Class 8 Social Science Chapter 9 Important Questions Kerala Syllabus Democracy: Meaning and Scope

By reviewing Class 8 Social Science Notes Kerala Syllabus Chapter 9 Democracy: Meaning and Scope Important Questions, students can improve their conceptual understanding.

Democracy: Meaning and Scope Extra Questions and Answers Class 8 Social Science Chapter 9 Kerala Syllabus

Democracy: Meaning and Scope Class 8 Important Questions

Question 1.
Where did the democratic system originate?
Answer:
City-states of ancient Greece

Question 2.
Which was the most prominent Greek city-state?
a) Athens
b) Sparta
c) Corinth
d) Thebes
Answer:
a) Athens

Question 3.
What is the freedom that serves as the foundation of democracy?
a) Freedom to move
b) Freedom to assemble
c) Freedom to express
d) Freedom to organise
Answer:
c) Freedom to express

Question 4.
Arrange the given Table.

A	B
a. Political equality	Right to work
b. Social equality	Non-discrimination
c. Economic equality Right to vote	Right to vote

A) a -ii, b -iii, c -i
B) a -i, b – iii, c – ii
C) a – iii, b – ii, c – i
D) a -ii, b – i, c – iii
Answer:
C) a – iii, b – ii, c – i

Question 5.
Which is the oldest form of government in the world?
a) Theocratic state
b) Dictatorship
c) Monarchy
d) Party Dictatorship
Answer:
c) Monarchy

Question 6.
How many languages are currently listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
a) 22 languages
b) 18 languages
c) 32 languages
d) 20 languages
Answer:
a) 22 languages

Question 7.
Choose the correct answer by reading the given assertion and reason.
Assertion: In India, the government is formed by representatives elected by the people at the national and state levels.
Reason: An Election Commission exists to conduct free and fair elections in India.
a) Both assertion and reason are correct.
b) Both assertion and reason are wrong.
c) Assertion is correct, Reason is wrong
d) Assertion is wrong, Reason is correct.
Answer:
a) Both assertion and reason are correct

Question 8.
Find the ones from ‘B’ that correspond to category ‘A’ given below.

A	B
Universal Adult Franchise	Article 326 of the Indian Constitution 61st Constitutional Amendment 1985 18 years

a) i and ii are correct
b) ii and iii are correct
c) i and iii are correct
d) i, ii, iii, iv are correct
Answer:
d) i, ii, iii, iv are correct

Question 9.
Statement I: In Monarchy, all the power of the state is vested in the king/queen.
Statement II: In Dictatorship, all the powers of the state will be concentrated in one person
Analyse the above statements and choose the correct answer from the options given below.
a) Both the Statements are correct
b) Statement I only is correct
c) Statement II only is correct
d) Both the Statements are not correct
Answer:
a) Both the Statements are correct

Question 10.
Define Democracy?
Answer:
Democracy is not only a system of government but also a value. Democracy is built on the foundation of ideas such as Liberty, Equality, Justice, and Rights. Democracy consists of governments that respect these values and do not intrude upon them.

Question 11.
Define freedom? What are the important freedoms?
Answer:
Freedom is defined as the absence of restrictions. That is, a state devoid of any external restrictions on individuals. The important freedoms are freedom to move, freedom to organise, freedom to assemble and freedom to express.

Question 12.
Why is modern democracy called Constitutionalism? –
Answer:
In a democracy, there are limits to the activities of the government. These limits are set by the Constitution. That is why modem democracy is called Constitutionalism.

Question 13.
Explain the origin of the word Democracy.
Answer:
The word ‘democracy,’ meaning the power of the people, is derived from the Greek words ‘Demos’ meaning people, and ‘Kratos’ meaning power.

Question 14.
Define Rights.
Answer:
Rights are essential for the existence and growth of democracy. Rights are the conditions necessary to lead a dignified and meaningful life as human beings. What we desire or wish for is not necessarily a right. It is merely a claim. Only legally recognised claims are considered rights.

Question 15.
The rule of law is one of the basic values of democracy. Explain.
Answer:
The essence of the rule of law is that everyone is equal before the law and everyone will receive equal legal protection. The general laws of the country will apply equally to everyone. There will be no special laws for any group. Similarly, the government can fulfil its duties only through the process and principles prescribed by the legal system.

Question 16.
Which are the two houses of the Indian Parliament?
Answer:
The Upper house – Rajya Sabha
The lower house – Lok Sabha

Question 17.
Explain the role and composition of the National Election Commission of India.
Answer:
The Election Commission is a constitutional institution in India for conducting free and fair elections. The Election Commission conducts elections to the office of President and Vice President, as well as to Parliament and state legislatures. The Election Commission is composed of a Chief Election Commissioner and two other Commissioners.

Question 18.
Analyse the democracy that existed in Greece.
Answer:
All decisions concerning the state were made directly by the citizens. Similarly, the military leaders and judges were directly elected by the people. In this way, the democratic system in which the people directly participate in governance and law-making is called Direct Democracy. However, its greatest limitation was that slaves and women did not participate in the democratic system.

Question 19.
Explain the characteristics of indirect democracy or representative democracy.
Answer:
Representative Democracy or Indirect Democracy is a system in which the people elect their representatives to govern. In a parliamentary democratic system, the government is governed by a council of ministers that is collectively responsible to the parliament. Adult franchise and civil rights are milestones in the history of British parliamentary democracy.

Question 20.
What are the three dimensions of equality?
Answer:

• Political equality
• Social equality
• Economic equality

Question 21.
Political parties play an important role in strengthening democracy. Elucidate the statement.
Answer:
Political parties are an essential element in a modem democracy. They play an important role in creating political awareness and shaping public opinion in a democracy. Political parties facilitate the functioning of a democracy. The conferences, marches and speeches they hold are the most powerful political education programmes in a democracy. The aim of political parties is to win elections and gain political power by turning public opinion in their favour.

Question 22.
What are the devices of direct democracy?
Answer:

• Referendum
• Recall
• Plebiscite
• Initiative

Question 23.
Explain the relationship between freedom and restrictions.
Answer:
Freedom is not complete in the absence of restrictions. Therefore, some instructions and rules that individuals should and should not do are necessary for social life. It restricts the intrusion upon another person’s freedom. The value of freedom becomes meaningful only in a system where each individual respects the freedom of others. The thought that one’s own opinions and beliefs are more powerful than those of others leads to conflicts. In such cases, legal and political restrictions are needed.

Question 24.
What does equality mean?
Answer:
Equality is the view that all people in the world are unique and valuable, regardless of discrimination based on religion, colour, gender, race, language, or nationality. However, equality does not mean that everyone should be treated the same way in all situations. It cannot be said that giving different considerations to different persons according to their ability is a violation of the concept of equality.

Question 25.
Explain the three dimensions of equality.
Answer:

Political Equality	Social Equality	Economic Equality
Right to vote	Non-discrimination	Right to work
Right to contest elections	Equal status	Equal pay for equal work
Right to hold public office	Equal opportunities	Right to leisure

Question 26.
What are the four ways in which Parliament can exercise control over the Council of Ministers?
Answer:

• Adjournment Motion
• Question Hour
• Calling – Attention Motion
• Zero Hour

Question 27.
Compare and contrast the features of the parliamentary system and the presidential system.
Answer:

Features of the Parliamentary System	Features of the Presidential System
The executive branch is controlled by the legislature	The executive branch and the legislature are separate
The powers of the head of the state are nominal	The President serves both as the head of state and the head of government
The head of state is the King/ Queen/President	All executive powers are vested in the President
The head of government is the Prime Minister	The President is directly elected by the people
The Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has the majority in the legislature	The President is not accountable to the legislature
The Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, is collectively responsible to the legislature

Question 28.
Explain the three principles of Justice.
Answer:

Equal Treatment for Equals	Proportionate Justice	Recognition of Special Needs
As human beings, all individuals deserve equal rights and equal consideration No discrimination on the basis of class, caste, religion, gender, or race	Justice should be proportionate to the ability and contribution of each person There is no injustice in treating each person separately according to their ability	In a society where inequality exists, the weaker section and the backward can enjoy equality only if special rights are granted Methods such as reservation can be adopted to ensure equality

Question 29.
Explain different types of rights.
Answer:

Political Rights	Civil Rights
Right to vote Right to contest elections Right to hold public office Right to criticise the government	Equality before the law Right to a free and fair trial Right to assemble and organise Freedom of expression
Economic Rights	Cultural Rights
Right to work Right to receive minimum wages Equal rights over the resources and property of the states	Right to preserve language and script Right to educate in the mother tongue Right of indigenous people to preserve their cultural heritage

Question 30.
There are many governments in the world that do not adhere to democracy. Elucidate the statement.
Answer:

Monarchy	The oldest form of government Power is transferred by inheritance All the power of the state is vested in the king/queen
Dictatorship	All the powers of the state will be concentrated in one person No one has the right to question or criticise the person who becomes the supreme leader of the state All forms of democracy, including elections, will be banned
Military Dictatorship	The military will rule directly There will be no democratic rights or other forms of democracy Protests and criticism will be suppressed by military force
Party Dictatorship	Only one political party governs All the powers of the state are concentrated in the party Democratic values, including freedom of expression, are completely prohibited
Theocratic State	Clergy will directly rule the state according to religious laws The official religion of the state shall be the basis of the legal system Everyone shall be obliged to believe in and follow the official religion