Democracy is a form of government where power is held by citizens who elect representatives. Key features include: citizens having equal say through votes, elected representatives making decisions on behalf of people, and protection of citizens' rights. There are merits like accountability and ability to change leadership through elections, and demerits like potential for instability and corruption. Most modern democracies are indirect, with representatives making decisions, unlike direct democracies where citizens vote on all issues. Case studies examine countries and whether they truly allow democratic values like fair elections.

1. What is Democracy?
Why Democracy?
Class IX: Chapter-2 (Civics)

2. WE WILL LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER:
• Origination of the word Democracy
• Democracy - Meaning and Definition.
• Features of Democracy
• Merits and Demerits of Democracy
• Democracy- Direct & Indirect Democracy
• Difference between Democratic and Non Democratic form government.
• CASE STUDY
Contents of this Chapter

3. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
DAY-1
• Origination of the word Democracy
• Democracy - Meaning and Definition.
• Features of Democracy

4. ● The word democracy is derived from
the Greek word
○ Demos- People
○ Kratia- Power or rule
Derivation of “Democracy”

5. CHAPTER INTRO
• Origination of the word Democracy
• Democracy - Meaning and Definition.

6.  In a democracy the final decision making power
must rest with those who elected by the people.
 A democracy must be based on a free and fair
election where those currently in power have a fair
chance of losing.
 In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one
vote and each vote must have one value.
Features Democracy

7. Features Democracy
 A democratic government rules within limits
sets by constitutional law and citizen’s right.
 The opposition parties are allowed to function
freely before and after the elections.
 The democratic governments are based on
fundamental principles of political equality.

8. DAY-1 RECAP
• Origination of the word Democracy
• Democracy - Meaning and Definition.

9. 01
02
03
04
Define Democracy?
What are three features of democracy?
QUESTION FOR THE DAY-1…

10. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
DAY-2
• Merits and Demerits of Democracy
• Democracy- Direct & Indirect Democracy

11. REVISION OF KEY FEATURES

12. ● A democratic government is a
better government because it is a
more accountable form of
government.
● Democracy improves the quality of
decision making.
● Democracy provides a method to
deal with differences and conflicts.
It is suitable the countries like
India. India having diversity of
language, religion and cultures.
Democracy in India made it
possible to keep unity in diversity.

13. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo,
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Freepik.
Merits of “Democracy” Contd…
● In a democracy no one is a permanent winner or loser.
● Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to
correct its own mistakes.
● Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens, because it is based on the principle
of political equality, on recognizing that the poorest and least educated have the
same status as the rich and the educated.

14.  Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to
instability.
 Democracy is all about political competition and power
play. There is no scope for morality.
 Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the
people. It leads to bad decisions.
 Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on
electoral competition.
 Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they
should not decide anything.

15. ● It is a political setup, where the people themselves
makes the laws and parliament directly in the
functioning of the govt.
● Decisions are taken on the base of the majority of
opinion.
● It is suitable for the geographically small countries
with less population.
● Eg : Ancient Greek/ Rome and India Modern period-
Switzerland
Types of Democracy: Direct Democracy

16. ● In the modern world most of the countries are
following the in direct democracy.
● It is system, in which the representatives are
elected by the people and they act on behalf of
the people.
● They are so sensitive to cater the needs and
opinion of the people.
● Eg ; India/ France/ USA
Types of Democracy: Indirect Democracy

17. ● In the modern world most of the countries are
following the in direct democracy.
● It is system, in which the representatives are
elected by the people and they act on behalf of
the people.
● They are so sensitive to cater the needs and
opinion of the people.
● Eg ; India/ France/ USA
Types of Democracy: Indirect Democracy

18. MERITS AND DIMERITS

19. 01
02
03
04
What are the merits and demerits of
democracy?
Explain any three differences between direct
and indirect democracy.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY-2…

20. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
DAY-3
• Difference between Democratic and Non Democratic
form government

21. Democratic Non-Democratic
• Democracy is the best
form of government
as the rulers are
accountable to the
people and have to
fulfill their needs.
• The rulers are not
accountable to the
people and their
needs.
• In democratic govt
people elect their
rulers and have right
in decision making.
• People don not elect
their rulers and have
no right in decision
making.
• The parliament is a
separate body and
has no interference of
army.
• The parliament cannot
pass a law about the
army without the
consent of the chief of
army.

22. Democratic Non-Democratic
• The right of vote is available
to all citizens.
• The citizens of the country
have no right to vote.
• Democracy is based on
consultation and in
democratic govt people
enjoy their right of
discussion.
• Non democratic govt is
based on dictatorship. The
ruler does what he wants.
• There are free and fair
elections. Elections offer a
choice and fair opportunity
to the people to change the
current rulers.
• In a democratic government
elections are either not held
and if held they are not fair
enough rather they are
imposing.

23. Democratic V/s Non-Democratic Contd…
Democratic Non-Democratic
• The right of vote is available to all
citizens.
• The citizens of the country have no right
to vote.
• Democracy is based on consultation and
in democratic govt people enjoy their
right of discussion.
• Non democratic govt is based on
dictatorship. The ruler does what he
wants.
• There are free and fair elections.
Elections offer a choice and fair
opportunity to the people to change the
current rulers.
• In a democratic government elections
are either not held and if held they are
not fair enough rather they are
imposing.

24. Democratic Non-Democratic
• The right of vote is available
to all citizens.
• The citizens of the country
have no right to vote.
• Democracy is based on
consultation and in
democratic govt people
enjoy their right of
discussion.
• Non democratic govt is
based on dictatorship. The
ruler does what he wants.
• There are free and fair
elections. Elections offer a
choice and fair opportunity
to the people to change the
current rulers.
• In a democratic government
elections are either not held
and if held they are not fair
enough rather they are
imposing.

25. CHAPTER RECAP
• Merits and Demerits of Democracy
• Democracy- Direct & Indirect Democracy

26. 01
02
03
04
How does democracy enhances the dignity of
citizens?
How is democracy better than other forms of
government?
Explain any three major political changes that
took place recently in India’s neighborhood.
HINT:
Pakistan-General Musharaf led a military coup.
Nepal-In 2005, the new king dismissed the elected
government.
Iraq-Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY-3…

27. CASE STUDY
DAY-4

28. Myanmar Army Rule
Chile Pinochet
Nepal and Saudi Monarchy
Pakistan Military (Parvez Musharraf)
Poland & Iraq USSR & USA (external)
China Communist Party (One Party)
Mexico PRI (Insti – Revo – Party)
Zimbabwe Mugabe (President)
Case Studies
DAY-5

29. ● General Parvez Mushraff led a military coup in Oct 1999.
● He overthrew the democratically elected govt.
● He declared the chief executive of the country.
● In 2002 he changed his position to president
● Then held a referendum- five years extension
● Media, Human right organizations and democratic activist said-
referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.
Case Study: PAKISTAN

30. ● In Aug 2002- he issued Legal Frame Work order- amended the constitution of
Pakistan.
● According to this order- president can dismiss the national or provisional
assemblies.
● The work of civilian cabinet supervised by national Security Council dominated by
military officers.
● After passing this law the election held to the national and state assemblies.
● The elected representatives have some powers.
● But final power rest with military officers and General Parvez Mushrraf
Case Study: PAKISTAN Contd…

31. Aactivity
Pakistan under the General
Pervez Musharraf is not
called a democracy. Why?

32. ● In China elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the Country’s
parliament- Quanguo Renmin Diabiao Dahui (National Peoples Congress)
● They have the power to appoint the president
● It have nearly 3ooo peoples elected from all parts
● Some members are elected by the army
● Before contesting the elections the candidates needs the approval of Chinese Communist
party.
● Only those who member in communist party or eight smaller parties allied to it were
allowed to contest election held in 2002-2003.
● The government is always formed by the communist party
Case Study: CHINA

33. Aactivity
1. How can you say that China
is not a democratic country?
2. Name the Chinese
Parliament.

34. Since its independence in 1930, Mexico holds
elections after every six tears to elect its president.
The country has never been under military rule or dictator
rule.
But until 2000 all election was won by a party called PRI
(Institutional Revolutionary Party)
Opposition parties did contest the elections but never win the
election
The PRI use many dirty tricks to win the election
All those who employed in govt offices had to attend its party
meetings.
Teachers of govt school forced parents to vote PRI
Case Study: Mexico

35. ● Media ignored the activities of opposition
parties except to criticize them.
● Some times the polling booths were shifted
from one place to another place in the last
minutes, which made difficult to the people
cast their votes.
● The PRI spent a large sum of money in the
campaign for its candidates
Case Study: Mexico Conti…

36. Aactivity
Till 2000, Mexico was not a
democratic country. Explain.

37. Case Study: Saudi Arabia/
Estonia/ Fiji
● Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to
vote.
● Estonia made its citizenship rules in such a
way that people belonging to Russian
minority find it difficult to get the right to
vote.
● In Fiji, the electoral system such that the
vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value
than that of an Indian Fijian

38. Aactivity
Name the country where
women do not have the right to
vote till 2015.

39. Attained independence from white minority- 1980
Since then the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party
led the freedom struggle.
Leader- Robert Mugabe, has been ruling the country since
independence.
Elections have been held regularly- always won- ZANU
President is popular- but uses unfair practices in election
Changed the constitution and increased the power of
president and makes him less accountable.
Opposition party workers harassed and disrupted.
There is a law that limits the right to criticize the president
Case Study: Zimbabwe

40. ● T V and radio were controlled by govt. and
give only ruling party version.
● There are independent news papers but the
govt. harasses those journalists who go
against this.
● The govt. has ignored some court judgments
and went against it and has pressurized
judges.
Case Study: Zimbabwe Contd…

41. Aactivity
1. Media is not independent in
Zimbabwe. How?
2. What is ZANU-PF?

42. Try to find out on which aspects are violated in
Democracy and which are preserved
● Bhutan- King declared that in future he will be guided by the advice
given to him by elected representatives.
● Sri Lanka- Many Tamil workers migrated from India were not given to
the right to vote.
● Nepal- King imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations
and rallies.
● Bihar- The Indian Supreme Court held that the dissolution of Bihar
assembly was unconstitutional
● Bangladesh- Political parties agreed that a neutral govt should rule
the country at the time of elections

43. Solution
• Major decision by elected leaders.
• One person, One vote and one value
• Respect for rights
• Rule of law
• Free and fair electoral competitions.
Problem vs. Solution

44. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
DAY-

45. HAPPY
LEARNING
TO YOU…