List of top Social Science Questions on Power Sharing

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Power Sharing

Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Let us call this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. Last year, we studied that in a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:

Assertion (A): The civil war in Sri Lanka resulted due to failure of political accommodation of ethnicity.
Reason (R): The distrust between the Sinhala and Tamil communities turned into widespread conflict in Sri Lanka.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Forms of power sharing

The idea of power sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power. For a long time, it was believed 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 the source of all political power. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-government. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies. Therefore, it follows that in a democracy, political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.
Identify the correct statement regarding Belgium.
Compare the Belgian model and the Sri Lankan model of power sharing.
Why is power sharing necessary in a democracy? Explain.
In Sri Lanka, which one of the following changes to the 1956 law gave rise to the possibility of civil war?
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): Both, Sri Lanka and Belgium faced challenges of ethnic and linguistic diversity.
Reason (R): Sri Lanka had majority of Tamils whereas Belgium had majority of French speaking people.
"The law enacted in 1956 and other Constitutional Provisions led to major conflict between the two communities in Sri Lanka." Support the statement.
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): There was civil war in Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): An Act was passed in 1956 to secure dominance of Sinhala community on the government.
Belgium took some measures to solve its problem. Read the following measures and choose the correct option:
I. Formation of community government.
II. Following majoritarian policy.
III. By providing equal representation of language groups.
IV. By providing additional powers to local governments.
“Power sharing increases trust between different groups.” Support the statement.
“The law enacted in 1956 and other Constitutional Provisions led to major conflict between the two communities in Sri Lanka.” Support the statement.
"Power sharing increases trust between different groups." Support the statement.
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option. Assertion (A): There was civil war in Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): An Act was passed in 1956 to secure dominance of Sinhala community on the government.
Belgium took some measures to solve its problem. Read the following measures and choose the correct option:
I. Formation of community government.
II. Following majoritarian policy.
III. By providing equal representation of language groups.
IV. By providing additional powers to local governments.
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The French speaking community was rich in comparison to the Dutch speaking community in Belgium.
Reason (R): Dutch speaking community got the benefit of economic development and education much later.
Why is horizontal distribution of power sharing important? Explain
Which of the following was the primary objective of Belgium to form the separate government in Brussels?
Read the arguments given in favor of power sharing and choose the correct option.
1. Reduces the likelihood of bias.
2. Barricades the decision-making process.
3. Accommodates diversities.
4. Increases the participation of people in power.