This document discusses power sharing in democracies. It provides examples of power sharing in Belgium and Sri Lanka. In Belgium, power is shared between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloon communities through representation in government. In Sri Lanka, the majority Sinhala community dominated government, disregarding the Tamil minority, which led to civil war. The document argues that an intelligent sharing of power between different levels and branches of government, as well as among social groups, is important for stability, unity and the spirit of democracy in multiethnic societies.

1. NCERT
Class x
Subject- Democratic Politics
MAHENDRA PAREEK 1

2. Organ of the government
 In a democracy all power does not rest with any one
organ of the government
 An intelligent sharing of power among legislature,
executive and judiciary is very important to the design
of a democracy
 Executive
 Legislature
 Judiciary
MAHENDRA PAREEK 2

3. Organ of the Government
MAHENDRA PAREEK 3

4. MAHENDRA PAREEK 4

5. MAHENDRA PAREEK 5

6.  Ethnic (नृजातीय):
 A social division based on shared culture. People
belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their
common descent because of similarities of physical
type or of culture or both. They need not always have
the same religion or nationality
MAHENDRA PAREEK 6

7. Belgium and Srilanka:- The
ethnic composition
 Belgium
 German Speaking – 1%
 French Speaking (rich) –
40% in Walloon
 Dutch Speaking (poor) -
59% in Flemish region
 Capital city Brussels-
80% French 20% Dutch
 Srilanka-
 Sinhala Speakers -74%
Mostly Buddhists
 Tamil Speakers – 18%
Hindu & Muslims (native
& Indian)
 Both T & S – 7%
MAHENDRA PAREEK 7

8. Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
 Majoritarianism (बहुसंख्यकवाद) :
 A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in
whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the
minority.
 Sri Lanka – Sinhala language and Buddhism
MAHENDRA PAREEK 8

9. Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
 In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language,
thus disregarding.
 Sinhala applicants were favoured university positions and govt. jobs
 New constitution stipulated that state shall protect and foster Buddhism
 Many demand of non Buddhists Tamil speaking people were turned down
resulted in civil war.
Civil war: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that
becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
MAHENDRA PAREEK 9

10. Accommodation in Belgium
 Between 1970-93 - 4 constitutional amendments work out this
arrangement to make everyone live together.
 In Central govt. - . Equal No. of Dutch and French speaking ministers
• Special laws require support of both
communities
 State governments Not subordinate to central govt. SG are not weaker
than CG.
 Brussels -A separate govt. in which both the communities have equal
representation.
 The community govt. - Elected by people belonging to one language
community Deals with issues related to culture, language and education
MAHENDRA PAREEK 10

11.  This arrangement helped to avoid civic strife between the two major
communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
MAHENDRA PAREEK 11

12. Why power sharing is desirable?
 Prudential Reason युक्ततपरक (Based on calculation of gains and losses)
 Helps to reduce the conflict between different social groups
• Ensures stability of political order.
Moral Reasons नैततक (based on moral Considerations)
 It is the very spirit of democracy.
• People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed
MAHENDRA PAREEK 12

13. Forms of power-sharing
(1) Horizontal distribution of power –
 Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the
legislature, executive and judiciary.
 Ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to
the Parliament or State Assemblies.
 Judges are appointed by the executive(PDT)
 This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.
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14. MAHENDRA PAREEK 14

15. Forms of power-sharing
(2) Vertical distribution of power –
 Power can be shared among governments at different levels.
 Government for the entire country (Central or Union Government.)
 Provincial or regional level (STATE GOVT.)
 Local level (MUNICIPAL / PANCHAYAT)
MAHENDRA PAREEK 15

16. (3) Power shared among different social groups –
- Community government in Belgium.
- Representation of socially weaker sections and women.
- Reserved constituencies (SC -84 & ST- 47 in LS).
- Give minority communities a fair share in power.
MAHENDRA PAREEK 16

17. (3) Power shared among.-
- Political parties- power keeps on shifting from one political party to
another party.
- Coalition govt.
 Pressure groups – formed by Traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers
and industrial workers to fulfill their demands
MAHENDRA PAREEK 17

18. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS -❖ How is the ethnic composition of Belgium very complex?
❖ How can power be shared among government at different levels? Explain. ?
❖ Explain the vertical division of power giving examples from India.?
❖ What is horizontal distribution of power? Mention its any two advantages.
❖ “Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy”. Justify the statement with three suitable
points. ?
❖ Why power sharing is necessary in a democracy? Explain.
❖ Give reasons why power sharing is desirable. ?
❖ Why is power sharing desirable? Give moral reasons in this regard. ?
❖ “Sharing of powers makes a country more powerful and united”. Do you agree with this
statement and why?MAHENDRA PAREEK 18

19. VOTE OF THANKS
 1 NCERT BOOKS
 2 INTERNERT AND GOOGLE
 3 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
 4 MY VIEWERS
MAHENDRA PAREEK 19