Chapter 12: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?30 Questions
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1. What is the most common form of government in the world today?
A. Monarchy
B. Democracy
C. Dictatorship
D. Theocracy
Answer: B. Democracy
Explanation: Democracy has become the most widely accepted and practised form of government across the world in modern times.
2. In a democracy, who makes the final decisions on key issues?
A. A hereditary monarch
B. Military generals
C. Rulers elected by the people
D. Religious leaders
Answer: C. Rulers elected by the people
Explanation: A basic feature of democracy is that final decision-making power rests with representatives who are elected by the people.
3. Which of these is an essential feature of a democratic election?
A. Only rich citizens can vote
B. One person, one vote, one value
C. Only educated persons can vote
D. Voting is optional for the ruling party
Answer: B. One person, one vote, one value
Explanation: Democracy is based on political equality, meaning every adult citizen gets one vote and every vote carries equal value.
4. What is 'rule of law' in a democracy?
A. The ruler is above the law
B. Laws apply equally to all citizens including rulers
C. Only the police must follow laws
D. Laws change with every ruler
Answer: B. Laws apply equally to all citizens including rulers
Explanation: Rule of law means the constitution and laws are supreme and apply equally to ordinary citizens as well as those in power.
5. In 1973, which South American country saw its elected government overthrown by a military coup led by General Pinochet?
A. Argentina
B. Chile
C. Brazil
D. Peru
Answer: B. Chile
Explanation: In Chile, the elected government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in 1973 by General Pinochet, who then ruled as a military dictator until 1988.
6. Which trade union led movement helped end communist rule in Poland?
A. Solidarity
B. Congress
C. Awami League
D. African National Congress
Answer: A. Solidarity
Explanation: The Solidarity trade union movement in Poland, led by Lech Walesa, played a key role in ending communist one-party rule in 1989.
7. Which of these is considered a broader definition of democracy?
A. A government that holds elections once
B. A government that is accountable, responsive and legitimate
C. A government run only by the army
D. A government without any elections
Answer: B. A government that is accountable, responsive and legitimate
Explanation: Beyond just holding elections, a true democracy must be accountable to its citizens, responsive to their needs, and seen as legitimate by the people.
8. Which of these is a merit of democracy mentioned in the chapter?
A. It always leads to fast decision-making
B. It improves the quality of decision-making by wider consultation
C. It guarantees no corruption
D. It ensures every decision is popular
Answer: B. It improves the quality of decision-making by wider consultation
Explanation: Democratic decisions involve discussion and consultation among many people, which tends to reduce the chances of hasty or unrepresentative decisions.
9. What does democracy provide to citizens in terms of self-respect, according to the chapter?
A. It reduces their dignity
B. It enhances the dignity of citizens
C. It has no effect on dignity
D. It gives dignity only to the ruling class
Answer: B. It enhances the dignity of citizens
Explanation: Democracy is based on the recognition that ordinary citizens have the right to be consulted and treated with dignity, unlike in non-democratic systems.
10. According to the chapter, what does democracy allow that other systems generally do not?
A. Permanent rule by one leader
B. Room to correct its own mistakes
C. A ban on all criticism of government
D. Complete absence of political parties
Answer: B. Room to correct its own mistakes
Explanation: Since democratic decisions are subject to public discussion and elections, mistakes made by a democratic government can be identified and corrected over time.
11. Which argument against democracy claims that it leads to political instability?
A. Leaders keep changing in a democracy
B. Democracy always leads to war
C. Democracy has no elections
D. Democracy bans political parties
Answer: A. Leaders keep changing in a democracy
Explanation: Critics argue that frequent changes of leadership through elections cause instability, though the chapter counters that democracy actually produces more stable, legitimate outcomes.
12. What is the criticism that democracy involves excessive expenditure?
A. Democracies never hold elections
B. Elections and their campaigns involve a lot of money
C. Democratic countries have no budget
D. Only monarchies spend money on elections
Answer: B. Elections and their campaigns involve a lot of money
Explanation: One common criticism is that elections and political campaigning in a democracy involve considerable expenditure of money and resources.
13. What does the chapter conclude about the relationship between democracy and economic growth?
A. Democracies always grow faster than dictatorships
B. There is no clear difference in economic growth rates between democracies and dictatorships
C. Democracies never experience economic growth
D. Only dictatorships can achieve economic growth
Answer: B. There is no clear difference in economic growth rates between democracies and dictatorships
Explanation: Comparative studies show that the rate of economic growth has not been significantly higher in dictatorships than in democracies.
14. Which of the following best expresses the idea of 'accountable government' in a democracy?
A. The government need not answer to anyone
B. The government is answerable to the citizens for its actions
C. Only the opposition is accountable
D. Accountability applies only during war
Answer: B. The government is answerable to the citizens for its actions
Explanation: In a democracy, the elected government must explain and justify its decisions to the people, and can be voted out if it fails to perform.
15. What is meant by a 'legitimate government' in a democracy?
A. A government imposed by a foreign power
B. A government that is people's own government
C. A government chosen by military leaders
D. A government with no laws
Answer: B. A government that is people's own government
Explanation: A democratic government is considered legitimate because it is chosen by the people themselves through free and fair elections.
16. Which of the following is NOT one of the essential features of democracy discussed in the chapter?
A. Free and fair elections
B. Rule of law
C. Hereditary succession of rulers
D. Respect for fundamental rights
Answer: C. Hereditary succession of rulers
Explanation: Hereditary succession is a feature of monarchy, not democracy; democracy instead relies on periodic elections to choose rulers.
17. What did the chapter say about the effect of democracy on reducing economic inequality?
A. Democracies have fully eliminated inequality and poverty
B. Democracies have made some progress, but significant inequality and poverty still persist
C. Democracy has no relation to inequality at all
D. Democracy always worsens inequality
Answer: B. Democracies have made some progress, but significant inequality and poverty still persist
Explanation: The chapter notes that while democracies have not eliminated poverty and inequality, they still tend to perform better on this front than non-democratic alternatives.
18. Which of these is offered as an argument in favour of democracy despite its shortcomings?
A. It has never made a mistake
B. It is better than any known alternative form of government
C. It always produces immediate solutions
D. It eliminates the need for any government
Answer: B. It is better than any known alternative form of government
Explanation: The chapter argues that although democracy has limitations, it remains a better option than dictatorship or other non-democratic systems.
19. What is one criticism of democracy related to the moral character of politics?
A. Political competition and power play leave little scope for morality
B. Politics in a democracy has no competition
C. Only one political party is allowed
D. Ethics play no role in any government system
Answer: A. Political competition and power play leave little scope for morality
Explanation: Critics argue that the constant struggle for power among political parties in a democracy can lead to a decline in ethical standards in public life.
20. Which of the following is a criticism that ordinary people may lack the ability to make the right choices in elections?
A. People are too educated to vote wisely
B. Ordinary people are said to not have the ability to decide what is good for them
C. Voting is compulsory for everyone
D. Only leaders decide who can vote
Answer: B. Ordinary people are said to not have the ability to decide what is good for them
Explanation: This is a common argument raised against democracy, though the chapter argues this reasoning has historically been used to deny rights to various groups.
21. According to the chapter, corruption is best understood as a problem related to what?
A. A problem inherent only to democracies
B. A more general problem related to the working of any government, democratic or not
C. A problem that never occurs in dictatorships
D. A problem unrelated to governance
Answer: B. A more general problem related to the working of any government, democratic or not
Explanation: The chapter clarifies that corruption is not unique to democracies but is a broader governance issue found across various political systems.
22. Why is respect for the rule of law considered a strength of democracy?
A. It allows leaders to act without limits
B. It ensures citizens and the government both remain bound by the constitution and laws
C. It applies only to citizens, not the government
D. It removes the need for a constitution
Answer: B. It ensures citizens and the government both remain bound by the constitution and laws
Explanation: The rule of law prevents arbitrary use of power by ensuring that even the government must act within the framework of the constitution and laws.
23. What does the chapter say about the relationship between democracy and dignity of women and minorities?
A. Democracy has helped raise questions about equal treatment for women and minorities
B. Democracy has no relation to gender or minority rights
C. Democracy prevents any discussion of minority rights
D. Democracy automatically ends all forms of discrimination
Answer: A. Democracy has helped raise questions about equal treatment for women and minorities
Explanation: Democratic politics has provided space for movements demanding equal treatment and dignity for women and disadvantaged groups, even though full equality has not yet been achieved.
24. What is the key difference between a democracy and a dictatorship in terms of decision correction?
A. Both correct mistakes equally well
B. Democracy provides mechanisms like public opinion and elections to correct mistakes; dictatorship often lacks such mechanisms
C. Dictatorship allows for easier correction of mistakes
D. Neither system allows correction of mistakes
Answer: B. Democracy provides mechanisms like public opinion and elections to correct mistakes; dictatorship often lacks such mechanisms
Explanation: Because democratic governments can be questioned and voted out, there is a built-in mechanism to identify and rectify poor decisions, unlike in many non-democratic regimes.
25. What is a 'broader' or 'expanded' notion of democracy concerned with, beyond just elections?
A. Only the frequency of elections
B. The overall quality of governance, rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens
C. The size of the country's army
D. The number of political parties banned
Answer: B. The overall quality of governance, rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens
Explanation: A broader conception of democracy goes beyond periodic elections to include how the government functions and whether citizens' rights and freedoms are genuinely respected.
26. Which of the following best explains why democracy is considered to enhance the quality of decision making?
A. It avoids public discussion entirely
B. It is based on consultation and discussion among many stakeholders
C. It relies solely on the decisions of one leader
D. It excludes minority opinions completely
Answer: B. It is based on consultation and discussion among many stakeholders
Explanation: Wide consultation before decisions increases the chances that a range of perspectives are considered, generally improving the quality of governance.
27. What did opponents of democracy in history argue to deny voting rights to certain groups?
A. That those groups lacked the ability to make wise decisions
B. That those groups already had too much power
C. That elections should not exist at all
D. That voting rights should be hereditary
Answer: A. That those groups lacked the ability to make wise decisions
Explanation: Historically, arguments about lack of capability were used to deny voting rights to women and other groups, arguments that democracies have since rejected.
28. Which of these is a key expectation citizens have from a democratic government?
A. That it remains completely unaccountable
B. That it is responsive to the needs and expectations of citizens
C. That it never holds elections again once in power
D. That it works only for a small elite
Answer: B. That it is responsive to the needs and expectations of citizens
Explanation: A responsive government pays attention to the needs and demands of its citizens and works to address them, a hallmark of a functioning democracy.
29. Which country example is used to show that even a non-democratic monarchy can move towards constitutional and democratic rule?
A. Nepal
B. Chile
C. Poland
D. South Africa
Answer: A. Nepal
Explanation: Nepal's long struggle to move from absolute monarchy towards a more democratic and constitutional form of government is discussed as an example of democratic transition.
30. Overall, what conclusion does the chapter draw about democracy compared to other forms of government?
A. Democracy is a perfect system with no flaws
B. Despite its limitations, democracy remains a better form of government than the available alternatives
C. Dictatorship is always superior to democracy
D. All forms of government are equally effective
Answer: B. Despite its limitations, democracy remains a better form of government than the available alternatives
Explanation: The chapter acknowledges democracy's shortcomings but concludes it still offers the best balance of accountability, dignity and correction of mistakes among known systems of government.
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