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Election and Representation – Class 11 Political Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 11 Political Science, chapter 3. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

In a representative democracy, people elect representatives through elections. India uses the first-past-the-post system for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections and proportional representation for some indirect elections such as the Rajya Sabha and the President. The Constitution provides universal adult franchise, reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and an independent Election Commission under Article 324.

Electoral systems

First-past-the-post (FPTP): the country is divided into constituencies, each electing one representative; the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.
Proportional representation (PR): parties get seats in proportion to their votes; India uses the single transferable vote form of PR for Rajya Sabha, President and Vice-President elections.
India chose FPTP for direct elections because it is simple, gives voters a clear choice of candidate and tends to produce stable governments.

Features of India's electoral system

Universal adult franchise: every citizen aged 18 or above can vote; the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the 61st Amendment (1988).
Reserved constituencies for SC and ST ensure their representation, while all voters in those constituencies vote.
Any citizen meeting the age criteria (25 for Lok Sabha and assemblies) can contest elections.

Election Commission and reforms

Article 324 establishes the Election Commission to superintend, direct and control elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Since 1993 it has been a multi-member body with a Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
It prepares electoral rolls, schedules elections, enforces the Model Code of Conduct and can order re-polls; reforms have included EVMs, voter ID cards and disclosure of candidates' assets and criminal records.

Key terms

First-past-the-post: an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins
Proportional representation: an electoral system in which parties win seats in proportion to their share of votes
Universal adult franchise: the right of every adult citizen to vote without discrimination
Reserved constituency: a constituency where only candidates from SC or ST can contest
Election Commission: the constitutional body under Article 324 that conducts elections

Important questions with answers

What is the first-past-the-post system?2 marks

In the first-past-the-post system, the country is divided into constituencies, each electing one representative. The candidate who gets more votes than any other candidate wins, even if he or she does not get a majority of votes. It is used for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in India.

What are the functions of the Election Commission of India?3 marks

The Election Commission supervises the preparation of electoral rolls, decides the election schedule, conducts free and fair elections, enforces the Model Code of Conduct, recognises political parties and allots symbols, can order re-polls, and controls officials on election duty.

Compare the first-past-the-post and proportional representation systems and explain why India adopted FPTP.5 marks

Under the first-past-the-post system, the country is divided into single-member constituencies, voters choose a candidate, and the candidate with the highest number of votes wins, even without a majority. The share of seats a party wins may differ greatly from its share of votes. Under proportional representation, a larger area elects several representatives, voters often vote for parties, and each party gets seats in proportion to its vote share, so representation is more exact. India uses PR through the single transferable vote for indirect elections such as the Rajya Sabha, President and Vice-President. The Constitution makers adopted FPTP for Lok Sabha and assembly elections for several reasons. It is simple to understand for ordinary voters, many of whom were not literate in 1950. It gives voters a clear choice between candidates and creates a direct link between a representative and a constituency, making representatives accountable. It encourages broad-based parties and tends to produce stable governments, whereas PR may lead to many small parties and unstable coalitions. FPTP combined with reserved constituencies also ensured representation of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

Quick revision

FPTP for Lok Sabha and assemblies.
PR (single transferable vote) for Rajya Sabha and President.
Voting age 18 (61st Amendment); reserved constituencies.
Election Commission, Article 324; multi-member since 1993.

Exam tips

Compare FPTP and PR in a table on seat allocation, simplicity and representation.
Remember which elections in India use PR: Rajya Sabha, President, Vice-President.

Practice MCQs

Elections to the Lok Sabha use the
1. proportional representation system
2. nomination system
3. list system
4. first-past-the-post system
Show answer
Answer: (d) first-past-the-post system. The candidate with most votes wins.
The Election Commission is established under Article
1. 32
2. 324
3. 356
4. 368
Show answer
Answer: (b) 324. It conducts elections.
The voting age in India is
1. 16 years
2. 18 years
3. 21 years
4. 25 years
Show answer
Answer: (b) 18 years. It was lowered from 21.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by
1. direct vote of the people
2. nomination only
3. first-past-the-post
4. proportional representation through state legislators
Show answer
Answer: (d) proportional representation through state legislators. The single transferable vote is used.
The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the
1. 42nd Amendment
2. 61st Amendment
3. 73rd Amendment
4. 86th Amendment
Show answer
Answer: (b) 61st Amendment. It was passed in 1988.
In a reserved constituency for SC
1. only SC voters can vote
2. no election is held
3. only SC candidates can contest, but all voters vote
4. candidates are nominated
Show answer
Answer: (c) only SC candidates can contest, but all voters vote. Reservation is for candidates.
A party wins 40 per cent votes but a majority of seats. This is possible under
1. proportional representation
2. referendum
3. list system
4. first-past-the-post
Show answer
Answer: (d) first-past-the-post. Winners need only the most votes in each seat.
Why did the Constitution makers prefer FPTP for general elections
1. it gives exact proportionality
2. it is simple and tends to give stable governments
3. it avoids constituencies
4. it reduces voters
Show answer
Answer: (b) it is simple and tends to give stable governments. Voters understand it easily.

All chapters of Class 11 Political 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.