Class 11 Political Science: Election and Representation — Chapter Question Set

(c) Choice of a candidate by a political party — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(b) Nominating the candidates — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(d) The winner must get more than half the votes — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(a) FPTP system is followed for all the elections in India. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

(d) People should be able to elect a good candidate even if they do not like his or her political party. — This is the textbook-supported choice for the question.

d) Chapter — The textbook states: 51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess?

c) and a half squares? — The textbook states: What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares?

b) no umpires? — The textbook states: Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires?

a) would be very different — The textbook states: Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different.

d) accepted by all the players — The textbook states: Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players.

c) to play a game — The textbook states: The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game.

b) rules we have adopted — The textbook states: The outcome of the election depends on the rules we have adopted.

a) in an impartial manner — The textbook states: We need some machinery to conduct the elections in an impartial manner.

d) left to any government — The textbook states: Since these two decisions need to be taken before the game of electoral politics can begin, these cannot be left to any government.

c) why these basic decisions about elections are — The textbook states: That is why these basic decisions about elections are written down in the constitution of a democratic country.

b) regarding elections and representation — The textbook states: In this chapter we shall study the constitutional provisions regarding elections and representation.

a) Constitution — The textbook states: We shall focus on the importance of the method of election chosen in our Constitution and the implications of the constitutional provisions regarding impartial machinery for conducting elections.

d) provisions in this respect — The textbook states: We shall also look at some suggestions for amending the constitutional provisions in this respect.

c) debate on electoral reforms — The textbook states: After reading this chapter, you would understand: /rhombbutton2different methods of election; /rhombbutton2the characteristics of the system of election adopted in our country; /rhombbutton2the importance of the provisions for free and fair elections; and /rhombbutton2the debate on electoral reforms.

b) Indian Constitution — The textbook states: 52 Indian Constitution at Work ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY Let us begin by asking ourselves two simple questions about elections and democracy.

a) Can — The textbook states: ± Can we have democracy without holding elections?

d) Can — The textbook states: ± Can we hold elections without having democracy?

c) in the previous classes — The textbook states: Let us have a discussion in the classroom on both these questions by using examples from whatever we have learnt so far in the previous classes.

b) in a large democracy — The textbook states: The first question reminds us of the necessity of representation in a large democracy.

a) in making every decision — The textbook states: All citizens cannot take direct part in making every decision.

d) elected by the people — The textbook states: Therefore, representatives are elected by the people.

c) India — The textbook states: Whenever we think of India as a democracy, our mind invariably turns to the last elections.

b) of the democratic process — The textbook states: Elections have today become the most visible symbol of the democratic process.

a) direct and indirect democracy — The textbook states: We often distinguish between direct and indirect democracy.

d) one where the citizens directly participate i — The textbook states: A direct democracy is one where the citizens directly participate in the day-to-day decisionmaking and in the running of the government.

c) Greece — The textbook states: The ancient city-states in Greece were considered examples of direct democracy.

b) They — The textbook states: Many would consider local governments, especially gram sabhas, to be the closest examples of direct They say elections are carnival of democracy.

a) 1957 — The textbook states: 17 February 1957 53 Chapter 3: Election and Representation democracy.

d) and crores of people — The textbook states: But this kind of direct democracy cannot be practiced when a decision has to be taken by lakhs and crores of people.

c) why rule by the people usually means rule by — The textbook states: That is why rule by the people usually means rule by people’s representatives.

b) actively involved in governing and administer — The textbook states: In such an arrangement citizens choose their representatives who, in turn, are actively involved in governing and administering the country.

a) referred to as an election — The textbook states: The method followed to choose these representatives is referred to as an election.

d) in running the administration — The textbook states: Thus, the citizens have a limited role in taking major decisions and in running the administration.

c) involved only indirectly — The textbook states: Citizens are involved only indirectly, through their elected representatives.

b) taken by elected representatives — The textbook states: In this arrangement, where all major decisions are taken by elected representatives, the method by which people elect their representatives becomes very important.

a) democratic — The textbook states: The second question reminds us of the fact that not all elections are democratic.

d) countries also hold elections — The textbook states: A large number of nondemocratic countries also hold elections.

c) very keen to present themselves as democratic — The textbook states: In fact nondemocratic rulers are very keen to present themselves as democratic.

b) not threaten their rule — The textbook states: They do so by holding election in such a way that it does not threaten their rule.

a) of such non-democratic elections? — The textbook states: Can you think of some examples of such non-democratic elections?

d) from a nondemocratic election? — The textbook states: What do you think would distinguish a democratic from a nondemocratic election?

c) in a democratic way? — The textbook states: What can be done to ensure that elections in a country would be conducted in a democratic way?

b) basic rules about elections — The textbook states: The constitution of a democratic country lays down some basic rules about elections.

a) usually left to be worked out by laws passed — The textbook states: The details are usually left to be worked out by laws passed by the legislatures.

d) Who — The textbook states: These basic rules are usually about ± Who is eligible to vote?

That is why these basic decisions about elections are written down in the constitution of a democratic country. We shall focus on the importance of the method of election chosen in our Constitution and the implications of the constitutional provisions regarding impartial machinery for conducting elections. 52 Indian Constitution at Work ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY Let us begin by asking ourselves two simple questions about elections and democracy.

ELECTION SYSTEM IN INDIA You may have noted above a reference to different methods or the systems of elections. If you have carefully read the box explaining the Rajya Sabha elections, you would have noticed that it is a complicated system which may work in a small country, but would be difficult to work in a sub-continental country like India. The system has also discouraged political parties that get all their Check your progress Here are the results of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election held in 2016.

51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess? But there Activity Collect newspaper clippings about elections in India and any other country. If you have access to internet, visit the websites of the Election Commission of India, https://eci.gov.in, and ACE project, The Electoral Knowledge Network, http://aceproject.org and collect the information mentioned above for at least four countries.

First Past the Post System Look at the newspaper clipping. Under this system: ± The entire country is divided into 543 constituencies; ± Each constituency elects one representative; and ± The candidate who secures the highest number of votes in that constituency is declared elected. This method is called the First Past the Post (FPTP) system.

How could our Constitution makers accept such an unfair system? Under this system: ± The entire country is divided into 543 constituencies; ± Each constituency elects one representative; and ± The candidate who secures the highest number of votes in that constituency is declared elected. RESERVATION OF CONSTITUENCIES We have noticed that in the FPTP election system, the candidate who secures the highest votes in a particular constituency is declared elected.

51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess? After reading this chapter, you would understand: /rhombbutton2different methods of election; /rhombbutton2the characteristics of the system of election adopted in our country; /rhombbutton2the importance of the provisions for free and fair elections; and /rhombbutton2the debate on electoral reforms. ELECTION SYSTEM IN INDIA You may have noted above a reference to different methods or the systems of elections.

We have got so used to our system of elections that we think that there cannot be any other way. But there Activity Collect newspaper clippings about elections in India and any other country. In some countries, like Israel or Netherlands, the entire country is treated as one constituency and seats are allocated to each party according to its share of votes in the national election.

After reading this chapter, you would understand: /rhombbutton2different methods of election; /rhombbutton2the characteristics of the system of election adopted in our country; /rhombbutton2the importance of the provisions for free and fair elections; and /rhombbutton2the debate on electoral reforms. As you can see, the first three questions are about ensuring that elections are free and fair and can thus be called democratic. If you have access to internet, visit the websites of the Election Commission of India, https://eci.gov.in, and ACE project, The Electoral Knowledge Network, http://aceproject.org and collect the information mentioned above for at least four countries.

51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess?

What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares?

Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires?

In any sport, we need to follow certain rules.

Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different.

Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players.

The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game.

What is true of a game is also true of elections.

There are different rules or systems of conducting elections.

The outcome of the election depends on the rules we have adopted.

We need some machinery to conduct the elections in an impartial manner.

Since these two decisions need to be taken before the game of electoral politics can begin, these cannot be left to any government.

That is why these basic decisions about elections are written down in the constitution of a democratic country.

In this chapter we shall study the constitutional provisions regarding elections and representation.

We shall focus on the importance of the method of election chosen in our Constitution and the implications of the constitutional provisions regarding impartial machinery for conducting elections.

We shall also look at some suggestions for amending the constitutional provisions in this respect.

After reading this chapter, you would understand: /rhombbutton2different methods of election; /rhombbutton2the characteristics of the system of election adopted in our country; /rhombbutton2the importance of the provisions for free and fair elections; and /rhombbutton2the debate on electoral reforms.

51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess? 51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess? What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares? Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires?

What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares? 51 Chapter 3: Election and Representation Chapter Three ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Have you ever played chess? What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares? Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires? In any sport, we need to follow certain rules.

Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires? What would happen if the black knight suddenly started moving straight rather than two and a half squares? Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires? In any sport, we need to follow certain rules. Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different.

In any sport, we need to follow certain rules. Or, what would happen if in a game of cricket, there were no umpires? In any sport, we need to follow certain rules. Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different. Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players.

Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different. In any sport, we need to follow certain rules. Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different. Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players. The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game.

Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players. Change the rules and the outcome of the game would be very different. Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players. The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game. What is true of a game is also true of elections.

The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game. Similarly a game needs an impartial umpire whose decision is accepted by all the players. The rules and the umpire have to be agreed upon before we begin to play a game. What is true of a game is also true of elections. There are different rules or systems of conducting elections.