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Summary
The chapter on elections provides a detailed explanation of the election process in India. It begins by defining democracy as a system where citizens choose representatives to run the government. Elections are the method by which individuals are selected to represent voters. These elections are usually contested by multiple candidates, resulting in winners and losers. In modern times, elections are typically fought along party lines, with political parties being groups of people with shared beliefs.
The chapter outlines two main types of elections: direct and indirect. In direct elections, such as those for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, people directly vote for their representatives. In indirect elections, representatives are chosen by those already elected, as is the case for the Rajya Sabha and the President and Vice President of India. The Rajya Sabha consists of members elected by the Legislative Assemblies of each state, while the President and Vice President are chosen by an Electoral College made up of members from both houses of Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
Different types of elections are discussed: General Elections are held every five years to elect members of the Lok Sabha; Mid-term Elections are held when a legislative assembly is dissolved before completing its term; By-Elections occur when a seat becomes vacant due to the death or resignation of a member.
The Election Commission, a constitutional body established under Article 324, is responsible for conducting free and fair elections. It consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and other members, who are appointed by the President of India. The Election Commission has numerous powers, including preparing electoral rolls, registering political parties, allotting symbols, and appointing polling officers.
The chapter highlights the significance of fair elections in a democracy, ensuring citizens can vote without fear, preventing fraud, and promoting transparency in the election process.
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Textbook solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. People of India directly elect their representatives to the Lok Sabha and the
(a) Rajya Sabha
(b) State Legislative Council
(c) State Legislative Assemblies
(d) Parliamentary Committees
Answer: c. State Legislative Assemblies
2. If a person stands for election as the President of India, he/she requires the votes of
(a) P and Q
(b) R and S
(c) P and R
(d) Q and R
Answer: a. P and Q
3. Which of the following refer to a group of people holding similar views or beliefs?
(a) Government
(b) Political Party
(c) Ruling Party
(d) Opposition
Answer: b. Political Party
4. The election held upon dissolution of the Legislature before its full term (5 years) is:
(a) General elections
(b) Direct elections
(c) Indirect elections
(d) Mid-term elections
Answer: d. Mid-term elections
5. Indirect Elections are held to elect members of
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) Rajya Sabha
(c) Vidhan Parishad
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer: d. Both (b) and (c)
6. Who appoints the Election Commissioners?
(a) President of India
(b) Prime Minister of India
(c) Chief Justice of India
(d) Act of Parliament
Answer: a. President of India
7. What is the normal term of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners?
(a) Five years
(b) Four years
(c) Six years
(d) Ten years
Answer: c. Six years
8. How is the difference of opinion amongst the Election Commissioners settled?
(a) In favour of the majority
(b) The Supreme Court settles it
(c) The Chief Election Commissioner’s opinion is final
(d) The President intervenes and decides
Answer: a. In favour of the majority
9. The Election Commission conducts
(a) Parliamentary Elections
(b) State Legislative Elections
(c) Election of the Office of President
(d) All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
10. Every registered Political Party is allotted a symbol. Which of the following statements is correct about the allotment of a symbol to a Political registered party?
(a) A registered Political Party is allotted a symbol from its list of reserved symbols.
(b) A registered Political Party selects a symbol of its choice from the list of ‘free symbols’.
(c) A registered Political Party selects a symbol of its choice from a list of ‘reserved symbols’.
(d) A registered Political Party can take any symbol of its choice.
Answer: a. A registered Political Party is allotted a symbol from its list of reserved symbols.
11. Election symbols are allotted to Political parties by
(a) The President of India
(b) The Chief Election Commissioner
(c) The Election Commission
(d) The Political party itself
Answer: c. The Election Commission
12. Constituency: Returning Officer ::
(a) Polling booths
(b) Counting centres
(c) Presiding Officers
(d) None of the above
Answer: c. Presiding Officers
13. Which of the following helps the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections?
(a) Code of Conduct
(b) Severe punishment for booth capturing
(c) Central Observers
(d) All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Short Answer Questions
1. What is meant by the term: election?
Answer: Election is a procedure whereby persons are chosen, by voting, to represent the voters for running the government.
2. Under which method of elections are the elections to Lok Sabha held? Name the system of election to the office of the President of India.
Answer: The elections to Lok Sabha are held through Direct Elections. The system of election to the office of the President of India is Indirect Election.
3. What is meant by (a) by-election and (b) mid-term election?
Answer: (a) By-election: When a seat held by any member of the Legislative Assembly in the Centre or State falls vacant on account of death, resignation of the member before completion of his/her term, to fill up this vacancy the election which is held is called By-election.
(b) Mid-term election: This type of election is held when a State Legislative Assembly or the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the completion of its full term (5 years). The new house will normally have a full five-year term. This election is called Mid-term Election.
4. Who allots the symbols to political parties? What role do election symbols play in an election?
Answer: The Election Commission allots symbols to the political parties. Election symbols help in identifying political parties and their candidates during elections. The Election Commission may have some symbols as reserved and others as free. A political party that is recognised is allotted a reserved common symbol, which is used by all the candidates sponsored by it.
5. Name two important powers and functions of the Election Commission.
Answer:
- Preparation of Electoral Rolls and issuing of Photo Identity Cards.
- Fixing dates and conducting elections.
6. What is known as the Voters List? Who prepares the Voters List?
Answer: The Voters List is an electoral roll that contains the name, father’s name, age, and sex of the voter. It is prepared by the Election Commission.
7. Write a short note on the advisory function of the Election Commission.
Answer: The Election Commission advises the President or the Governors of the State in respect of electoral matters, disqualification of members, election disputes, petitions, etc.
Structured Questions
1. With reference to Democracy and Elections, answer the following questions:
(a) Distinguish between two types of elections.
Answer: Direct Elections:
- People vote directly to elect their representatives.
- Every adult person holds the right to vote.
- Members of Legislative Assemblies and members of Lok Sabha are elected directly.
Indirect Elections:
- People elect their representatives indirectly through their elected representatives.
- Every elected representative holds the right to vote.
- The Members of state Legislative councils, Members of Rajya Sabha, the president of India, and the Vice President are elected indirectly.
(b) What type of elections are direct and what type are indirect in a Parliamentary Democracy?
Answer: Direct elections are used to elect Members of the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. Indirect elections are used to elect the Members of the Rajya Sabha, the President, and the Vice-President of India.
(c) How are the elections of the President and Vice-President of India held? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: The elections of the President and Vice-President of India are held indirectly. The President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Vice-President is elected by the members of both Houses of Parliament. In this election, the State Legislatures do not take part. This method ensures proportional representation.
2. With reference to types of elections, answer the following:
(a) What is known as General Elections?
Answer: The elections held to elect the members of the Lok Sabha after the expiry of the normal term of five years are called General Elections. Elections to some State Legislative Assemblies may also be held along with Parliamentary Elections.
(b) State two points of difference between a by-election and mid-term election.
Answer:
- By-election: Held when a seat falls vacant due to the death or resignation of a member before the completion of their term.
Mid-term election: Held when the entire House, either the Lok Sabha or the State Legislative Assembly, is dissolved before the completion of its full term. - By-election: The person elected remains a member for the unexpired term of the House.
Mid-term election: A newly elected house has a full five-year term.
(c) When were the last General Elections held in India? What do you understand by the term ‘electorate’? What are the rights of the electorate?
Answer: The last General Elections in India were held in 2019. The electorate refers to all the eligible voters in a country or a particular region who have the right to vote in elections. The rights of the electorate include:
- The right to vote in elections.
- The right to choose their representatives.
- The right to participate in the democratic process of the country.
3. With reference to terms of office and conditions of service of the Election Commission, answer the following questions:
(a) Who constitutes the Election Commission? Who is the head of the Election Commission? Who appoints him?
Answer: The Election Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission. They are appointed by the President of India.
(b) What is the term of the Election Commissioners? What happens in case there is a difference in opinion between the Election Commissioners?
Answer: The term of the Election Commissioners is six years, or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. If there is a difference of opinion between the Election Commissioners, the decision is made in favour of the majority opinion.
(c) State any four functions of the Election Commission.
Answer:
- Preparation of Electoral Rolls and issuance of Photo Identity Cards.
- Registration and recognition of political parties.
- Allotment of election symbols to political parties and candidates.
- Ensuring free and fair elections by enforcing a code of conduct and taking measures like sending observers to constituencies.
Thinking Skills
1. Suppose the Class Representative of your class is to be elected by means of single transferable vote through secret ballot. Write down the steps for election starting from filling the forms by those who want to stand for election till the final selection is made.
Answer:
- Announcement: The election date is announced, and candidates are informed about the upcoming election.
- Filing of Nomination Forms: Those interested in standing for the election fill out and submit their nomination forms, declaring their intention to contest.
- Scrutiny of Nomination Papers: The forms are checked to ensure that all the candidates meet the eligibility criteria.
- Campaign: The approved candidates campaign to gain support from their classmates.
- Voting Process: On the day of the election, each voter ranks the candidates in order of preference on the ballot paper.
- Counting of Votes: The votes are counted. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the first preference votes, the candidate with the least number of first preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the voters’ second choice.
- Final Selection: The process continues until a candidate secures more than 50% of the votes, and that candidate is declared the winner.
2. If you have to bring certain reforms in the system of elections to Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in States, which ones would you like to introduce and why?
Answer:
- Simultaneous Elections: Conducting Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together to save time and reduce election-related expenses.
- State Funding of Elections: Introducing state funding to reduce the influence of money in elections and ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
- Use of Technology: Introducing more technological advancements like online voting to increase voter participation, especially for those unable to physically vote.
- Strict Implementation of Code of Conduct: Enforcing strict penalties for violations of the code of conduct to ensure fair elections.
- Limiting Election Campaign Expenditure: Setting a cap on the amount a candidate can spend on election campaigns to prevent excessive spending and ensure fair competition.
- Strengthening Electoral Laws: Introducing stricter laws to prevent criminal candidates from contesting elections to maintain the integrity of the system.
Extras MCQs
1. What is the term length after which general elections for the Lok Sabha are typically held?
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
Answer: C. 5 years
20. What can happen if a winning candidate is found to have engaged in malpractice during the election?
A. A fine is imposed
B. The candidate is warned
C. The election result is upheld
D. The election of the candidate is declared invalid
Answer: D. The election of the candidate is declared invalid
Extra Questions and Answers
Q. What is democracy?
Answer: Democracy is a form of government in which the people have a say in who should hold power and how the power should be used.
Q. How do citizens choose their representatives in a democracy?
Answer: In a democracy, citizens choose or elect their representatives either directly or indirectly to run the country.
Q. What is an election?
Answer: Election is a procedure whereby persons are chosen, by voting, to represent the voters for running the government. There is usually a contest between different candidates for the same position, and as a result, there are winners and losers.
Q. How are elections fought in modern societies?
Answer: In modern societies, elections are fought on party lines. A political party is a group of people holding similar views or beliefs. Any political party or a combination of parties getting the largest number of votes forms the government.
Q. What is a political party?
Answer: A political party is a group of people holding similar views or beliefs, and the party or combination of parties that gets the largest number of votes forms the government.
Q. What are direct elections?
Answer: In direct elections, people of India directly elect their representatives to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. Members of the State Legislative Assembly, called MLAs, are directly elected by the people of the State, and Members of the Lok Sabha are called MPs or Members of the Lok Sabha.
Q. How are representatives chosen in direct elections in India?
Answer: In direct elections, people of India elect their representatives to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies directly. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are elected by the people of the State, and the party or a combination of parties with the largest number of legislators elects the Chief Minister or Prime Minister.
Q. What is the Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The Rajya Sabha is the upper house at the Union level, consisting of not more than 250 members. Of these, 238 members are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of each State, and the remaining 12 are nominated by the President from among persons with special knowledge or experience in areas such as literature, science, art, and social service.
Q. How is the President of India elected?
Answer: The President of India is elected indirectly by the members of an Electoral College, which consists of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The election takes place using the system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote.
Q. What are General Elections?
Answer: General Elections are held to elect the members of the Lok Sabha after the expiration of a five-year term. Elections to some State Legislative Assemblies may also be held simultaneously with Parliamentary elections. Initially, simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held until 1957, but due to early dismissals and mid-term elections, they gradually became separated.
Q. What are mid-term elections?
Answer: Mid-term elections are held when a State Legislative Assembly or the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the completion of its five-year term. The newly elected house will normally have a full five-year term.
Q. What are by-elections?
Answer: By-elections are held when a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the Centre or State falls vacant due to the death or resignation of a member before the completion of their term. The person elected in a by-election remains a member for the unexpired term of the house.
Q. What is the Election Commission’s role in India?
Answer: The Election Commission is responsible for ensuring free and fair elections in India. Given the significance of elections, the Constitution has made provisions for their conduct in Part XV, Articles 324 to 329.
Q. What are the differences between direct and indirect elections?
Answer:
| Direct Elections | Indirect Elections |
|---|---|
| People vote directly to elect their representatives. | People elect their representatives indirectly through elected representatives. |
| Every adult person holds the right to vote. | Every elected representative holds the right to vote. |
| There is a very large body of voters called the electorate. | There is a very small body of voters. |
| Members of Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha are elected directly. | Members of State Legislative Councils, Rajya Sabha, the President, and the Vice President are elected indirectly. |
| Law regulates the qualifications, age, etc. of voters and establishes eligibility requirements for state officials. | All elected representatives are treated equally; eligibility requirements are similar to those in direct elections. |
Q. What does Article 324 deal with?
Answer: Article 324, Clauses 1 to 6 deal with the composition of the Election Commission and other related issues.
Q. Who is at the top of the Election Commission?
Answer: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) stands at the top in the hierarchy of the Election Commission.
Q. How many members does the Election Commission currently consist of?
Answer: The Election Commission currently consists of three members.
Q. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners?
Answer: The Chief Election Commissioner and the other Commissioners are appointed by the President of India.
Q. How long is the term of office for Election Commissioners?
Answer: They are appointed for a term of six years, or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Q. What is the salary of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners?
Answer: The salary of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners is equal to the salary of a Supreme Court judge.
Q. What powers does the Election Commission have under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996?
Answer: The Election Commission has wide-ranging powers under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996.
Q. What is the function of the Election Commission regarding electoral rolls?
Answer: The Election Commission prepares and updates the electoral rolls for every territorial constituency of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly.
Q. How does the Election Commission prevent fraudulent voting?
Answer: The Election Commission issues Photo Identity Cards to every voter to prevent fraudulent voting by impersonators.
Q. Who allots election symbols to political parties and candidates?
Answer: The Election Commission allots symbols to recognised political parties and candidates.
Q. Who appoints polling officers?
Answer: The Election Commission appoints polling officers for the constituencies.
Q. What are the key changes introduced to the Election Commission in 1989?
Answer: In 1989, the Election Commission was transformed from a single-member Constitutional body into a multi-member body. Two more Commissioners were appointed alongside the Chief Election Commissioner. The Chief Election Commissioner was designated as the Chairman of the Commission. As a result, the Election Commission now consists of three members, with the Chief Election Commissioner at the helm, supervising the activities of the Election Commission and the other two Commissioners.
Q. What are the powers of the Election Commission in relation to the electoral process?
Answer: The Election Commission holds extensive powers, particularly under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996. Some of its key powers include:
- Preparing and updating electoral rolls.
- Granting recognition to political parties.
- Allotting symbols to political parties and candidates.
- Fixing dates for elections.
- Ensuring free and fair elections, including prescribing a code of conduct.
- Appointing polling officers and overseeing the entire electoral process.
- Countermanding elections if malpractices or booth capturing is suspected.
Q. What are the conditions of service and tenure for Election Commissioners as per the 1994 Act?
Answer: According to the Act passed in 1994, under Article 324, Clause 5 of the Constitution, the terms of office and conditions of service for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners were determined. The key conditions are:
- They are appointed for a term of six years, or until they reach the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
- Their salary is equal to that of a Supreme Court judge.
- They are entitled to a pension after retirement.
- In case of any difference of opinion between the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners, the majority opinion prevails.
Q. What is the role of the Election Commission in ensuring free and fair elections?
Answer: The Election Commission plays a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections. It prescribes a code of conduct for candidates and political parties. To safeguard the integrity of the process, it may:
- Send Central observers to constituencies where there is potential for violence or booth capturing.
- Countermand polling if there is reasonable suspicion of malpractice.
- Enforce severe punishments for booth capturing and other election malpractices, as per the amended Representation of People Act.
Q. How does the Election Commission scrutinise nomination papers?
Answer: The Election Commission is responsible for the scrutiny of nomination papers. The process begins when the Commission announces the date for filing nominations and the last date for their withdrawal. The scrutiny is conducted by the Returning Officer, who verifies compliance with the necessary provisions, such as the deposit amount, election symbol, and election agent requirements.
Q. What are the key functions of the Election Commission in the conduct of elections?
Answer: The Election Commission has multiple key functions in the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice President. These include:
- Preparation of Electoral Rolls: The Election Commission is responsible for preparing and updating the electoral rolls for each territorial constituency, including issuing Photo Identity Cards to voters to prevent impersonation and fraudulent voting.
- Registration and Recognition of Political Parties: The Election Commission grants recognition to political parties, ensuring they comply with guidelines.
- Allotment of Symbols: It allots symbols to recognised political parties and independent candidates. Reserved symbols are provided to recognised parties, and free symbols are given to independents on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Fixing Dates and Conducting Elections: While the government decides when elections should be held, the Election Commission fixes the exact dates and provides reasons for the timing.
- Ensuring Free and Fair Elections: It ensures free and fair elections through measures like sending observers to sensitive areas, countermanding elections when malpractices are suspected, and prescribing a code of conduct.
- Appointment of Polling Officers: The Commission appoints polling officers, Returning Officers, and Presiding Officers to oversee the polling process.
Q. How does the Election Commission handle election symbols in case of a party split?
Answer: In the event of a split within a political party, the Election Commission plays a vital role in handling disputes over the party’s reserved election symbol. The Commission verifies the claims and counterclaims of the party factions. In certain cases, the Commission may choose to freeze the reserved symbol to prevent either faction from using it. It then instructs the factions to select other symbols from the list of free symbols. This ensures fairness and prevents confusion among voters regarding the use of symbols that have historically been associated with the original, unified party.
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33. What is the Election Commission’s advisory role concerning electoral matters and disputes?
Answer: It advises the President of India and the Governors of the States regarding electoral issues. The advice covers a wide range of topics, including:
- The disqualification of members of Parliament or State Legislatures.
- Resolution of election disputes.
- Handling election-related petitions. The advisory role helps ensure that electoral processes are conducted smoothly and that legal questions or concerns related to elections are addressed in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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