Democracy Class 10th Notes - CBSE and State Boards as well as NCERT Books' Solved Chapter. These notes are prepared specially for the students with a view of sharing the knowledge with the students and other people who wants to gain knowledge through these notes. Prepared with the best references and care, these notes can be studied for exams as the notes covers all the chapter and each section of topics and questions. The notes are shared freely and you can download more notes here @ www.notesshare.com. Democracy, or democratic government, is "a system of government in which all the people of a state or polity ... are involved in making decisions about its affairs, typically by voting to elect representatives to a parliament or similar assembly," as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary. Democracy is further defined as (a:) "Government by the people; especially : rule of the majority (b:) " a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections." According to political scientist Larry Diamond, it consists of four key elements: (a) A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; (b) The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life; (c) Protection of the human rights of all citizens, and (d) A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens. The term originates from the Greek "rule of the people",[4] which was found from "people" and "power" or "rule", in the 5th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to aristokratía "rule of an elite". While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically. The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents. For More Notes and other free projects... visit - www.notesshare.com or email at nikdhawan@outlook.com

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Democracy
1. Define Democracy?
Ans. Democracy consists of two words, `Demo’ means `People’ and `Cracy’ means
`Power’. Thus a democratic government is that government in which the citizens have
some kind of control over decision making. A democratic government must fulfill its
responsibilities towards the citizens. A democratic government is a government of the
people, by the people and for the people. It is a system of governing where government
is based on liberty, equality and welfare of all.
2. Trace the Origin of Modern Democracy?
Ans. A Modern Democracy has to be open and universal. Its origin begins taking shape
in Europe during 17th and 18th centuries. England was the first country which took steps
towards ruled. When 1688 Glomous Revolution. In England broke, it decided once for
all that the kings world rule England but through the principle of rule. Then began era of
reforming the organs of the government by granting incremental franchise gradually to
all the people. By the beginning of the 20th century, Universal Adult Franchise was
adopted in England. Now, with the government by the people, there was the
government of the people. As in Western European Countries, welfare-ism became the
creed of the state; democracy came to be described as the government for the people.
Besides this, French Revolution helped in ending feudalism for good and
established democracy in France. The fathers of revolution declared the fundamental
rights of man and made equality, liberty and fraternity as the basis of governments in
democratic set up.
3. Describe the types of Democracy?
Ans. Usually democracy is of two types:
a) Direct Democracy and
b) Indirect Democracy or Representative Democracy.
Direct Democracy: Direct Democracy is one in which there is simply no difference
between the people and the government. The government and the people are the
same. In such a type of democracy all the citizens take direct part in the functioning of
the government. They make laws themselves and also decide the policy of government.

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They appoint the executive officers, hold them and also decide the policy of
government. They appoint the executive officers, hold them responsible and even
remove them. This democracy is possible only in small states. At presents direct
democracy due to large size and population.
Indirect Democracy: Indirect democracy is anther type of democracy in which people
rule themselves is through their representatives that is why that indirect democracy is
called representatives democracy in this type of democracy people elect their
representatives periodically. These representatives make laws and rule on behalf of the
people. Elections play a very vital role indirect democracy. Mostly of the modern
countries and we also have indirect type of democracy.
4. Describe briefly the hindrances that come in the way of democracy in India?
Ans. The hindrances that come in the way of democracy in India can be describe as
under:
1. Illiteracy: Illiteracy is a big snag in the democratic process. Illiteracy not only
spoils chances of getting jobs, it restricts man`s knowledge of world around him.
Thus an illiterate man can not be expected to understand national problem and
take an active part in political matters. An illiterate man sometimes does not do
what is good for him, but what others want him to do. So, he cant misled by
others easily during elections.
2. Poverty: We must remember poverty, is not the question of one man`s lifted
poverty is linked always to wealth. The poor form a vast majority of our society.
Poverty speaks of economic inequality. Obviously, economic inequality distorts
the working of democracy. For example, Moneylenders in the village can pass
pressure on their debtors among the poor pressure on their debtors among the
poor peasant’s employers on their employees etc during the elections and make
them to vote for a particular candidate.
3. Linguism: Linguism hampers democracy if people vote according to the basis of
language. Democracy would fail in its object. Language does not take us ahead
much and restrict our choice only to those who speak the language we speak.
4. Casteism: Casteism is the tendency to act in policies for reasons of caste.
People who vote for a particular candidate simply because he belongs to the
same caste as theirs. Obviously this distorts the functioning of democracy. The
whole purpose of democracy is defeated if people vote for a particular candidate
simply because he belongs to their caste.

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4. Define Public opinion. How is public opinion formed and expired?
Ans. Public Opinion is the opinion of the people pertaining to issue of public
importance. It is, this, the reaction of the people towards the activities of the
government. Surely, the public opinion has to be alert and intelligent and informed.
This helps to avert a situation in which a government could disregard the rights of
the people.
Public Opinion is not only formed, it has to be expressed. The press, for
instance, does not only shape public opinion. It is also a forum where public opinion
is reflected. Newspapers carry the world`s views, the country`s news and the social
and political problems close to us. By reading newspapers and listening to radio and
viewing television, people form opinion on public matter.
The Journalists, individual members and party leaders use the press for
expressing public opinion. Along with press, the cinema and broadcast system and
Television work as agencies of expressing public opinion.
Besides these, the political parties and legislature also play an important
role in forming and expressing the public opinion.
5. What did democracy mean in ancient societies?
Ans. Democracy, in ancient societies and particular in ancient Athens meant that the
slaves and common people had no rights that their masters had a good hand in
running the government and they enjoyed all the political rights. The ancient
democracy was based in political inequality i.e. having belief in inequality of many
people in ancient societies were either masters or slaves.
6. What does democracy mean now?
Ans. In modern days democracy means political equality. This means that all
citizens have the right to participate in the composition, execution and
administration. Thus democracy now means government of the people by the people
and for the people. It is system where government is based on liberty, equality and
for the welfare of all.
7. What is meant by principle of political equality?
Ans. Principle of political equality means that all citizens are equal in the enjoyment
of political rights.

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Or we can also say that, One man, One vote, is also called the principle of political
equality.
Do It Yourself:
 When and Where Glorious revolution took place?
Ans. 1688 in England.
 French Revolution occurred in ?
Ans. 1789
 Name the country where first democratic government was set up?
Ans. England.
 Indirect Democracy is also called?
Ans. Representative Democracy.
 Define Accountability?
Ans. Accountability means the power of the people to ask the government. Why it
had done, what it id, and it they are not satisfied, with the way the government has
functioned, they must thrown it out of office in the next election.