.

This electoral competition has many demerits like

• It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism (Groupism) and party-politics in every locality.
• Different political parties and candidates often use dirty tricks like booth capturing to win elections.
• The pressure to win electoral fights does not allow to- form useful long term policies.
• The competition leads to the idea of being dragged into the unhealthy competition. That’s why good people do not enter and participate in political competition.

The electoral competition also has some merits like

• Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders. If they can satisfy the voters with their work, they will be able to win again.
• If a political party is motivated only by the desire to be in power, even then it will be forced to serve the people.
• It reveals the real motive of political parties.
• It gives choices to voters to choose among the best.

System Of Elections In India In India, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly every five years. After five years, the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is known as General Election. Sometimes an election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is known as a by-election.

Electoral Constituencies In India, an area based system of representation is followed where the country is divided into different areas for purpose of elections. These are called Electoral Constituencies. Every voter who lives in an area elect one representative.

For the Lok Sabha election, India is divided into 543 constituencies. The representative elected from each constituency is called Member of Parliament or an MP. One of the features of a democratic election is that every vote has equal value. For Vidhan Sabha election, each state is divided into a specific number of assembly constituencies and the elected representative of eaph assembly constituency is called the Member of Legislative Assembly or an MLA.

By-election:  If a representative from a constituency dies while in office or if the office-falls are vacant because of reasons like resignation, fresh elections are held in that particular constituency. Such an election is called a by-election. Constituency’ Voters in a geographical area who elect a representative to the Legislative Bodies. Each parliamentary constituency has within it several assembly constituencies. The same principle applies for Panchayat and Municipal elections.

Each village or town is divided into different wards that are like constituencies. Each ward elects one member of the village or the urban local body. Sometimes these constituencies are counted as ‘seats’ and each constituency represents one seat in the assembly. For example, when we say that ‘Lok Dal won 60 seats1 in Haryana, it means that candidates of Lok Dal won in 60 assembly constituencies in the state and thus Lok Dal had 60 MLAs in the State Assembly.

Reserved Constituencies The Constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies. If that happens, our Parliament and Assemblies would be deprived of the voice of a significant section of our population. That would make our democracy less representative and less democratic.

Reservation for SC and ST The makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections. Some constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In an SC reserved constituency, only someone who belongs to the Scheduled Castes can stand for election. Similarly, only those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes can contest an election from a constituency reserved for ST.

Reservation in Lok Sabha/ District/Local Level A few seats in Lok Sabha are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). This number is in proportion to their share in the total population.

In the year 2012, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the Scheduled Tribes (in Lok Sabha). Thus, the reserved seats for SC and ST do not take away the legitimate share of any other social group. This system of reservation was extended later to other weaker sections at the district and local level. In many states, seats in rural (panchayat) and urban (municipalities and corporations) local bodies are now reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well. However, the proportion of seats reserved varies from state to state. Similarly, one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Voters List When the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List.

This is an important step as it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election i.e. everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives. All the citizens are human beings with their own needs and views. That is why all of them deserve to have an equal say in decisions that affect them. Therefore everyone is given the right to vote. The right to vote falls under Universal Adult Franchise. It means all the citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an election regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.

Maintaining of Voters’ list It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all the eligible voters put on the voters’ list. As new persons attain voting age, names are added to the voters’ list, names of those who move out of a place or those who are dead are deleted. A complete revision of the list takes place every five years. This is done to ensure that it remains up to date. [Note Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the right to vote, but only in rare situations.]

Election Photo Identify Card (EPIC) In the last few years, a new system of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been introduced. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote so that no one can vote in their place. The card has not been made compulsory for voting, and. voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card, driving’ licence or Adhar Card.

Nomination Of Candidates The system of our country provides almost no restrictions on anyone to contest the election. This only makes any election a democratic election. Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in elections. The only difference to be a voter is that the minimum age is 18 years while to be a candidate in the election the minimum age is 25 years. There are also some other restrictions on criminals but these apply in very extreme cases. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party support and symbol. Party’s nomination is often called Party Ticket. The candidate has to fill a nomination form and give some money as a security deposit.

Moreover, every candidate has to make a legal declaration giving full details of

• Educational qualifications of the candidate
• Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his/her family; and
• Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.

The information provided has to be made public in order to provide an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the basis of the information provided by the candidates. Electoral Roll It is the voters’ list prepared by a door to door survey to include only bonafide voters and minimise the role of bogus voters. Universal Adult Franchise Every Indian citizen of 18 years and above have the right to vote irrespective of caste, creed and sex.

Educational Qualifications for Candidates There is no educational qualification for candidates for being an MP or an MLA. However, the relevant qualification for candidates is the ability to understand people’s concerns, problems and to represent people’s interests.

Putting an educational qualification would go against the spirit of democracy because it would deprive a majority of the citizens right to contest elections. This is because still, the majority of the Indian population is uneducated.

Election Campaign Election campaign means the promotion (or propaganda) of the policies, offers and promises that the candidates make to voters to fulfill if they are elected. In this way, voters can decide the candidate to vote for. They vote for the candidate whose policies they like.

In our country, election campaigning takes place for a two-week period between the announcement of the final list’of candidates and the elate of polling.

During this period, the candidates contact their electorate, political leaders, address. ..election meetings and political parties mobilise their supporters. This is also the period when Print Media and television news are full of election-related stories and debates.

The election campaign is not limited to these two weeks only. Political parties start preparing for elections months before they actually take place.

They prepare their election manifestos. In election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues. They want to attract the public to that issue and get them to vote for their party on that basis.

Slogans Given by Different Political Parties Some of the successful slogans given by different political parties in various elections are given below

• The Congress party led by Indira Gahdhi gave the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party promised to reorient all the policies of the government to remove poverty from the country.
• ‘Save Democracy’ was the slogan given by Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha election held in 1977. Hie party promised to undo the .excesses committed during Emergency and restore civil liberties.
• The Left Front used the slogan of ‘Land to the Teller’ in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.
• ‘Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus’ was the slogan used by N.T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

Code of Conduct and Laws To regulate the election campaign, there are some election laws. According to these laws, no party or candidate can

• bribe or threaten voters,
• appeal to them in the name of caste or religion,
• use government resources for election campaign and
• spend more than Rs. 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency in an Assembly Election.

If any party or candidate is found practising any of the above, their election can be rejected by the court even after they have won the election. In addition to the laws, all the political parties in our country have agreed to a Model code of conduct for an election campaign.

According to this, no party or candidate can

• use any place of worship for election propaganda
• use government vehicles, aircraft and officials for elections
• once elections are announced, ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any project, take any big policy decision or make any promise of providing public facilities.

Polling On the day when dying voters cast or ‘poll’ their vote is called an Election Day. Every person whose name is on the voters’ list can go to a nearby potting booth and cast his/her vote through a Secret ballot. Once the voter goes inside the booth, the election official identify him/ her, put a mark on the voter’s finger and allow him/ her to cast his/ her vote.

An agent of each candidate is allowed to sit inside the polling booth and ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way. Earlier voting was done, by putting a stamp on the ballot paper. A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which die names of the contesting candidates along with party name and symbols are listed. Now Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols. The voter has to press the button against the name of the candidate, he/she wants to cast his/her vote.

Counting of Votes Once the polling is over, all the EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure place. A few days later, oft a fixed date, all the EVMs are opened and the votes secured by each candidate are counted. The candidate who secures the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared elected. Within a few hours of counting, all the results are declared. In general elections, the counting of votes in all constituencies takes place at the same time, on the same day. Within a few hours of counting, all the results are declared and it becomes clear as who will form the next government. This event is reported by television channels, radio and newspapers.

What Makes Elections In India Democracy? There are many factors which ensure that elections held in India are democratic. An independent body ‘Election Commission’ responsible to conduct elections is formulated in the Constitution of India.

Independent Election Commission : In our country, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, he is not answerable to even the President or the government Powers of Election Commission Potters enjoyed by dying Election Commission ate.

• It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections right from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
• It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
• During the election period, die Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines to prevent the use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections or to transfer some government officials.
• When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the Election Commission and not the government.
• When election officials come to the opinion that polling was not fair in some booths or even an entire constituency, they order a repoll.

Popular Participation The participation and enthusiasm of people in an election is another criterion to check the quality of elections. If the election process is not free or fair, people will not continue to participate in the exercise. People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote. In India, there is greater voter turn out of poor illiterate people as compared to western democracies.

Acceptance of Election Outcome The outcome of elections-the final test of the free and fairness of it. If elections are not free or fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such a situation, the ruling parties do not lose elections. Usually, losing party does not accept the outcome of a rigged election.

The outcome of India’s election speaks for itself

• The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level.
• In the US, an incumbent or sitting elected representative rarely loses an election. But in India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
• Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on buying votes and those with Known criminal connection often lose elections.
• Except for some disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted by the defeated party as ‘people’s verdict’.

Challenges to Free and Fair Elections The challenges to free and fair elections are listed as follows

• Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy an unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
• Some candidates with criminal records are able to secure party tickets from major parties due to their connections political.
• Some families tend to dominate political parties; a tendency for the dynastic rule is very common.
• Elections offer only little choice to ordinary citizens. All the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
• Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties in terms of money power and organisational support.

These challenges exist not only in India but also in many established democracies. This is a matter of concern for all who believe in democracy. This is the reason due to which there is the demand for reforms in our electoral system by citizens, social activists and organisations.

Summary The most common form of democracy in our times is for the people to govern through their representatives.

The mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals is called Election.

In elections, the voters can choose who will form the government. Each vote has an equal value.

As an alternative to elections, all the people can sit together every day and take all the decisions, but this is not possible in large communities.

The procedure of elections favours political competition among different political parties.

Electoral Competition creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.

Different political parties and candidates often use a dirty trick like booth capturing, allegations to win elections.

In India, the General EISfefione for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha is held regularly after every five years and elections are held rn all constituencies at the same time.

Sometimes an election is held for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resigning of a member. This is known gs By-election.

In India, an area based system of representation is followed where the country is divided into different areas for election purposes is called Electoral Constituencies.

For Lok Sabha election, .India is divided into 543 constituencies. The representatives elected from each constituency are called Members of Parliament or MPs.

For Vidhan Sabha, each state is divided into the number of Assembly constituencies. The elected representative from each Assembly constituency is called Members of Legislative Assembly or MLA$.

Each village or town is divided into several words and the same electoral procedure takes place for Panchayat and Municipal Elections.

A special system of Reserved Constituencies for the weaker sections especially for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) is also followed in India.

Reservation is also followed for seats in rural and urban local bodies, for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women.

In democratic elections, the list of people eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and is officially called the Electoral Roll or the Voter’s List. Which is updated from time to time.

Incur country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above have the Right to Vote regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender. This is known as the Universal Adult Franchise.

A new system Of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been introduced. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote so that /io one can vote in the place of someone else.

Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party support and symbol. Party’s nomination is often called Party Ticket. The candidate has to fill a nomination form and give some money as a security deposit.

Candidate getting, the party ticket should be 25 or above and has to declare educational qualifications, assets, liabilities and criminal cases pending if any.

In our country, election campaign takes place for a two-week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling.

Each political party has to agree to the Model Code of Conduct. Violation of the code can result in the rejection of the candidate.

On the day when the voters cast or poll their vote is called an Election Day and such voting is done through Secret Ballot.

Voting is done through ballot papers and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Counting is done on a fixed data arid the candidate securing the highest number of votes is declared a winner from that constituency.

In our country, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful body, known as Election Commission.

The Chief Election Commissioner. (CEC) is appointed by the President of India, and is, not answerable to the President or the government.

The election commission takes decisions on each and every aspect of the elections.

People’s turnout in the elections indicate a free and fair election procedure.

The political parties have to accept the outcome of the elections in aH circumstances.

Due to some challenges to a free and fair election, there is the demand of reforms in our electoral system by citizens, social activists and organisations.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: Ch 4 Electoral Politics Civics Social Studies (S.St)

Page No: 74 Excercises 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. ► (c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary. 2. Which of these is not a good reason to say that Indian elections aredemocratic? (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. ► (a) India has the largest number of voters in the world. 3. Match the following: 

Page No: 75 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. Answer Making of voters’ list → Announcing election schedule → Releasing election manifesto → Election campaign → Filing nomination → Casting of votes → Ordering of re-poll → Counting of votes → Declaration of election results. 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 stages of election: (a) Election campaign (b) Polling day (c) Counting day Answer (a) She will have to focus on various duties such as ensure that candidates cannot bribe or threaten voters, expenditure limit is not crossed by a candidate, candidates not appeal to vote in the name of religion or caste, they not use worship place for campaign or use any government resources. (b) She will have to crosscheck the voters’ list and check ID proof of the voters, booth capturing not tak place. Ensure that Free and fair election should be conducted. (c) She have to look on counting is carried out, represntatives of all parties present at counting area in order to avoid malpractices, 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?

Answer Blacks and Hispanics should be given reservation in the US Congress as per their percentage in the US population. 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) The Election Commission of India is powerful enough to conduct free and fair elections: → It implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it. → In Elections, Government officials work under the EC and not the government. (b) There is a high level of popular participation in the elections: → Voter turnout has increased over the past years. → Election-related activities in the last few years have seen a larger participation by the people. (c) It is not very easy for the party in power to win an election: → The ruling parties routinely lose elections. → Candidates who are known to spend a lot of money often lose elections. (d) Certain Reforms are necessary to make our elections completely free and fair: → To ensure that indepents and small parties not suffer in elections. → To ensure candidates with criminal records not participate. 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 This decision does not go against the principles of democratic elections. Any person who is convicted for a crime has not right to remain a part of the society and hence has no right to contest the election.

(a) In this case, representatives of each candidate should be present to make sure that the votes are counted in a fair way. (b) The election commission should set up an enquiry into the case and debar the candidate or party involved in distributing such pamphlets. (c) There should be a single election commission which should be free from political influence and should be responsible for conducting elections throughout the country. Page No: 76 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) After announcement of election, it is not legal to announce policy decisions according to Code of Conduct. The minister should be immediately taken to task by the Election Commission. (b) The election commission must enusre that all politcal party are given equal oppurtunity to appear on Doordarshan and All India Radio. EC take action against misuse of this media. (c) The presence of the fake voters means that the elections were rigged by the authorities who prepared the electoral rolls. The election commission should supervise preparation of fresh electoral rolls. (d) By using hoodlums, the political party is terrorising its rivals. The election commission should order the arrest of the hoodlums and bar the party from the elections. 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) The statement is wrong because the policy of secret ballot ensures that an individual can vote for whoever he/she wants. Women are fully capable of taking decisions on their own and selecting the candidate they like. (b) Competition works as both deterrent and motivator for the political candidates. A fear of losing the election and a motivation for winning the elections works in favour of people. (c) Educational qualification is not required to understand the people’s needs, and to represent their interests. Therefore, it is not necessary for politicians to be graduates.

Electoral Politics Class 9 Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Free and fair elections are ensured by the _______ . Answer: Election Commission

Question 2. The leader, Mr. Devi Lai from Haryana is the Chief of Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, led a movement named _______ . Answer: NyayaYudh

Question 3. What does ‘EPIC’ stand for? Answer: Election Photo Identity Card.

Question 4. How many voters took part in campaign-related activities during the 2004 elections? Answer: More than one-third voters took parts in campaign-related activities during the 2004 elections.

Question 5. In India, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held regularly after every _______ . Answer: Five years

Question 6. Sometimes, election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This type of election is called _______ . Answer: By-election

Question 7. In India, we follow area based system of representation. The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called _______ . Answer: Electoral constituency

Question 8. Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies. The elected representative from each area is called _______ . Answer: MLA or Member of Legislative Assembly

Question 9. The list of those people who are eligible to vote is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as _______ . Answer: Voters List

Question 10. To be a candidate to contest the elections, the minimum age is _______ . Answer: 25 years

Question 11. According to our election law, no party or candidate can _______ . Answer: Bribe or threaten voters and appeal to them in the name of caste/religion.

Question 12. As per code of conduct for election campaign, _______ . Answer: No party or candidate can use any place of worship for election propaganda.

Question 13. What do you mean by “Universal Adult franchises”? Answer: Every citizen of India who is 18 years of age or above has a right to vote without discrimination of caste, creed, sex, colour, etc.

Question 14. The members of Election Commission are appointed by the _______ . Answer: President of India

Question 15. What do you mean by voters? Answer: People who have the right to vote or participate in the election of representatives are known as ‘voters’.

Question 16. Name the political party that ruled over Haryana between 1982 to 1987. Answer: The Congress Party.

Question 17. What is the significance of Election Photo Identity Card? Answer: This card is given to every person on the voter’s list. The voters are required to carry, this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote for someone else.

Question 18. Who formed a new party ‘Lok Dal’? Answer: Chaudhary Devi Lai

Question 19. How many seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha? Answer: One-third seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha.

Question 20. What do you mean by ‘Polling Booth’? Answer: A polling booth is a place where voters go inside to caste their vote. Inside the booth, and election officials identify them and put a mark on their finger and allow them to cast their vote. .

Question 21. What are elections? Answer: It is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals.

Question 22. What is a constituency? Answer: The entire country is divided into fixed electoral areas for purposes of elections. This is called constituency.

Question 23. What is the full form of EVM? Answer: Electronic Voting Machine.

Question 24. What is the importance of Universal Adult Franchise? Answer: It promotes the national unity &nd integrity. It gives a chance to people to gain political education.

Question 25. What do you understand by the ‘Polling Day’? Answer: On this day, the voters cast their votes and elect their representatives.

Question 26. What are the reserved constituencies? Answer: The constituencies that are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are called reserved constituencies.

Question 27. What is general election? Answer: The elections of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha take place after five years. Elections are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election.

Question 28. Who is the head of the Election Commission? Answer: The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission.

Question 29. What do you mean by ‘code of conduct’? Answer: It is a set of norms and guidelines to be followed by all political parties and contesting candidates during the election time.

Question 30. What do you understanding by election manifesto? Answer: An election manifesto is a statement by a political party explaining its policies, saying what they will do if they win the election.

Question 31. What are the main functions of the Election Commission of India? Answer: Section Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of election. It implements code of conduct. It orders the government to follows the guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its win elections, or to transfer some government officials. If Election Commission feels unfairness in polling, it orders a re-poll.

Electoral Politics Class 9 Extra Questions Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What details are required from the candidates who wish to contest elections? Answer: The candidates who wish to contest elections have to make a legal declaration, giving full details of:

• Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family.
• Education qualifications of the candidate.

Question 2. What are the two merits of electoral competition? Answer: Two merits of electoral competition are:

• Political leaders all over the world, like all other professionals, are motivated by a desire to advance their political careers.
• They want to come in power and retain positions for themselves. So they do their best to win the hearts of people. :

Question 3. What are the choices generally a voter can make in an election? Answer: In an election, the voters make the following choices:

• They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law-making process.

Question 4. What the minimum conditions of a democratic election? Answer: The minimum conditions of a democratic elections are:

• Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.
• There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
• The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.
• The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
• Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose them at their will. (Any three)

Question 5. “Election campaigns are needed to regulate”. Why? Answer: It is sometimes necessary to regulate campaigns to ensure that every political party and candidate gets a fair and equal chance to compete. According to our election law, no party or candidate can:

• Bribe or threaten voters.
• Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.
• Use government resources for election campaign.
• Spend more than? 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or? 10 lakh in a constituency in an assembly election.

Question 6. What is the ‘Model code of Conduct’ for election campaign? Answer: According to the medal code of conduct, no party or candidate can:

• Use any place of worship for election propaganda. ‘
• Use government vehicles, aircrafts and officials for election.
• Once elections are announced, the Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Question 7. Why should elections be held regularly? Answer: Elections should be held regularly because:

• Elections should be held regularly because it provides incentives to the political parties and leaders.
• They know that if they raise-issues that people want to raised, it would make them popular and increase their chances of victory in the next elections.
• But, if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work, they will not be able to win again.

Question 8. What are the demerits of an election competition? Answer: An electoral competition has many demerits such as.

• It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality.
• Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
• Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.

Question 9. Why is there a provision of reservation of seats in the legislatures? Answer: The constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against the more influential and resourceful contestants. Hence, the seats are reserved for them in the legislatures.

Question 10. How can you say that elections are expensive in our country? Answer: A large amount of money is spent in conducting elections in India. For instance, the government spent about? 3,500 crores in conducting Lok Sabha elections in 2014. That works out to about? 40 per person on the voters’ list. The amount spent by the parties and candidates was more than what the government spent. It is often said that elections are a burden on people. Our poor country cannot afford to hold elections once every five years.

Question 11. What are some of the activities undertaken by political parties to carry out elections? Mention any three activities. Answer: Firstly, in election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues. For instance, the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of “Garibi Hatao” (remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. “Save Democracy” was the slogan given by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election of 1977.

Secondly, political leaders contact their voters, address election meetings, promise to remove the grievances of the people. . Thirdly, support of media – TV channels and newspaper columns – is also taken by the political parties to further their cause to gather more votes.

Question 12. What type of election system is followed in India? Answer: In India, two types of election system are followed. First, when elections are held regularly after every five years is called a general electior. Second, when election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called a by-election. Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every five years. After five years, the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end. The Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stands ‘dissolved’.

Question 13. Write a short note on election campaigns. Answer: In our country, election campaigns take place for a two-week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling. During this period, the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election meetings and political parties mobilise their supporters.

This is also the period when newspapers and television news are full of election related stories and debates. But, election campaign is not limited to these two weeks only. Political parties start preparing for elections months before they actually take place.

Question 14. How does the polling take place? Answer: The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or ‘poll’ their vote. That day is usually called the election day. Every person whose name is on the voters’ list can go to a nearby ‘polling booth’, situated usually in a local school or a government office. Once the voters go inside the booth, the election officials identify them, put a mark on their finger and allow then to cast their vote. An agent of each candidate is allowed to sit inside the polling booth and ensure that the voting takes place in a fair way.

Question 15. What are Electronic Voting Machines? Answer: Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols. Independent candidates too have their own symbols, allotted by election officials. All the voter has to do is to press the button against the name of the candidate she wants to give her vote.

Question 16. What unfair practices are generally used in elections by our contesting candidates? Answer: Unfair practices are quite common in elections. A lot of unfair practices are used during this time. Some of these are given below:

• Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;
• Misuse of government facilities and government officials by the ruling party;
• Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties;
• Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

Question 17. In which way does the Election Commission enjoy the same kind of independence as the judiciary? Answer: The Election Commission enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.

• The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India.
• But, once appointed, he is not answerable to the President or the government.
• Even if the ruling party or the government does not like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the Chief Election Commissioner.

Electoral Politics Class 9 Extra Questions Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India? Answer: The elections in India are basically free and fair. But, a few candidates may win purely based on money power and unfair means. These challenges exist not just in India but also in many established democracies. These deeper issues are a matter of concern for those who believe in democracy. The challenges to free and fair elections in India are as follows.

• Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.
• In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties.
• Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families.
• Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.
• Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties.

Question 2. How can you say that the outcome of elections is a final test of free and fair elections? Explain Answer: One final test of the free and fair of election has in the outcome itself. If elections are not free or fair, the outcome always favours the powerful. In such a situation, the ruling parties do not lose elections. Usually, the losing party does not accept the outcome of a rigged election. The outcome of India’s elections speaks for itself:

• The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level. In fact, in every two out of the three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost.
• In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
• Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
• Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party.

Question 3. What do you mean by Voter’s List? What is its significance? Answer: (i) In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List. (ii) The significance of Voter’s List is as follows:

• This is an important step for it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election. Everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.
• In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.
• It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all the eligible voters put on the Voter’s List. As new persons attain voting age, names are added to the voters’ list. Names of those who move out of a place or those who are dead are deleted.
• A complete revision of the list takes place every five years. This is done to ensure that it remains up to date. In the last few years a new system of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been introduced. The government has tried to give this card to every person on the voters’ list. But the card is not yet compulsory for voting. For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving licence.

Question 4. Explain the role of the Election Commission in conducting the free and fair elections. Answer: The role of the Election Commission in conducting the free and fair elections is as follows.

• Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
• It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
• It allots election symbols to parties and independent candidates.
• During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials.

Question 5. What are the changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India? Answer: The changing trends of people’s participation in elections in India are as follows:

• People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures. Turnout indicates the per cent of eligible voters who cast their vote. In India, the turnout figures over last few decades have either remained stable or gone up.
• In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies.
• Common people in India attach a lot of importance to elections. They feel that through elections, they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them.
• The interest of voters in election-related activities has been increasing over the years. During the 2004 elections, more than one-third voters took part in a campaign-related activity.
• More than half of the people identified themselves as being close to one or the other political party. One out of every seven voters is a member of a political party.

Electoral Politics Class 9 NCERT Extra Questions

Question 1. What are the minimum conditions needed for a democratic election? Solution: There are five minimum conditions needed for a democratic election. They are :

• Everyone should have the right to vote and every vote should have equal value.
• Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and they should offer some real choice to the voters.
• Elections must be held regularly .
• Candidates preferred by the people should be elected.
• Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Question 2. Can elections be considered as competition ? Solution: Elections can be considered as a competition. It is a political competition. The competition is among political parties. At the constituency level, it is a competition among several candidates. If there is no competition, elections will become pointless.

An electoral competition also has many demerits . It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.

Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena because of this unhealthy competition.

Question 3. What is our system of elections? Solution: Elections for the Lok sabha are held every 5 years. After five years the term of all the elected representatives comes to an end. The Lok Sabha stands ‘dissolved’.

Elections for the Lok Sabha are held in all constituencies on the same day or within a few days. This is called a general election. Sometimes election is held only for one constituency to fill the vacancy caused by death or resignation of a member. This is called a by election.

Question 4. What are electoral constituencies? Solution: India is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies. We follow an area based system of representation. The voters who live in a particular constituencies elect one person to represent their constituencies.

Question 5. How many constituencies do we have in India? Solution: India is divided into 543 constituencies for Lok Sabha elections. The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament.

Similarly, each state is divided into a number of Assembly constituencies, depending on its population and it size.The elected representative of the Assembly constituencies are called the Member of Legislative Assembly or an MLA. Each Parliamentary constituency has several Assembly constituencies .

Question 6. What are Reserved Constituencies ? Solution: Reserved Constituencies are constituencies that are set aside for certain weaker sections of the society. Weaker sections of the society may not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others. Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from winning elections.

As our Constitution entitles every citizen to elect its representative, Reserved Constituencies are a necessity.

Question 7. Who can vote and who cannot vote in India ? Solution: In India , all the citizens above the age of 18 can vote in an election. They have the right to vote, regardless of their caste, religion or gender.

The government gets the names of all the eligible voters and prepares the voters’ list. As new persons attain voting age names are added to the voters’ list. Names of those who move out of a place or those who are dead are deleted. A complete revision of the list takes place every five years. Criminals and persons with unsound mind are denied the right to vote.

Question 8. What should a citizen do if he or she wants to contest the elections? Solution: Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and pay a ‘security deposit’. They are requested to present a declaration. The legal declaration has to have the following details:

• Details of any serious criminal cases pending against them. (If applicable).
• Details of the assets and liabilities they have and that of their family members.
• Educational qualifications. This information will be made public. This provides an opportunity to the voters to voice their objections, if any, and make the right decision during elections.

Question 9. What are the two methods of voting? Solution: The two methods of voting are

• The Ballot Paper: A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting candidates along with their party name and symbols are listed. The voters indicate whom they want to vote for by putting a stamp on the ballot paper.
• Electronic Voting: Electronic voting machines (EVM) are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols. The voter has to press the button corresponding to the name of the person he wants to vote. Then the vote gets registered automatically. Independent candidates too have their own symbols, allotted by election officials. Voting is conducted in total secrecy.

Question 10. Why do we need elections? Solution: Elections are essential for any representative democracy. In an election the citizens have many choices. They are :

• They can choose the people who will make laws.
• They can choose the government that will rule them.
• They can decide on the party whose policies they prefer.

Question 11. What is the percentage of reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok shaba? Solution: In the Lok Sabha, 79 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 41 for the Scheduled Tribes. This number is proportionate to their population. This reservation does not lessen the legitimate share of any other social group.

Question 12. What is called a ticket in politics? Solution: Party’s nomination of a candidate is often called party ‘ticket’.

Question 13. Mention a few successful slogans that were used during election campaigns. Solution: The most successful slogans used during election campaigns were:

• Garibi Hatao or Remove poverty: This slogan was used by the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party promised to remove poverty from the country.
• Save Democracy: This slogan used by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed during Emergency and restore civil liberties. Land to the Tiller: This slogan was used by the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.
• Protect the Self Respect of the Telugus: This slogan used by N. T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

Question 14 Write a brief note on the Election Commission. Solution: The Election Commission is independent and very powerful . It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. He heads the Election Commission. After his election the C E C is not answerable to the President or the government. It is impossible for the government to remove the CEC, even if it is dissatisfied with him. The powers of the Election Commission of India are as follows:

• EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
• It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it
• During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials
• When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.

Question 15. What is meant by rigging? Solution: Fraud and malpractices indulged by a party or candidate to increase its votes, in an election is called rigging.

• Using the votes of others
• Recording multiple votes by the same person.
• Bribing polling officers to favour a candidate are considered as rigging during elections.

Electoral Politics Class 9 MCQs Questions with Answers

Choose the correct option:

Question 1. How many seats are reserved in the Lok Sabha for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes? (a) 47 (b) 60 (c) 84 (d) 100

Answer: (c) 84

Question 2. Our country is divided into (a) 500 constituencies (b) 543 constituencies (c) 550 constituencies (d) 552 constituencies

Answer: (b) 543 constituencies

Question 3. The number of Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh is (a) 80 (b) 82 (c) 84 (d) 90

Question 4. The number of Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi is (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6 (d) 7

Answer: (d) 7

Question 5. The minimum age required for being a voter is: (a) 25 years (b) 21 years (c) 18 years (d) 15 years

Answer: (c) 18 years

Question 6. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India? (a) The Chief Justice of India (b) The Prime Minister of India (c) The President of India (d) The Law Minister of India

Answer: (c) The President of India

Question 7. Who led the ‘Nyaya Yudh’? (a) Chaudhary Charan Singh (b) Chaudhary Devi Lal (c) Ajit Singh (d) None of these

Answer: (b) Chaudhary Devi Lal

Question 8. Which of these is not a feature of Indian democracy? (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 refuse to accept the electoral verdict

Answer: (d) In India, the losing parties refuse to accept the electoral verdict

Question 9. What is meant by the term ‘constituency’? (a) Place where the copy of constitution is kept (b) A particular area from where voters elect a representative to the Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha (c) A body of voters (d) None of the above

Answer: (b) A particular area from where voters elect a representative to the Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha

Question 10. In India, elections for which of these bodies are held after every five years? (a) Rajya Sabha (b) Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (c) Vidhan Parishad (d) Only Lok Sabha

Answer: (b) Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha

Question 11. What is an election held for only one constituency to fill the vacancy caused due to the death or resignation of a member called? (a) By-election (b) Mid-term election (c) General election (d) None of these

Answer: (a) By-election

Question 12. Constituencies called ‘wards’ are made for the election to (a) Parliament (b) State Legislative Assembly (c) State Legislative Council (d) Panchayats and municipal bodies

Answer: (b) State Legislative Assembly

Question 13. Which of these is not a part of the district and local level bodies? (a) Panchayats (b) Municipalities (c) Corporations (d) Lok Sabha

Answer: (d) Lok Sabha

Question 14. for voting, the voter has to show which of these as identity proof? (a) Ration card (b) Driving license (c) Election Photo Identity Card (d) None of these

Answer: (d) None of these

Question 15. What is the details the candidates have to give in the legal declaration before contesting the elections? (a) Serious criminal cases pending against them (b) Details of assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family (c) Educational qualification of the candidate (d) All the above

Answer: (d) All the above

Question 16. Name the body which conducts the elections in India (a) Supreme Court (b) Parliament (c) Cabinet (d) Election Commission

Answer: (d) Election Commission

Question 17. When on election duty, under whose control does the government officers work? (a) Central Government (b) Election Commission (c) District Magistrate (d) District Court

Answer: (b) Election Commission

Question 18. What does the term ‘incumbent’ mean? (a) The current holder of a political office (b) The candidate contesting the election (c) The outgoing candidate of the dissolved House (d) None of the above

Answer: (a) The current holder of a political office

Question 19. The Election Commission is: (a) An elected body (b) An appointed body (c) An independent body (d) both (b) and (c)

Answer: (b) An appointed body

Question 20. Which of the following statement is incorrect? (a) All citizens above the age of 21 can vote in an election (b) Every citizen has the right to vote regardless of caste religion or gender (c) Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the right to vote in rare situations (d) It is the responsibility of the government to get the names of all eligible voters put in the voters list

Answer: (a) All citizens above the age of 21 can vote in an election

Question 21. What is the age of a person who can contest election for the Lok Sabha in India? (a) 25 years (b) 30 years (c) 35 years (d) 40 years

Answer: (a) 25 years

Question 22. Voter’s List is also known as: (a) Election Number (b) Voter Identity Card (c) Electoral Roll (d) None of these

Answer: (c) Electoral Roll

Question 23. Which of the following statements is against the democratic process of elections? (a) Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections (b) Elections must be held regularly immediately after the term is over (c) The right to vote should be given to the selected people only (d) Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner

Answer: (c) The right to vote should be given to the selected people only

Question 24. Reserved Constituencies ensures (a) Right to equality (b) Proper representation to all religious groups (c) Proper representation to the weaker sections of society (d) None of these

Answer: (c) Proper representation to the weaker sections of society

Question 25. Who has given the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’? (a) Indira Gandhi (b) Rajiv Gandhi (c) Sonia Gandhi (d) Pt. Nehru

Answer: (a) Indira Gandhi

Question 26. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India? (a) The Chief Justice of India (b) The Prime Minister of India (c) The President of India (d) The people of India

Question 27. The number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes in the Lok Sabha is: (a) 59 (b) 79 (c) 89 (d) 99

Answer: (b) 79

• CBSE Notes For Class 9
• Class 9 Social Science Notes
• Class 9 Political Science Notes
• Chapter 2 Constitutional Design

CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 2 Constitutional Design

Why do we need a constitution? How are constitutions drawn up? Who designs them, and in what way? What are the values that shape the constitutions in democratic states? Once a constitution is accepted, can we make changes later? These are some of the basic questions asked in Chapter 2 of CBSE Class 9 Political Science. To obtain a clear and crisp overview of all the concepts from this chapter, students can browse through these CBSE Notes Class 9 Political Science Chapter 2 Constitutional Design.

Given below in this article is the link to access the CBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes of Chapter 2 from Political Science. Students can just browse through these notes and prepare for the exam.

• Chapter 1 What Is Democracy Why Democracy
• Chapter 3 Electoral Politics
• Chapter 4 Working Of Institutions
• Chapter 5 Democratic Rights

Constitutional Design

Democratic Constitution in South Africa

Apartheid is a system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa imposed by white Europeans. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the trading companies from Europe occupied it with arms and force and became the local rulers. The system of apartheid divided the people and labelled them on the basis of their skin colour. The white rulers treated all nonwhites as inferiors. The non-whites did not have voting rights and were forbidden from living in white areas. The blacks, coloured and Indians fought against the apartheid system from 1950. The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led the struggle against the policies of segregation. Nelson Mandela was one of the leaders amongst the eight who were tried for treason by the white South African government. They were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in the country.

Giving Rise to a New Constitution

As the protests and struggles against apartheid increased, the blacks could no longer be kept under the rule of the government through repression. The white regime changed its policies. Discriminatory laws were repealed. Ban on political parties and restrictions on the media were lifted. Nelson Mandela was released after 28 years in the Robben Island Prison. The apartheid government came to an end on midnight of 26 April 1994, paving the way for the formation of a multi-racial government.

Following the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, the party that ruled through oppression and brutal killings and the party that led the freedom struggle sat together to draw up a common constitution. This constitution gave its citizens the most extensive rights available in any country. Together, they decided that in the search for a solution to the problems, nobody should be excluded.

Why the Need for a Constitution?

Take the example of South Africa to see why we need the Constitution and what the constitutions do. The oppressor and oppressed were planning to live together as equals in the new democracy. Each section wanted to safeguard its interests and wanted substantial social and economic rights. Through negotiations, both parties came to a compromise. The whites agreed to the principle of majority rule and that of one person, one vote. They also agreed to accept some basic rights for the poor and the workers. The blacks agreed that majority rule would not be absolute and that the majority would not take away the property of the white minority. How was this compromise to be implemented? The only way to build and maintain trust in such a situation was to write down some rules of the game that everyone would abide by. These supreme rules that no government would be able to ignore are called a constitution.

Every country has diverse groups of people. All over the world, people have differences of opinion and interests. The constitution is the supreme law that determines the relationship among people living in a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and the government. Find what constitutions do below:

• First, it generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kinds of people to live together.
• Second, it specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power to take which decisions.
• Third, it lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the citizens are.
• Fourth, it expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

All countries that have constitutions are not necessarily democratic. But all countries that are democratic will have constitutions.

Making of the Indian Constitution

India’s Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances. The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences, and it was a traumatic experience for the people of India and Pakistan. The British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent. The merger of these princely states was a difficult and uncertain task. When the Constitution was written, the future of the country did not look as secure as it does today.

The Path to the Constitution

One of the major advantages for the makers of the Indian Constitution was that consensus about what a democratic India should look like had already evolved during the freedom struggle. In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India, and In 1931, the resolution at the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress dwelt on how independent India’s Constitution should look. Both these documents included features such as Universal Adult Franchise, the Right to Freedom and Equality, and to protect the rights of minorities in the constitution of independent India. These basic values were accepted by all leaders much before the Constituent Assembly met to deliberate on the Constitution. That is why the Indian constitution adopted many institutional details and procedures from colonial laws like the Government of India Act 1935. Many of our leaders were inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, the practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain and the Bill of Rights in the US.

For more information on Types Of Human Rights, watch the below video

The Constituent Assembly

The drafting of the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the Constituent Assembly. Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946, and its first meeting was held in December 1946. Soon after, the country was divided into India and Pakistan and the Constituent Assembly was also divided into the Constituent Assembly of India and of Pakistan. The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian constitution had 299 members. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, but it came into effect on 26 January 1950. To mark this day, we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.

Why should we accept the Constitution made by this Assembly more than six decades ago?

• The Constitution does not reflect the views of its members alone. It expresses a broad consensus of its time.
• The second reason for accepting the Constitution is that the Constituent Assembly represented the people of India.
• Finally, the manner in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives sanctity to the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.

First, some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion took place on the Draft Constitution, clause by clause. More than two thousand amendments were considered. Every document was presented, and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly has been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates.’

To find out “What Are The Socialist Directive Principles?”, watch the below video

Guiding Values of the Indian Constitution

First, understand the overall philosophy of what our Constitution is all about. Read the views of some of our major leaders on our Constitution and read what the Constitution says about its own philosophy. This is what the preamble to the Constitution does.

The Dream and the Promise

There were many members who followed the vision of Mahatma Gandhi. This dream of an India that has eliminated inequality was shared by Dr Ambedkar, who played a key role in the making of the Constitution, but his vision of removing inequalities from India was different from Gandhiji’s.

Philosophy of the Constitution

Values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and were, in turn, nurtured by it formed the foundation for India’s democracy. Given below are the values embedded in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

We, the People of India: The Constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the people through their representatives and not handed down to them by a king or any outside powers.

Sovereign: People have the supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the Government of India.

Socialist: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society. The government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socioeconomic inequalities.

Secular : Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there is no official religion. The government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.

Democratic: A form of government where people enjoy equal political rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. The government is run according to some basic rules.

Republic: The head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary position.

Justice: Citizens cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of caste, religion and gender. Social inequalities have to be reduced. The government should work for the welfare of all, especially the disadvantaged groups.

Liberty: There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what they think, how they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in action.

Equality : All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities have to be ended. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.

Fraternity: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

Institutional Design

A Constitution is not merely a statement of values and philosophy. It is mainly about embodying these values into institutional arrangements. It is a very long and detailed document. Therefore, it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated. Provisions are made to incorporate changes, known as constitutional amendments, from time to time. Like any Constitution, the Indian Constitution also lays down a procedure for choosing persons to govern the country. It defines who will have how much power to make which decisions. And it puts limits to what the government can do by providing some rights to the citizen that cannot be violated.

For Information On Apartheid , Watch The Below Videos:

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes Chapter 2 Constitutional Design

What does ‘apartheid’ really mean.

Apartheid was the name that the party gave to its racial segregation policies.

What are the types of human rights in India?

There are six fundamental rights in India. They are Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

What is the meaning of a ‘republic’ country?

A republic is a form of government where the citizens have the supreme power, and they exercise that power by voting and electing representatives to make decisions and govern.

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Civics - Class 9

Democratic politics - i, chapter 3: electoral politics, intext questions:, question 1: do most leaders fulfil their election promises.

Answer: During elections most of the leaders make many big promises to the people (voters) to win their support and vote. However, after the elections, the political leaders forget their promises and most of them do not fulfil their election promises.

Question 2: 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 Lal 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: (i) Right (ii) Wrong - It is because the newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Lok Dal chose Devi Lal as their leader. (iii) WrongWrong - People vote against a ruling party only when they are unhappy with it. (iv) Right (v) Inadequate information (vi) Wrong - The Chief Minister has to resign if his party looses the election.

Question 3: 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, Panchayat, etc.), when were they held and the name and designation (MP, MLA, etc.) of the persons who got elected from your area.

Answer: My state is Andhra Pradesh. Recent assembly elections were held in April 2019, where the YSR Congress Party chief Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the incumbent Telugu Desam Party's Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan with his alliance between Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party were the main contenders. Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party won the polls by winning 151 seats out of 175 seats, securing almost 86% of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. General Elections were held in Andhra Pradesh on 11 April 2019 to elect representatives for 17th Lok Sabha. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha constituencies all of which voted in the first phase on the General election 2019 on April 11. The state witnessed an intense battle between the N Chandrababu Naidu led-Telugu Desam Party (TDP), YSR Congress Party of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, actor Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). YSRCP had won 22 seats, and TDP 3. Elections to local bodies in Andhra Pradesh took place in four phases in rural areas (panchayats) in February 2021 viz. 9 February 2021, 13 February 2021, 17 February 2021 and 21 February 2021 covering 13 districts. In the first phase, 29,732 polling stations were set up. Urban local body elections to 12 municipal corporations and 75 municipal and town councils held in April. Persons elected from my area. M.P. - Pocha Brahmananda Reddy from Nandyal Constituency. M.L.A.- Gangula Brijendra Reddy from Allagadda. Mayor- B.Y. Ramaiah. Z.P.T.C. Chairman - Rajasekhar M.P.T.C. Chairman - Y. Raju Sarpanch - M. Gopala Krishna.

Question 4: We have seen why democracies need to have elections. But why do rulers in non-democratic countries need to hold elections?

Answer: Rulers in non-democratic countries need to hold elections because they want to show the world that they are not unpopular and they have the support of the people of the country, and so that their image improves in the eyes of the world. Secondly, they want to show that their government and position has been achieved legally and according to the constitutional provisions.

Question 5: Ah! So, elections are like exams where politicians and parties know if they have passed or failed. But who are the examiners?

Answer: The examiners in this case are the voters, who give them marks in the form of votes.

Question 6: 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: 1.The cartoon shown on the left gives the message that the knowledge, ideas, planning and promises of a candidate are useless if he/she does not have enough votes to win. Voting power is only with the common man, who is the decisive factor for an election. 2. The cartoon shown on the right gives the message that during an election campaign a candidate makes plenty of promises but he is unable to fulfil all of them. As a result electorates chase him to fulfil his promises. Second one is closer to the scenario in our locality.

Question 7: Why is the boundary of the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency not the same as the district boundary of Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)? Draw a similar map for your own Lok Sabha constituency?

Answer: The boundary of the Gulbarga Lok Sabha Constituency is not the same as the district boundary of Gulbarga because: a)The entire state of Karnataka is divided into equal Lok Sabha constituencies on the basis of population. b)The total area of Gulbarga district is 16,224 sq km and it is the largest district in Karnataka. The population of Gulbarga district is 25,64,892 (census 2011). The whole Gulbarga district's population is more than that allotted for each Lok Sabha constituency in the state. That is why both the boundaries are not the same. I am from Gulbarga lok sabha constituency so the above shown map is illustrates the question.

Question 8: How many Assembly constituencies are there in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency? Is it the same in your own Lok Sabha constituency?

Answer: There are 8 Assembly constituencies in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha Constituency.

Question 9: Like in Panchayats, should we not have at least one-third seats in the parliament and assemblies reserved for women?

Answer: One-third of the seats are reserved for women in the Panchayats, but unfortunately even today representation of women in the State Assemblies and Parliament is very low. The women constitute 50 per cent of our society, so, we need to reserve at least one-third seats in the Assemblies and the Parliament for women. This helps them to uplift their status in society.

Question 10: See the map below and answer the following questions. What is the number of Lok Sabha constituencies in your state and the neighbouring two states? Which states have more than 30 Lok Sabha constituencies? Why do some states have such a large number of constituencies? ⦁Why are some constituencies small in area while others are very big? Are the constituencies reserved for the SCs and STs evenly spread all over the entire country or are there more in some areas?

Answer: (i) My state is Andhra Pradesh. Number of lok sabha constituencies are 25 my neighbouring states are Tamilnadu: 39 and Telangana: 17 (ii) The states which have more than 30 Lok Sabha constituencies are Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. (iii) Some states have large number of constituencies because of their population. Here, voters are in large numbers. (iv) The coverage of each constituency is fixed of the basis of number of the voters. The area does not matter. If a smaller area has equal number of voters as a big area, both will be treated as constituencies. (v)The constituencies are reserved for the SCs and STs on the basis of the distribution of their population. So, the constituencies reserved, for the SCs and STs are not evenly spread all over the entire country, but are more in some areas.

Question 11: Why are the candidates required to give a detailed statement of their property?

Answer: Candidates are required to give a detailed statement of their property at the time of election because the Election Commission is trying to control the misuse of money power in elections. The candidate has to give information about his assets movable and immovable, debts to financial institutions, tax status, income and wealth. Secondly with this information the voters will be able to know more about the candidates and make their own choices.

Question 12: Match the following features of our electoral system with the principles they reflect.

Question 13: How was the election campaign in your constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections? Prepare a list of what the candidates and parties said and did.

Answer: Just like any other election that is conducted over the years, contestants compete for political positions. They have to put their ideals on the table, they have to tell people what they will do once they are elected into the positions they want to. Most politicians promise the public that they will provide the social amenities without any biasness. They claim that they will provide clean water to the people, clean environment, increase in worker wages etc. In my constituency, 4 major political parties campaigned for winning elections. They formed huge rallies and gathered many people and promised many things to do. Let's see what have promised.

Question 14: Draw a cartoon here about the Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates during elections.

Question 15:

Answer: Yes, Elections have become very expensive and year by year their cost has been increasing. For a developing country like India it's huge burden. With so much poverty and many dying out of hunger it's really a problem-some. But elections are very important for democracy to check on the corruptive leaders and for all good. So we must go with a reasonable cost of elections and its responsibility lies not only on Election Commission but also on all people of India.

Question 16:

A) What is the percentage of voters who had actually cast their votes?

Answer: 50.82 per cent of total voters cast their own votes.

B) To win an election is it necessary for a person to secure more than half the votes polled?

Answer: To win an election, it is not necessary for a person to secure more than half the votes polled, because the candidate who secures the highest number of votes from a constituency is declared elected.

Question 17: 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 adopt any unfair practices. They are also present in the counting centres to ensure that the counting is done properly without any unfair means.

Question 18:

Answer: (i) Unfair electoral practice (ii) Fair electoral practice (iii) Unfair electoral practice (iv)Unfair electoral practice.

Question 19: Why does the Election Commission have so much power? Is this good for democracy?

Answer: The Election Commission in India is very powerful so that it is able to perform its functions in a proper manner 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 and unfair means in the elections.

Question 20: Read these headlines carefully and identify which powers are used by the Election Commission in each instance to ensure free and fair elections.

Answer: (i) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections, from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. (ii) Election Commission regulates campaigns to ensure that every political party or candidate gets a fair and equal chance to complete. It also ensures that no party or candidate can spend more than Rs. 77 lakhs for election in a Lok Sabha constituency and Rs 30.6 lakhs for election in an Assembly constituency as per a gazette notification released by Election Commission of India on October 20, 2020. (iii) During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guide lines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials. (iv) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections. (v) Election Commission enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. It is not supposed to work on the advice of the Home Minister. During the election period, the Election commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of the governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials. (vi) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of elections and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. It also includes the powers relating to the identification of the voters. (vii) During the election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials. (viii) Election Commission implements the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it. (ix) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. It also includes power regarding the control of the Exit Polls. (x) Election Commission takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections and order to repoll to the declaration of results. (xi) It implements election laws and the code of conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it. Thus, every party or candidate can get a fair and equal chance to compete.

Question 21: Ask the eligible voters in your family whether they voted in the last election to the Lok Sabha or to the state assembly. If they did not, ask them why did they not vote. If they did, ask them which party and candidate they voted for and why. Also ask them whether they had participated in any other election-related activity like attending an election meeting or rally etc.

Answer: Elders in our family voted for Y.S.R.C.P. in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The reason they said is it's a party of farmers and it has promised many things related to farming like cheap loans for next crops, pension hike, Encouragement to women S.H.G'S . And it has also promised for construction of the bridge to our village. My Uncle participated in election campaigning of the parties. He said that Leaders speak voraciously and attract with their Charismatic ability and spend money like water during Elections. They made many promises to lure the voters. They abused the other parties.

Question 22: The leader is coming out of a press conference: “What was the need to say that we have distributed tickets only amongst suitable and winnable family relations?” Do you think that family politics is confined to only a few states or parties?

Answer: Family politics on Dynastic politics is not a new phenomenon in Indian politics, but it has become an increasingly wide reaching one in recent times. It is more or less found in each and every state and party in India. Almost every political party in India has leaders whose sons and daughters have entered politics, most of them without much political experience.

Question 23: Titled ‘Electoral Campaigns’, this cartoon was drawn in the Latin American context. Does this apply to India and to other democracies in the world?

Answer: Yes, this cartoon can be applicable to India and other democracies of the world. Now-a-days, candidates who spend a lot of money on 'buying votes' often win the election. Although the Election Commission has specified the amount of money to be spent for both Parliamentary and Assembly elections, but there is always excessive use of money by the rich candidates and big parties. This cartoon suggests the misuse of money power in Parliamentary democracy.

Question 24: Is this an accurate picture of what happens to the voter before and after elections? Must this always happen in a democracy? Can you think of examples when this did not happen?

Answer: (i) Yes, this is an accurate picture of what happens to the voter before and after election. (ii) No, not always, but most of the time it happens in a democracy. Before election, the candidate tries to appease the voters by false promises. After the election, the elected leader forgets the demands of the common man. (iii) No, I cannot think of examples when this did not happen.

Question 25: 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: The 16th Lok Sabha has 12 per cent women members. The Election Commission often refuses to accept the government’s advice about when the elections should be held. The 16th Lok Sabha has more than 440 members whose assets are more than Rs.1 crore. After losing an election the Chief Minister said: “I respect the people’s verdict”.

Answer: (i) It is the weakness of our electoral system which sends only 12 per cent women members to the Lok Sabha while the population of women is nearly 50 per cent of the total population. (ii) It is the strength of our electoral system which has given the power to the Election Commission to refuse or to accept the advice of the ruling party about the election dates. (iii) This is the weakness of our electoral system which does not give equal chance to both poor and rich. Those candidates, who are rich, have a better chance of winning than the poor in our country. (iv) This is the strength of our electoral system which enjoys the faith of both the defeated and winning candidates. Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as 'people's verdict' by the defeated party.

Question 1: Which of the following sentiments about the reason 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.

Answer: 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 numbers 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.

Answer: a) India has the largest numbers of voters in the world.

Question 3: Match the following:

Answer: 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.

Answer: Different election related activities: a) Making of voters’ list b) Announcing election schedule c) Filing nomination d) Election campaign e) Releasing election manifestos f) Casting of votes g) Counting of votes h) Declaration of election results i) Ordering of re-poll

Question 5: Surekha is an officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what she should focus on for each of the following stages of election: a. Election campaign b. Polling day c. Counting day.

• The polling is done in a peaceful atmosphere
• No bogus voter casts the vote.
• There is police arrangement in every booth
• No unsocial element enters any booth
• There is no booth capturing or rigging.
• The ballot boxes or electronic machines reach counting centre safely.
• There is a proper seating arrangement for the agents of different candidates.
• Proper police arrangement is there to ward off any undue incident.
• Counting of votes is carried peacefully without any outside interference and to the full satisfaction of all the candidates.
• Rejoicing should be peaceful and un-provocative.

Question 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?

Answer: A). The Blacks have lesser number of seats i.e. 8, in the House of Representatives as compared to their population (13%) so a system of reservation should be there for them in US Congress. B). In case of Hispanics, the need of reservation is somewhat more as the number of their members in the House of Representatives is far less (5) as compared to their population (13%). C). There is no need of reservation for the Whites as they have already more seats (86) in the House of Representatives as compared to their population (70%).

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.

• Firstly, the Election Commissioner of India is appointed by the President or Government of India. He cannot be removed.
• Secondly, the can order Election Commissioner can order the Government to follow certain guidelines.
• Thirdly, if he feels that the elections have not been conducted fairly, he can order repoll in certain booths or even in the entire constituency.
• Fourthly, during election duty, other Government servants work under the control of Election Commissioner.

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: In both the cases, Chinappa and Satbir, the court has done the right thing by not allowing either of them to contest elections. This decision does not go against the principle of democratic elections. The convicted and the guilty persons should not be allowed to contest elections otherwise they would criminalize the whole election process and that jeopardize the high principles of democracy.

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 5 lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another. (b) Just before the elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry 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) The officer-in-charge during elections (counting) should have been impartial and should have ordered repoll. For voting there should be electronic machines so that no fraud could be done in counting. In the event of non-availability of electronic machines, the votes should be counted in presence of representatives of different candidates or political parties. Nigeria can learn this lesson from India. (b) Such a thing is quite wrong against the spirit of a free and fair election. Firstly, the voters should never be threatened to cast their vote against their conscience. Secondly, if at all, any pamphlet was to be distributed then it should have been done at least 48 hours before the date of election a done in India. So Fiji can learn these lessons from India – not to intimidate the voters and even if such a thing happens, then the election can be postponed or cancelled. (c) In India, one and uniform rules are followed in all states as far as the method of voting, procedure of counting are concerned. Different rules, different authorities, and different procedures of counting lead to the ambiguity and vagueness and take away the sense of justice, which is one of the main principles of democracy. US can take some good points and lessons from India how to follow same rules, procedures etc. in all states and across the country.

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 the due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio. (c) An inquiry by the Election Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain names 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) By doing so, the minister has erred on two counts. Firstly, he should not have made this promise when the announcement of elections has already been made. Secondly, by promising financial aid he is trying to bribe the voters by using financial tricks. He is trying to take advantage of his party being in power. This mill should not be opened and it should be left to the winning party to decide after the elections. (b) In order to remove this allegation of the opposition parties, the best solution is that Doordarshan and All India Radio must be made autonomous bodies so that government could not influence them in its favour. Equal time should be given to all parties and candidates to present their views in front of the voters. (c) The Election Commission has the power to remaking of the electoral rolls and to see that the names of 20 lakh fake voters are removed from the new electoral rolls. (d) The Election Commission has the power to check this malpractice of moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties. It can withdraw the recognition of any party or disqualify such a candidate from contesting elections if its supporters are found to be moving with weapons.

Question 11: Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and reported 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. 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 always vote the way men tell them to do is a wrong statement. It would be totally undemocratic if we debar women who are about 50 per cent of the population, of their right to vote on the basis of gender distinction. It will also take away the quality of true representation of a democracy. Often we see husband contesting election from one party while his wife contesting from another party. (b) A healthy competition provides option to the people to choose the better. A consensus can make the people deaf and dumb which against the spirit of democracy. Electoral competition is necessary because it provides incentives to political parties and leaders and forces them to serve the people better. (c) Educational qualifications are not necessary to all kinds of jobs. It is also a wrong notion that only graduates should be allowed to contest elections. A majority of people who fought for the independence of the country were almost illiterate. . India follows the rule – 'One person one vote'. This is in true spirit of democracy. . They have equal right with those of the educated to enjoy the fruit of the hard won independence.

Question 12: How did your school celebrate the National Voters’ Day on 25th January? Did you take the NVD Pledge?

Answer: National Voters’ Day was celebrated across schools and college in the district. My School Hans Raj Maha Vidyalaya held a district-level event on its premises in which Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav was invited as a chief guest. Along with him, Additional Deputy Commissioner Girishi Dayalan, ADCP (Traffic) Amneet Kondal, Election Tehsildar Raj Kumar Tangari, Surjit Lal, District Language Officer Amarjit Kaur and Gurjit Singh were present. DC Kamal Kishore Yadav said, ‘This National Voters’ Day is being celebrated for the young voters, who are going to vote for the first time. The young voters should vote for the ethical values and choose government accordingly. The procedure for making voter cards had been done and second revision will be done in September.” Principal Dr Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj also explained that the importance of voting. Students of music department presented Saraswati Vandana. They also presented ‘Kagaz Ke Phul’ skit and giddha. Various competitions were also organised on the occasion. Inter-school essay writing competition and inter-college poster making competition were held.

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Chapter 3 Electoral Politics Notes Class 9 Political Science

• Post category: CBSE Class 9 Social Science

Class 9 Chapter 3 Notes on Electoral Politics: In this chapter, we delve into the multifaceted aspects of the electoral process, explore the responsibilities and authority vested in the Election Commission, and examine the advantages and disadvantages of electoral politics. These notes have been organized into distinct headings to facilitate a systematic comprehension of the chapter for students. Click here for study materials on Class 9 Civics .

I. Need for Elections in a Democracy  

The question arises as why we need elections. The chapter starts with an example of electoral process on an Assembly Election in Haryana.  

A Case of Assembly Election in Haryana  

• Haryana had been ruled by a Congress-led government since 1982. 
• Chaudhary Devi Lal, the then opposition leader, led the Nyaya Yudh, or Struggle for Justice, movement and formed the Lok Dal political party. 
• After winning 76 seats under Devi Lal’s leadership, the Lok Dal and its allied parties formed a government. 
• Following his election as CM, Devi Lal kept his promise to waive the loans of farmers, businesspersons and agricultural labourers. 
• In the 1991 state assembly elections, Congress reclaimed power from the Lok Dal. 

Why do we need elections?  

Election: The process by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals is known as Election. Therefore, elections are considered essential in our times for any representative democracy.

• People have a say in who makes rules for them. they do so by changing government through their votes during elections. 
• People can choose or change their representatives at regular intervals 
• People have the power to select who forms the government and who makes big decisions 
• People can select the political party whose policies will direct the government and legislative process  

What makes an election democratic? 

Elections are democratic under the following conditions: 

• Everyone has one vote, which has equal value. 
• Parties and candidates are free to contest elections, which give voters options. 
• Elections are conducted every few years, at regular intervals. 
• The people’s preferred candidate is elected. 
• Elections are held in a free and fair way, with people able to vote as they truly desire. 

II. Electoral competition 

Elections are all about the political competition..

• Political or electoral competition is at the core of elections and is the most obvious form of rivalry between political parties. 
• At the constituency level, political competition can take place between multiple candidates. (A constituency is a geographical area where voters elect one representative to a legislative body.) 
• If there is no competition, elections will become pointless.

Demerits of electoral competition 

Political competition may have the following disadvantages: 

• It creates a sense of disunity and party politics. 
• Parties try to bring their opponent down by all means, including making untrue allegations. 
• Long-term policies cannot be devised. 
• It can create a feeling of ‘factionalism’. 
• Some decent people who want to do public work may opt out of electoral politics because they do not want to engage in unhealthy competition. 

Merits of electoral competition 

Electoral competitions should be allowed because of the following reasons:

• Despite awareness of the problems of electoral rivalry, the framers of the Constitution preferred free elections as the means for choosing our future leaders. 
• Even though political leaders’ desire for position and power fuels political rivalry, they need people’s support to gain and maintain power. 
• This would be unlikely unless they serve the people. 
• As a result, if they want to remain in power for a longer period of time, they would have to work harder for the people. 
• Thus, political rivalry is said to be advantageous in the long run. 
• Regular electoral competition can provide political parties and leaders with the motivation to represent the public in a better manner. 
• Political parties recognise that addressing issues that voters care about boosts their support and chances of winning the next election. 
• On the contrary, if their work is unpopular with the public, they will be unable to win again and will be replaced by their opposing party. 

III. System of Elections  

We should know the different steps and processes involved in elections in India. The system holding elections is explained here.

Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections 

• Elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (assemblies) are held every five years in India. 
• The term of all elected officials expires after five years, and the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha stand ‘dissolved’. 

Types of Elections

General Elections:  Elections are held simultaneously in all constituencies, either on the same day or within a few days. This is known as a general election. 

Mid-Term Elections:  Sometimes, the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha are dissolved and an election is held before the expiry of their full term of five years. Such an election is called a mid-term election

By-elections:  Elections are sometimes held for only one constituency to fill a vacancy created by the death or resignation of a member. This is known as a by-election.  

Electoral Constituencies  

• India follows an area-based system of representation in which the country is divided into constituencies for the purpose of elections. 
• A constituency is a geographic region that has one representative elected by voters registered in that region. 
• For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies. 
• The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament, or an MP. 
• Each state is also divided into a certain number of assembly constituencies and its elected representatives are called Members of Legislative Assembly or an MLAs. 

Reserved constituencies   

• People from scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC) have reserved constituencies. 
• Only someone who belongs to the above categories can stand for elections in these areas. 
• Currently, 84 seats in the Lok Sabha are reserved for scheduled castes and 47 seats for scheduled tribes. 

Voters’ list  

• Once the constituencies are decided, the next step is to decide who can and who cannot vote. 
• The official document that includes the names and information of eligible voters is called the electoral roll, or more commonly, the voters’ list. 
• All the citizens of age 18 years and above can vote in a election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.
• Some criminals and persons with unsound mind can be denied the right to vote, but only in rare situations.
• The Indian Government has introduced the Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] System. Every eligible voter on the list is issued a Photo Identity Card. Carrying this EPIC is not mandatory. Instead, voters can provide proof of identity like ration card or driving licence to exercise their right to vote.

Nomination of candidates  

• Whoever wants to contest an election must fill out a ‘nomination form’ and pay a ‘security deposit’. 
• Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.
• Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family.
• Educational qualifications of the candidate.
• The returning officers are in charge of filing nomination papers. 
• Scrutiny of nomination papers: Scrutiny is performed to determine whether the information provided in the nomination papers is accurate. 
• Withdrawal of nominations:  After the scrutiny, the candidates are granted a period to withdraw their nominations. 

Election campaign  

• Election campaigning is the process through which a candidate attempts to convince people to vote for him rather than other candidates. 
• Rallies, conventions, processions, door-to-door visits are different campaigning methods. 
• Threaten or bribe voters 
• Make a religious or caste appeal to them 
• Use government resources for election campaign 
• Spend more than 25 lakhs in a constituency in a Lok Sabha election, and more than 10 lakhs in an assembly election 
• For election campaigns, all Indian political parties have agreed to a model Code of Conduct. 
• Candidates cannot use a place of worship or government vehicles for election propaganda as per this code
• The Congress party led by Indian Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty) in the Sabha elections of 1971.
• Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977.
• The Left Front used the slogan of Land to the Tiller in the West Bangal Assembly elections held in 1977.
• ‘Protect the Self-Respect of Telugus’ given by Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.
• Use any place of worship for election propaganda.
• Use government vehicles, air crafts and officials for elections.
• Once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any projects, take any big policy decisions or make any promises of providing public facilities.

Polling and counting of votes 

• Presiding officers and polling officers oversee the polling process. 
• Candidates use electronic voting machines (EVMs) to cast their votes. 
• Counting is performed on a set date and time. 
• The candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is declared seated. 

IV. Election Commission of India  

Political parties and candidates adopt unfair practices and dirty tricks to win their seats. Election Commission is the authority to regulate elections to conduct them in a free and fair atmosphere.

Unfair practices in elections to get votes

• The inclusion of false names in voters’ list 
• The exclusion of genuine names in voters’ list 
• The misuse of government facilities for election campaigns 
• The misuse of funds during election campaigns 
• Voter intimidation 
• Election rigging 

Independent Election Commission 

India has a democratic election system. The election system in India is controlled and governed by an independent and very powerful body called the Election Commission (EC).

• The Election Commission of India (EC) is in charge of elections in India. 
• The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). 
• The Election Commission is self-governing and has a wide range of powers. 
• The Election Commission is a strong and independent body. 
• All aspects of elections are decided independently by the Election Commission. 
• The Election Commission has the authority to enforce the code of conduct and penalise any party that violates it. 
• Officials from government bodies who are on election duty work under its supervision. 
• The Election Commission has the authority to order the government to obey certain rules to prevent the government from abusing its powers during elections. 

V. What makes the electoral system in India democratic and the challenges it faces? 

Popular participation makes the electoral system in india democratic .

• People’s enthusiasm and active participation do a good job of maintaining the quality of the electoral process in India. 
• It helps in ensuring that elections in India are conducted by an independent, strong and neutral body. 
• In India, voter turnout figures have gone up, which is proof of active political participation by the people. 
• In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections.
• The general public’s participation in India’s political activities is so high that one out of every seven voters belongs to a political party. 
• Except for a few debated elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party. 

Acceptance of Election Outcome:

One final test of the free and fairness of the election is the outcome of the election.

• The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level.
• In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India, about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.
• Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections.
• Barring very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party

Challenges faced by Indian elections 

There are many constraints and obstacles in Indian elections. 

• In comparison to larger parties, smaller parties and independent candidates face significant disadvantages. 
• Candidates and parties with money and influence have an unfair edge over smaller parties and independent candidates. 
• Candidates with criminal ties have been able to force others out of the race and win a ‘ticket’ from major political parties. 
• Party tickets are sometimes given to family members of these candidates. 
• Ordinary people do not have real choice because major parties are almost similar in their policies and practices. 

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Revision Notes for Elections Class 9 Civics ICSE

Icse revision notes for elections class 9 civics.

Why do we Need Elections?

• An election is the most suitable way in which people can choose and send their representatives to legislatures.
• In case of contest between two or more candidates for the same position, elections enable the voters to choose a candidate of their own choice by casting their votes.
• By voting in the elections, the voters participate in governing their country.
• Elections held at regular intervals help voters to put a check on the activities of the government. If their representatives are not working satisfactorily, then they can decide not to vote for them in the next elections.
• People come to know about the ideologies of political parties during elections.
• After securing a victory in elections, representatives frame laws for the welfare of people.

Kinds of Elections

There are two kinds of elections—direct elections and indirect elections.

• Direct Elections: People of India cast their votes to directly elect their representatives to the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies. The elections in India are held on the party lines where the leader of the majority party in a state becomes the Chief Minister and the leader of the majority party in a country becomes the Prime Minister.
• Indirect Elections: In India, the members of the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council are elected indirectly. The elected representatives of the people elect the members of the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council.

Election of the President and Vice President of India

• The President and Vice President of India are elected indirectly.
• The President is elected indirectly by the members of the Electoral College which consists of the elected members of the Parliament and the state legislative assemblies including Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The Vice President is elected by the members of both houses of Parliament. State legislatures do not participate in the elections of the Vice President.

Types of Elections

There are three types of elections—general elections, by-elections and mid-term elections.

• General Elections: General elections are held after every five years.
• Mid-Term Elections: When the Lok Sabha or the state legislative assembly is dissolved before the completion of its full term of five years, mid-term elections are held.
• By-Elections: When the seat held by a member in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assembly falls vacant on the account of death or resignation of the member, by-elections are held to fill up vacancy.

Constituency

The entire country is divided into several representative areas called constituencies. A Constituency is a fixed area with a body of voters or residents with voting rights. There are separate constituencies for the assembly elections and parliamentary elections.

Demarcation of Constituencies

• After every census which is held at a regular interval of ten years, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act.
• The Delimitation Commission is then set up by the central government.
• This Delimitation Committee then demarcates the boundaries of the parliamentary constituency according to the terms of the Delimitation Act.
• Lok Sabha constituencies are created according to the size of its population. However, some union territories and smaller states which have a small population are not governed by the rules of seat allocation applicable to other states. This has been done to provide adequate representation to them irrespective of their small population.

Types of Constituencies

• Single-Member Constituency: When a constituency is entitled to only one member, it is known as a single-member constituency. It is a simple and convenient method in which only one member from each constituency is elected. Examples: India, England
• Multi-Member Constituency: When more than one member is elected from one constituency, it is known as a multi-member constituency. In this system, several groups become the part of legislature which may hamper the work of the government. Examples: Germany, Italy, France
• Reserved Constituencies: Many constituencies are reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Election Commission

The Election Commission has been set up in line with the Constitution. It is extremely important to hold free and fair elections at regular intervals. The Election Commission is a body which supervises the process of holding elections in the country.

Composition of the Election Commission

At present, the Election Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two other members.

Appointment

The CEC and other commissioners are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Regional Election Commissioners are appointed by the President in consultation with the Election Commission.

Term of Office and Conditions of Service

• The members of the Election Commission are appointed for a term of six years. During their tenure, if they attain the age of 65 years, they have to resign from office.
• The salary of the CEC and other commissioners is equal to the salary of a judge of a Supreme Court. They are also entitled to pension after retirement.
• Any difference in opinion between the CEC and other commissioners is decided in favour of the majority of opinion.

Powers and Functions of the Election Commission

The Election Commission has wide-ranging powers and responsibilities. These are:

• It prepares the electoral rolls and photo identity cards. It also prepares the voting list after identifying eligible voters in an area.
• It gives recognition and allots symbols to the political parties.
• It fixes the dates of the elections. It can refuse to hold elections in a constituency during a particular duration to ensure free and fair elections.
• One of the most important functions of the Election Commission is to conduct elections in a free and fair manner. It ensures holding of free and fair elections in the following ways: o It sends central observers to the constituencies where there is a danger of violence to ensure that voting takes place freely without any fear. o It may countermand polling if it is sure that some malpractices have been used while polling. o The Commission in recent amendments to the Representative of Peoples Act has prescribed harsh punishment for booth capturing.
• It appoints polling officers for the constituencies. It appoints the Returning Officer whose responsibility is to examine the nomination forms submitted by contestants and declare them fit for contesting elections.
• The Commission announces the date of election, the date of filing nomination papers and the withdrawal of nominations by contestants.
• It also scrutinises the accounts of election expenses submitted by contestants.
• The Election Commission advices the President or Governors of the state in regard to electoral matters, election disputes and disqualification of members.

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The correct meaning of the term reserved constituencies is ________________. Constituencies for the weaker sections Election area for the rich people Polling area for the poor. Areas for senoir citizens

Reserved constituencies are the constituencies in which people only belonging to the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes who can contest the election. in india, there are certain numbers of university positions and political positions are organized for specified groups of people including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women and so on. hence, option a is correct. the rest of the clauses do not fit in this definition, hence, incorrect..

Which of the following violate the principles of equality and why?

(a) Every child in class will read the text of the play by turn.

(b) The Government of Canada encouraged white Europeans to migrate to Canada from the end of the Second World War till 1960.

(c) There is a separate railway reservation counter for the senior citizens.

(d) Access to some forest areas is reserved for certain tribal communities.