This PSEB 7th Class Social Science Notes Chapter 19 Democracy – Representative Institutions will help you in revision during exams.
PSEB 7th Class Social Science Notes Chapter 19 Democracy – Representative Institutions
→ Modern Democracy: It is a representative democracy. The reason is that modem states are large in size and their population is more.
→ In such a situation, the whole of the population cannot participate in the administration directly. So it chooses representatives which run the government.
→ Right to Vote: It is the right of the people to cast their votes or to choose their representatives.
→ In India ‘One Person One Vote’ principle gives way to ‘Universal Adult Franchise’.
→ Secret Ballot: The modem elections are fought through secret ballot.
→ It means that every citizen casts his vote by his own sweet will. He cannot be compelled to disclose his vote cast.
→ Candidate: The person who fights for election is called a candidate.
→ They are of two types: one belonging to a political party and the other having no relation with any political party.
→ Election Process: The elections are conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission.
→ A special process is adopted for this which includes a declaration of the election date, filing nominations, examination of nominations, campaigning, voting, counting, and declaration of results.
→ Election Symbol: Every political party has a special symbol.
→ Even independent candidates are given symbols.
→ These symbols are given by the election commission and this helps to identify the candidate in a better way.
→ Election Campaign: It is the most decisive part of the election process.
→ The public meetings are conducted, manifestoes are declared, promises on posters are pasted everywhere and the public is given information about the policies of the political parties if voted to power.
→ Election Manifesto: Every political party tries to tell the public what will it do if voted to power. This is called an election manifesto.
→ Importance of free and fair election: The Election Commission ensures that the elections should be free and fair, only then the right candidates can be elected.
→ The public gets a capable and popular govt, and the democracy becomes strong.
→ Political Parties: People coming together for the attainment of identical political objectives make political parties.
→ Functions of Political Parties: Making public opinion, educating the people politically, contesting the elections, framing the government, criticizing the government, creating coordination among the public and government are the main functions of the political parties.
→ Single Party, Two-Party and Multiparty System: In India, there is a multiparty system because there are more than two parties contesting the elections.
→ Role of opposition: The opposition controls the activities of the government by criticizing it and stops the government from becoming a dictator.