Important Questions on Power Sharing

1:) Explain any three forms of power sharing among different organs of government in India. [3]
Answer : Forms of power sharing are :
(i) Horizontal form of power sharing e.g., Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.
(ii) Vertical form of power sharing e.g., Union government and State government.
(iii) Power sharing between political parties and pressure groups and movements e.g. colonial government.

2:) In a democracy, political expression of social division is very normal and can be healthy’’. Justify this statement with suitable arguments. [3]
Answer :

• In a democracy, political expression of social division is very normal and can be healthy.
• Power sharing is a healthy practice at the national level. We have two different examples,
• example of Belgium and Srilanka : Both of these countries are based on the linguistic manner. In true democracy;
• rights and opportunities should be same for all.
• If we share power with minority community, the social division will be less threatning as that of Belgium.
• A majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian as they are Dutch or French.
• This is helpful to build a healthy democracy and helpful to stay together.

3:) Highlight the reasons for the increase in the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils after independence. [5]
Answer :

• Sri Lanka got freedom in 1948.
• They followed the democratic rule over the country and adopted a policy of majoritisation.
• They established Sinhala supremacy and neglected the Srilankan Tamils after independence.

(ii) The government provides preference to Sinhala community in all kinds of job.
(iii) Buddhism became the state religions.

Sri Lankan Tamils felt that all political parties led by Buddist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their
religion and language.
They denied equal political rights to Tamilians. So, they launched parties and struggled against them for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity.
This struggle between two in Sri Lanka turned in to civil war.

4:) Answer the following questions briefly:
a. Mention any three provisions of the Act passed in 1956 in Sri Lanka as part of the majoritarian measures.
b. What were the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils?
c. Explain the Belgium model of power sharing.
d. What were the demands of Sri Lanka Tamils? How many demands were fulfilled?
e. Illustrate with the help of examples of four ways of power sharing in modern democracies.
f. Mention the factors on which the power sharing arrangement works.
g. Based on the power sharing arrangement in Sri Lanka & Belgium, find out more about the power sharing in any one of the following countries :
i) Switzerland
ii) Canada