CBSE Class 9 Political Science (Civics) Chapter 1 Notes - What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Democratic government is a form of government where the people of the country elect the government themselves. To define democracy simply, we can say that people choose their rulers. There are non-democratic forms of government as well like the monarchs, dictators like Pinochet of Chile, the government in Myanmar where army officials take charge of governance.

Features of Democracy

Listed below out are the features of democracy. Class 9 students must remember these, not only for examination purpose but also for life.

• The rulers of the nation are elected by the citizens.

• Free elections are held which are quite competitive.

• Every individual has the right to vote.

• Rulers are bound to abide by the Constitution.

• Rights of the citizens are protected through the constitution.

• An independent judiciary exists.

Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan overthrew the democratically elected government by leading a military coup and became the President of the country.  In 2002, he got a five-year extension granted because he held a referendum based on malpractices and fraud. After passing the ‘Legal Framework Order’ the national and provincial elections were held and the elected representatives were given little power. The final power rested with the military officers and General Musharraf himself. Hence, this could not have been called democracy as in a democracy the final decisions are made by those who are elected by the people.

Free and Fair Electoral Competition

China has elections held every five years. Through the elections, they elect the country’s parliament called the National People’s Congress. The government in China is always formed of the communist party and a contesting candidate must be approved by them. In Mexico after every six years elections are held. President is elected through this procedure. Until 2000, every election in Mexico was won by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). The opposition parties were there for competition but PRI was said to use dirty tricks to win the election.

Both China and Mexico governments could not be termed as democracy as in a democracy the elections are free and fair. There is no manipulation.

One Person, One Vote, One Value

In a democracy, every adult should have equal voting rights. One vote should have one value. There should be no discrimination in the voting system. Below are some instances of denial of equal voting rights:

• Women do not have the right to vote in Saudi Arabia.

• In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fiji has greater value than the vote of an Indian Fiji.

• In Estonia, the Russian minority has difficulties in obtaining the right to vote.

Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

Since independence, Zimbabwe has been ruled by ZANU-PF. They are said to use unfair means in the elections. They harass opponent party rulers.  Any public protest against the government is considered illegal. Television, radio, news channel, newspapers are all controlled by the government. In this case, the government isn’t democratic as there is no basic right of the citizens, no judiciary and no political opposition.

Why Democracy? What are the Merits of Democracy?

The merits of democracy are:

• In a democracy, the dignity of citizens is maintained.

• It improves the quality of decision making.

• Provides a path for resolving conflicts.

• The form of government is more accountable.

• The government abides by the constitution as it is answerable to the citizens.

What are the Demerits of Democracy?

The demerits of democracy are:

• A democratic government might not be stable as the leaders keep on changing.

• Morality may not always prevail in the government.

• There might be corruption in relation to electoral competition.

• Ordinary people would not choose the best leader. They might not have a proper idea about governance.

The Broader Meaning of Democracy

We consider that the ideal of democracy is only applied to elect the leaders of a nation but in a broader perspective, the idea of democracy can be applied to any sphere of life. For example, the idea of democracy can be applied to any family or organization. A democratic decision takes into account the consultation of all those who will be affected by the decision.

Did You Know?

There are three songs that garner huge respect internationally for India. These songs uphold the plurality and oneness of Indian democracy:

1. National anthem: Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya Hey.

2. National Song: Vande Mataram.

3. Saare Jahan Se Achchha Hindustan Humara.

To learn more about democracy and its features, go through the What is Democracy Why Democracy Class 9 Notes that is available in a freely downloadable PDF format on Vedantu’s website.