2. Power sharing is a system under which all the major
segments of the society are provided with a permanent
share of power in the governance of the country.
It involves a wide array of political arrangements –
usually embodied in constitutional terms – in which the
principal elements of society are guaranteed a place and
influence, in governance. It relies on joint exercise of
power where all principal groups are given a permanent
share in the governance. It is a system for the
governance of both democratic and federative states.
The doctrine of separation of powers has emerged in
several forms at different periods
*
3. Its origin is traceable to Plato
and Aristotle. In the 16th and
17th centuries, French
philosopher John Bodin and
British politician Locke
expressed their views about the
theory of separation of powers.
But it was Montesquieu who for
the first time formulated this
doctrine systematically,
scientifically and clearly in his
book ‘Esprit des Lois’ (The Spirit
of the Laws), published in the
year 1748.
*Power sharing
4. *
*ETHNIC: A social division
based on shared culture.
Mostly people belonging
to the same ethnic group
believe in their common
descent because they
have similarities of
physical type or culture or
both. They may not have
the same religion or
nationality, e.g., French
speaking, Dutch speaking,
Sinhala speaking, etc.
*Majoritarianism: A
concept which signifies a belief
that the majority community
should be able to rule a country
in whichever way it wants is
known as Majoritarianism. In
this type of rule they disregard
the wishes and needs of the
minority. Community
Government: A type of
Government which is elected
by people belonging to one
language community is called
community government. Dutch,
French and German speaking
no matter where they live. This
is a very specific type of
government in Belgium.
5. Civil War: A violent conflict between opposing groups within
a country is known as civil war. Sometimes it becomes so
intense that it appears like a war.
Reserved Constituencies: It is a system in which
constituencies are reserved in the Assemblies and the
Parliament for minorities in order to give them a fair share in
power. Coalition government: when the alliance of two or
more parties gets elected and forms a government it is
known as the Coalition Government. This is another form of
power sharing.
Prudential: It is a set of reason which favors power sharing.
It is based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains
and losses. Prudential reasons stress beneficial
consequences.
6. *CHECKS AND BALANCES
A system in which each
organ of the government
checks the others which
results in a balance of
power among various
institutions. It ensures that
none of the organs can
exercise unlimited power.
Vertical Division of power: It
is a type of distribution of
power which involves the
higher and lower levels of
government such as
central, provincial and
regional levels.
7.
8. *
The idea of power sharing has immersed in opposition to
the notions of undivided power.
It was believed from a long time that all power of a
government must reside in one person or group of
persons located at one place.
It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it
would not be possible to take quick decisions and to
enforce them. But these notions have changed with the
emergence of democracy.
One basic principle of democracy is that people are
source of all political power.
In a democracy all power does not rest with a particular
person or institution. People rule themselves through the
institutions of self governance.
9. People of India elect their representative
through direct franchise.
After that, people’s representatives elect
the government to make or amend rules
& regulations and to carry out day to day
functioning of governance.
Thus India being a democracy presents a
good example of power sharing.
10. * Types of power sharing
•In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements can
take many forms.
•Some of the most common arrangements are:
1. Power sharing among different organs of government
2. Power sharing among governments at different levels
3. Power Sharing Among Social Groups
4. Power Sharing Among Various political parties,
Pressure Groups and movement
11. This is when the different departments of a government share the
power equally.
The main three departments of Indian democratic government, that
share the powers of a country are the executive department, the
legislative department and the judiciary arm.
These three arms of government have equal say in the running of
the country and they generally work hand in hand, to make certain
that each is running correctly, and fairly.
This is known as horizontal distribution of power because it allows
different organs of government placed at same level to exercise
different powers.
* POWER SHARING AMONG DIFFERENT
ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT
12. Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a
general government for the entire country and governments at the
provincial or regional level.
Such a general government for the entire country is usually called
federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union
Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are
called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them
State Governments.
Higher levels of government will have more say than the lower levels.
The President will take advice from those beneath him, but ultimately
the final decision, on any subjects related to the government, is down to
him.
* POWER SHARING AMONG GOVERNMENTS AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS
13. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in
the way political parties, pressure groups and
movements control or influence those in power.
In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom
to choose among various contenders for power.
In contemporary democracies, this takes the
form of competition among different parties.
Such competition ensures that power does not
remain in one hand.
In long run power is shared among different
political parties that represent different ideologies
and social groups.
* POWER SHARING AMONG VARIOUS
POLITICAL PARTIES, PRESSURE GROUPS
AND MOVEMENTS
14. With the emergence of coalition government many parties share
power at the same time. Some political parties of India are Indian
National congress (INC), Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Bahujan Samaj
Party(BSP), Communist Party of India-Marxist(CPI-M), Communist
Party of India(CPI), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
In a democracy we find interest groups such as those of traders,
businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers
15. *Need for Power Sharing
•Power sharing helps in reducing the conflict between various social
groups. Hence, it is necessary for maintaining social harmony and
peace.
•Power sharing helps in avoiding the tyranny of majority. The tyranny
of majority not only destroys the minority social groups but also the
majority social group.
•Power sharing helps to keep a country united.
•Power sharing is the very essence of democracy. In an ideal
democracy as many people as possible should get a chance to enjoy
power.
•People are affected by all the policies of democratic politics and they
have to live with the effects. Hence citizens need share in power.
Avoiding conflict in society and preventing tyranny are considered
as prudential reasons for power sharing. Maintaining the spirit of
democracy is considered as the moral reason for power sharing.
