Democracy Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Notes
We have provided here Democracy Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Notes by our Experienced Teacher. This Extra Questions and Answers Notes consists of MCQ Questions and Answers; Very Short Type Questions and Answer & Short Type Questions and Answers.
Mcq
1.) What is the origin of the word “Democracy”?
a) Latin
b) Sanskrit
c) Greek
d) English
Answer: c)
2.) Who defined democracy as “a government by the people, of the people, and for the people”?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Winston Churchill
c) Abraham Lincoln
d) Nelson Mandela
Answer: c)
3.) In which form of government does the king head the government and enjoy vast powers?
a) Democracy
b) Monarchy
c) Dictatorship
d) Communism
Answer: b)
4.) Who were the dictators of Germany and Italy, respectively, during World War II?
a) Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt
b) Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping
c) Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini
d) Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro
Answer: c)
5.) In which form of government are political parties other than the communist party typically not allowed to exist?
a) Democracy
b) Monarchy
c) Dictatorship
d) Military Dictatorship
Answer: d)
6.) What is the primary characteristic of direct democracy?
a) People elect representatives through elections.
b) People directly participate in decision-making and law-making.
c) The government is headed by a king.
d) There is no scope for private ownership.
Answer: b)
7.) Which type of democracy is most suitable for larger nations like India and the USA?
a) Direct democracy
b) Indirect democracy
c) Socialist democracy
d) Totalitarian democracy
Answer: b)
8.) What is the basis of democracy’s sovereignty?
a) The military
b) The elected representatives
c) The constitution
d) The people
Answer: d)
9.) What is one of the fundamental qualities needed for the success of democracy?
a) Ignorance
b) Tolerance
c) Dictatorship
d) Censorship
Answer: b)
10.) What is the highest authority responsible for conducting elections in India?
a) The President of India
b) The Prime Minister
c) The Chief Election Commissioner
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: c)
One liners:
1.) What is the term for a government ruled by a single individual with absolute power?
Answer: DRenunciatio
2.) What is the term for the process of giving up one’s citizenship voluntarily?
Answer: Renunciation
3.) What is the term for a system of government where people directly participate in decision-making and law-making?
Answer: Direct democracy
4.) What is the term for a government where the king or queen remains as the nominal head?
Answer: Constitutional monarchy
5.) What is the term for the principle that everyone has the right to vote, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or gender?
Answer: Universal adult franchise
6.) What is the term for elections conducted between regular intervals to fill vacant seats?
Answer: By-elections
7.) What is the term for the highest authority responsible for conducting elections in India?
Answer: Election Commission
8.) What is the term for a government system where the supreme power belongs to the people?
Answer: Democracy
9.) What is the term for the principles of equality and protection of individual rights in democracy?
Answer: Fundamental rights
10.) What is the term for the practice of changing one’s political party affiliation after being elected?
Answer: Defection
Short answer type:
1: What is the origin of the word “democracy” and how does Abraham Lincoln define it?
A: The word “democracy” comes from the Greek word “Demokratia” which means “power of the people”. Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
2: What are the different forms of government mentioned in the text and can you give an example of a country that follows each form?
A: The mentioned forms of government are monarchy (e.g. Qatar, Kuwait), dictatorship (e.g. Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy), military dictatorship (e.g. Pakistan), and communist government (e.g. China, North Korea, Cuba).
3: What are the two main types of democracy discussed in the text and why is it difficult to implement direct democracy in countries like India?
A: The two main types of democracy are direct democracy (eg ancient Greece, Switzerland) and indirect democracy (eg India, USA). Direct democracy is difficult in large countries like India due to its size and population.
4: What are the important factors for the success of democracy mentioned in the text?
A: Willingness to protect democracy, vigilance, tolerance, good governance, an effective opposition party, an educated and educated electorate and a free and impartial press are important factors for the success of democracy.
5: What are the benefits of democracy according to the text?
A: The benefits of democracy include the protection of rights and independence, equality, public participation in decision-making, free and fair elections, control of opposition control, and the development of national unity and patriotism.
6: What are some of the weaknesses or disadvantages of democracy listed in the text?
A: The disadvantages of democracy are the lack of qualified and competent representatives, favoritism and corruption, instability due to overreaching, long legislative processes, expensive elections, the possibility of tyranny of the majority, exploitation of the uneducated poor and the influence of anti- social elements.
7: What is universal adult franchise and which age group gets the right to vote in India?
A: Universal adult franchise means that all adults have the right to vote. In India, the right to vote is granted to persons of at least 18 years of age without any discrimination based on caste, qualification, creed, religion, language or sex.
8: What is the role of Election Commission in India and how is it structured?
A: The Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting elections. It consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two Deputy Election Commissioners appointed by the President of India. The parliament can decide on the number of commissioners.
9: What are general elections and by-elections and how often are general elections held in India?
A: General elections are held at regular intervals (eg every five years) to elect representatives to various legislative bodies. Additional elections will be held on the deadline to fill vacancies. Parliamentary elections are held in India once in five years.
10: According to the text, what qualities should voters look for when choosing a candidate in a democratic election?
A: Voters should look for candidates with qualities such as dedication to serving society, concern for people’s problems, education, loyalty, honesty and a clean criminal record. They should also avoid candidates who are involved in anti-social or anti-national activities.
Long answer type:
1: What is the origin of the word “democracy” and how is it defined in the words of Abraham Lincoln?
A: The word “democracy” comes from the Greek word “Demokratia” which means “rule by the people”. The former US president Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Basically, democracy means a form of government where the supreme power belongs to the people and they actively participate in decision-making and governance.
2: What are the different forms of government mentioned in the text and can you give examples of countries where these forms exist?
A: The text mentions different forms of government, including monarchy, dictatorship, military dictatorship, and communist government. Absolute monarchy is exemplified in some Arab countries, while constitutional monarchy exists in Japan and England. Dictatorship was seen in Germany by Adolf Hitler and that of Benito Mussolini in Italy. There was a military dictatorship in power in Pakistan at one point. Communist governments can be found in countries such as China, North Korea and Cuba.
3: What are the two main types of democracy and why is direct democracy difficult to implement in larger countries like India?
A: The two main types of democracy are direct democracy and indirect democracy (representative democracy). Direct democracy involves the direct participation of citizens in decision-making, which can be effective in smaller countries such as Switzerland, but challenging in large countries such as India due to its large size and population.
4: What are the characteristics of democracy mentioned in the text and how do these characteristics affect how it works?
A: The text lists several features of democracy, including popular consent, representation, universal adult franchise, free and fair elections, fundamental rights, government accountability, the rule of law, political parties, and a focus on freedom and equality. Together, these characteristics ensure that democracy works according to the principles of popular sovereignty, individual rights and government transparency, making it a system that seeks to serve the interests of the people.
5: What are the good and bad aspects of democracy as presented in the text?
A: Democracy has many advantages such as protecting individual rights, promoting equality, enabling citizen participation, facilitating peaceful transitions of power and promoting nationalism and unity. However, it also has disadvantages such as challenges related to the quality of governance, political competition leading to corruption, instability due to corruption, the influence of money and muscle power in elections, long legislative processes and the possibility of tyranny of the majority. These strengths and weaknesses make democracy a complex system with both advantages and disadvantages.