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Power-sharing – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 10 Social Science, chapter 13. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Power-sharing means dividing power among different organs, levels and groups so that no one has all of it. Belgium shared power among communities and stayed united, while Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies led to conflict. Power-sharing is good both for prudential reasons and because it is the spirit of democracy.

Belgium and Sri Lanka

In Belgium, 59 per cent speak Dutch, 40 per cent French and 1 per cent German; in Brussels 80 per cent speak French and 20 per cent Dutch.
Belgium amended its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993: equal Dutch and French ministers in the central government, more powers to state governments, a separate government for Brussels and a 'community government'.
In Sri Lanka, Sinhala speakers are about 74 per cent and Tamil speakers about 18 per cent; the 1956 Act made Sinhala the only official language.
Majoritarian policies made Tamils feel alienated, leading to demands for Tamil Eelam and a long civil war.

Why power-sharing is desirable

Prudential reason: it reduces conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.
Moral reason: in a democracy people have a right to be consulted on how they are governed.

Forms of power-sharing

Horizontal: among legislature, executive and judiciary, with checks and balances.
Vertical: among governments at different levels, such as union, state and local governments (federal division).
Among social groups: community government in Belgium, reserved constituencies in India.
Among political parties, pressure groups and movements: coalition governments and interest groups.

Key terms

Majoritarianism: the belief that the majority community should rule a country in whatever way it wants, ignoring minorities
Checks and balances: a system in which each organ of government checks the others so that power is balanced
Community government: a government elected by people of one language community, with power over cultural, educational and language issues
Coalition government: a government formed by two or more political parties

Important questions with answers

What is majoritarianism?2 marks

Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whatever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority. Sri Lanka's policies after 1956 are an example.

Give one prudential and one moral reason for power-sharing, with an explanation.3 marks

Prudential reason: power-sharing reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, sharing power is a good way to ensure stability. Moral reason: power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy. People who are affected by policies have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed, and a legitimate government is one where citizens have a stake.

Describe the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies with examples.5 marks

Horizontal distribution: power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary, placed at the same level; each organ checks the others, creating a system of checks and balances, as in India. Vertical distribution: power is shared among governments at different levels, such as the union government for the whole country and state governments at the provincial level, with local governments in villages and cities; this is federal division of power. Sharing among social groups: religious and linguistic groups share power, as in Belgium's community government or reserved constituencies for weaker sections in India. Sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements: competition among parties ensures power changes hands; in coalition governments several parties share power, and interest groups such as traders and farmers influence decisions.

Quick revision

Belgium accommodated; Sri Lanka followed majoritarianism.
Prudential reason = less conflict; moral reason = spirit of democracy.
Horizontal, vertical, social groups, parties and pressure groups.

Exam tips

Compare Belgium and Sri Lanka in a table: population, policy and result.
Learn the four forms of power-sharing with one example each.

Practice MCQs

The majority language community in Belgium is
1. French
2. Dutch
3. German
4. English
Show answer
Answer: (b) Dutch. About 59 per cent speak Dutch.
In 1956 Sri Lanka recognised which language as the only official language
1. Tamil
2. English
3. Sinhala
4. Hindi
Show answer
Answer: (c) Sinhala. This was a majoritarian measure.
Sharing power among legislature, executive and judiciary is called
1. vertical sharing
2. coalition sharing
3. community sharing
4. horizontal sharing
Show answer
Answer: (d) horizontal sharing. The organs are at the same level.
Which city in Belgium has a separate government with equal representation of both communities
1. Antwerp
2. Wallonia
3. Brussels
4. Bruges
Show answer
Answer: (c) Brussels. French speakers are a majority there.
The prudential reason for power-sharing is that it
1. reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups
2. increases the power of the majority
3. weakens the judiciary
4. removes elections
Show answer
Answer: (a) reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups. It helps ensure political stability.
Reserved constituencies in India are an example of power-sharing among
1. organs of government
2. levels of government
3. pressure groups
4. social groups
Show answer
Answer: (d) social groups. They give space to weaker sections.
Which of these was not one of Belgium's accommodation measures
1. equal Dutch and French ministers in the central government
2. a community government
3. declaring Dutch the only official language
4. more powers to state governments
Show answer
Answer: (c) declaring Dutch the only official language. Belgium avoided majoritarian measures.
The demand for an independent Tamil Eelam arose mainly because
1. Tamils were a majority
2. of Belgian influence
3. of majoritarian policies favouring Sinhala speakers
4. India divided Sri Lanka
Show answer
Answer: (c) of majoritarian policies favouring Sinhala speakers. Tamils felt their language and culture were ignored.

All chapters of Class 10 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.