What is the principle of power distribution in democracies?
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Power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.
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What is the principle of power distribution in democracies?
Power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.
What language medium do Selvi's schoolmates want for instruction?
Tamil.
What is an example of power-sharing among different social groups in Belgium?
Community government.
What type of power sharing is exemplified by the Ontario government's agreement with the aboriginal community?
Cooperative power sharing, involving collaboration between government and indigenous communities.
What is the background of Khalil's family in Beirut?
His father is an Orthodox Christian and his mother is a Sunni Muslim.
What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances?
To ensure that no organ of government can exercise unlimited power.
What does power shared by different social groups refer to?
Community government.
What did the Tamils in Sri Lanka demand for power sharing?
A federal arrangement to protect their culture, language, and equality of opportunity.
What transformation prevented a possible division of Belgium on linguistic lines?
The shift from a unitary government to a federal one.
What are the different organs of government involved in horizontal distribution of power?
Legislature, executive, and judiciary.
What does power shared among governments at different levels refer to?
Federal government.
What has changed regarding the notion of political power in democracies?
The belief that power should reside in one person or group has shifted to power-sharing among diverse groups.
How do political parties influence power-sharing in a democracy?
Through competition among different parties, ensuring power does not remain in one hand.
How many times was the Belgian constitution amended between 1970 and 1993?
Four times.
What was the agreement between Christians and Muslims regarding foreign influence?
Christians agreed not to seek French protection, and Muslims agreed not to seek unification with Syria.
What did the new constitution in Sri Lanka stipulate regarding Buddhism?
That the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
What is the equation proposed regarding power-sharing?
Sharing power = dividing power = weakening the country.
What will be discussed in the following two chapters?
Various forms of power-sharing.
What was the population balance between Christians and Muslims at the time of the agreement?
They were nearly equal in population.
What does power sharing represent in a democracy?
The spirit of democracy, involving sharing power with those affected by its exercise.
What are the two sets of reasons for supporting power sharing?
Prudential reasons and moral reasons.
What is one prudential reason for power sharing mentioned in the passage?
Giving power to Panchayats reduces corruption and increases administrative efficiency.
What requirement is there for special laws in Belgium?
They require the support of a majority from each linguistic group.
Which conclusion about power sharing do you agree with: Thomman, Mathayi, or Ouseph?
I agree with Ouseph, as every society benefits from some form of power sharing to ensure inclusivity and representation.
What were some demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils?
Recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy, and equality of opportunity.
Which statement is true regarding power sharing: A. Power sharing is good for democracy. B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups?
Both A and B are true.
What percentage of Belgium's population lives in the Flemish region?
59 percent.
What type of power sharing is represented by the Bombay High Court's order to improve living conditions for children in Mumbai?
Judicial power sharing, where the judiciary influences government actions.
How does a good democratic government treat diverse groups?
It gives due respect to diverse groups and views in society.
What percentage of Sri Lanka's population are Tamil-speakers?
18 percent.
What language was recognized as the only official language in Sri Lanka in 1956?
Sinhala.
What is essential for the design of a democracy according to the chapter?
An intelligent sharing of power among the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
What is the term used for the division of powers among different levels of government in India?
Federal division of power.
What was the attempt of the Dutch-speaking majority in Belgium?
To impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
What system is used in India to ensure representation for socially weaker sections?
Reserved constituencies.
Match the forms of power sharing with the correct forms of government: 1. Power shared among different organs of government, 2. Power shared among governments at different levels, 3. Power shared by different social groups, 4. Power shared by two or more political parties.
1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C.
What are the main ethnic communities in Sri Lanka?
Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, and Muslims.
What lesson can be learned from the Belgian model of power sharing?
Respecting diverse community interests can prevent civic strife and maintain national unity.
What do moral reasons emphasize regarding power sharing?
The act of power sharing itself as valuable.
Why might the Belgian model of power sharing be considered complicated?
It involves multiple levels of government and respects various linguistic communities, making it complex even for residents.
What does power shared among different organs of government refer to?
Separation of powers.
What language do the majority of people in the Wallonia region speak?
French.
What does Khalil desire regarding the political system in Lebanon?
He wants a 'normal' democracy where elections are held without community restrictions.
How do Belgium and Sri Lanka differ in their approach to power sharing?
Belgium respects the feelings and interests of different communities, leading to mutually acceptable power-sharing arrangements, while Sri Lanka's majority community seeks dominance, undermining national unity.
What type of power sharing is shown by the finance ministers in Nigeria demanding transparency from the federal government?
Fiscal power sharing, focusing on revenue distribution and financial accountability.
Which argument in favor of power sharing reduces conflict among different communities?
A. Reduces conflict among different communities.
What was a significant consequence of the majoritarian policies in Sri Lanka?
Increased feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
How did the Sinhala community seek to secure dominance after Sri Lanka's independence in 1948?
By adopting majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
What language medium do Annette's schoolmates want for instruction?
French.
What is the vertical division of power?
Division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government.
What is a potential consequence of imposing the will of the majority community?
It undermines the unity of the nation and can lead to political instability.
What is a basic principle of democracy regarding political power?
People are the source of all political power.
What is the major social group in Sri Lanka?
Sinhala-speakers (74 percent).
What role do interest groups play in governmental power?
They participate in governmental committees or influence the decision-making process.
What is one moral reason for power sharing in India?
To ensure representation and respect for all communities.
What was the political situation in Germany's 2005 elections?
Neither major party got a clear majority, leading to a coalition government.
What was the outcome of the civil war in Sri Lanka?
Thousands were killed, many became refugees, and it caused a setback to the country's social, cultural, and economic life.
What is the significance of power sharing in democracy?
It is good for democracy and helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
What significant event affected the communities in Lebanon?
A bitter civil war.
What is a federal government?
A general government for the entire country, with provincial or regional governments.
What does power shared by two or more political parties refer to?
Coalition government.
What do Khalil's elders believe about the current power-sharing system?
They believe it is the best guarantee for peace.
What is the role of the community government in Belgium?
It is elected by people belonging to one language community and has power over cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
What is one prudential reason for power sharing in India?
To maintain stability and prevent conflict among diverse groups.
What is the main focus of Chapter I on Power-sharing?
The overview of power-sharing in democracies.
What defines an ethnic group?
A social division based on shared culture and common descent.
Why is power sharing considered desirable?
It helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
What was the demographic composition of Brussels?
80 percent French-speaking and 20 percent Dutch-speaking.
What approach did Belgian leaders take regarding regional differences?
They recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.
What do the stories from Belgium and Sri Lanka illustrate?
How democracies handle demands for power-sharing.
What power-sharing agreement was established after the civil war in Lebanon?
The President must be a Maronite Catholic, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, the Deputy Prime Minister an Orthodox Christian, and the Speaker a Shi’a Muslim.
What did the Sri Lankan government policies seek to ensure?
The dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
What led to tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities in Belgium?
Economic disparities and delayed benefits of development for the Dutch-speaking community.
What happens when two or more political parties form an alliance?
They form a coalition government and share power.
What is a key feature of the Belgian model regarding ministerial representation?
The number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers must be equal in the central government.
What is another argument in favor of power sharing that promotes people's participation?
F. Promotes people’s participation in government.
What is unique about the government in Brussels?
It has equal representation for both communities.
What type of power sharing is illustrated by the coalition between Russia's Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement?
Political party power sharing, where parties unite for common electoral goals.
What do prudential reasons emphasize?
Better outcomes from power sharing.
What is the unique demographic challenge in Brussels?
Dutch-speaking people are a majority in the country but a minority in the capital.
What significant arrangement was accepted by the European Parliament in Brussels?
Equal representation in the Central Government.
What is a suggested activity to understand ongoing conflicts related to power sharing?
Classify news clippings of conflicts by location and analyze their causes, focusing on power-sharing disputes.
What dilemma does Khalil face in the context of the power-sharing agreement?
He cannot pursue political ambition due to the community-based restrictions.
What percentage of the population do Sri Lankan Tamils represent?
13 percent.
What could happen in Belgium if the Dutch community took advantage of its numeric majority?
It could lead to conflict among communities and a messy partition of the country.
What was the significance of the new laws made in Russia in 2005?
They gave more powers to the president, illustrating the relationship between democracy and concentration of power.
What can happen if a majority community refuses to share power, as seen in Sri Lanka?
It can undermine the unity of the country.
Which argument in favor of power sharing accommodates diversities?
D. Accommodates diversities.
What is the effect of power sharing on the possibility of arbitrariness?
B. Decreases the possibility of arbitrariness.
What impact did government policies have on Tamil applicants for jobs and university positions?
They favored Sinhala applicants, leading to discrimination against Tamils.
What powers have been given to the State Governments in Belgium?
Many powers of the Central Government have been transferred to the State Governments of the two regions.
Is the Mayor of Merchtem's ban on speaking French in schools consistent with Belgium's power sharing arrangements?
No, it undermines the spirit of inclusivity and respect for linguistic diversity in Belgium's power sharing model.
What is majoritarianism?
The belief that the majority community should rule a country, disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
What led to the civil war in Sri Lanka?
Strained relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities over demands for recognition and autonomy.
When did the civil war in Sri Lanka end?
In 2009.
