←
SSC-Standard General Studies Foundation · Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Civics: Democracy, Parties, Movements and the UN

What to remember

  • Democracy is rule by the people through elected representatives; power sharing and federalism keep power from being concentrated in one hand.
  • Political parties, pressure groups and social movements are the channels through which citizens take part between elections; gender and caste are areas where democracy still has work to do.
  • The United Nations works through six principal organs; the Security Council has five permanent members with veto.

1. Democracy

Democracy is a form of government in which people choose their rulers and rulers are accountable. Features:

  • Rulers are elected by the people.
  • One person, one vote, one value.
  • Free and fair elections with a real choice.
  • Rule of law, with rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Abraham Lincoln called it "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Democracy gives dignity to citizens, allows correction of mistakes and tries to handle conflict through discussion. India is the largest democracy by population. Universal Adult Franchise was given from the start (voting age is now 18 after the 61st Amendment).

2. Power sharing

Power sharing prevents conflict between groups and makes government stable. Two examples show the contrast:

PointBelgiumSri Lanka
GroupsDutch-speaking and French-speakingSinhala and Tamil
Step takenAccommodation: community government, equal ministersMajority rule: Sinhala made the only official language (1956)
ResultPeace and balanceTension and a long civil conflict

Forms of power sharing

  • 1. Horizontal: among organs of government, i.e. legislature, executive, judiciary, which check each other.
  • 2. Vertical: among levels, i.e. Union, State and local governments (federal).
  • 3. Among social groups: reserved seats for SC/ST and women in legislatures and local bodies.
  • 4. Among parties, movements and pressure groups: competition and coalitions.

3. Federalism

Federalism divides power between a central authority and units of the country. Features: two or more levels of government; each with its own area; the division written in the Constitution; courts decide disputes; financial independence.

  • Coming-together federalism: independent states join (USA, Switzerland).
  • Holding-together federalism: a large country decides to share power among units (India, Spain).
  • India's Constitution calls India a Union of States (Article 1). The Seventh Schedule has three lists: Union List (defence, foreign affairs, currency), State List (police, agriculture, public order) and Concurrent List (education, forests, marriage), where both can make laws. Residuary powers go to the Union.
  • Linguistic states: States were formed on language lines after 1953. Andhra State was the first created on a linguistic basis, in 1953.
  • Language policy: Hindi in Devanagari is the official language but there is no national language. The Eighth Schedule lists scheduled languages.
  • Decentralisation: the 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) made local government a third tier. Panchayati Raj works in rural areas and municipalities in urban areas.

4. Political parties

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government.

Functions: contest elections, put forward policies and programmes, make laws, form and run governments, act as opposition, shape public opinion and give people access to welfare schemes.

Challenges: lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, role of money and muscle power, and lack of meaningful choice. Reforms: the Anti-Defection law (52nd Amendment, 1985, Tenth Schedule), disclosure of criminal cases and assets by candidates, and mandatory income tax returns for parties.

Party systems: one-party (China), two-party (USA, UK) and multi-party (India). India follows a multi-party system. The Election Commission recognises parties as national or State parties, based on performance in elections.

Examples of national-level parties include the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the National People's Party; the list can change, so check the latest official recognition.

5. Social movements and pressure groups

A pressure group tries to influence government policy without seeking power. Types: interest groups (trade unions, business bodies) and public interest groups.

Movements are broader and long-term.

MovementIssue
ChipkoProtect trees in the Himalayas; villagers hugged trees
Narmada Bachao AndolanDisplacement by dams
Right to Information movementTransparency; led to the RTI Act, 2005
Anti-arrack movement in Andhra Pradesh and the Nellore regionWomen protest against liquor
Dalit and women's movementsEqual status and rights

A movement may later become a political party.

6. Gender, religion and caste in politics

  • Gender: Women face the sexual division of labour (housework by women, public work by men). Their share in legislatures is low. Women's literacy and wages lag behind. India provides one-third reservation for women in Panchayats and municipalities. Laws such as the Equal Remuneration Act (1976, now subsumed in the Code on Wages, 2019, in force from 21 November 2025) and laws against dowry and domestic violence exist.
  • Caste: Caste inequality is the base of discrimination. Article 15 bans discrimination and Article 17 abolishes untouchability. Reservation for SC/ST provides representation. Caste is one factor in elections but not the only one: voters often reject sitting members, and no party wins all votes of one caste.
  • Religion: India is secular. The State has no official religion and gives equal respect to all. Communalism is the view that religion forms the base of a community's politics and is a threat to secular democracy.

7. The United Nations (organs)

Six principal organs

OrganRoleSeat
General AssemblyAll members; one vote each; discusses all matters, passes the budgetNew York
Security CouncilMaintains peace; 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) with veto, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two yearsNew York
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)Economic, social and humanitarian workNew York
Trusteeship CouncilSupervised trust territories; suspended operation in 1994New York
International Court of Justice (ICJ)Judicial organ; 15 judges, who serve for nine yearsThe Hague
SecretariatAdministrative organ, headed by the Secretary-GeneralNew York

Specialised agencies: WHO (Geneva), ILO (Geneva), FAO (Rome), UNESCO (Paris), International Monetary Fund and World Bank (Washington). UNICEF is a UN programme for children. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on 10 December 1948, now celebrated as Human Rights Day.

India is a founder member of the UN and supports reform of the Security Council, including a permanent seat.

8. Why democracy needs citizens

Rights without duties and participation do not work. Citizens vote, discuss in Gram Sabhas, read and question policy, and use tools such as the Right to Information Act. Independent institutions help too: the Election Commission conducts elections, the judiciary protects rights and can strike down laws that violate the Constitution, and the free press informs the public.

Checks on government: Parliament questions ministers, committees review laws and spending, and the Comptroller and Auditor General examines accounts. Opposition parties are an essential part of democracy because they point out faults and present alternatives.

9. Comparison: pressure groups and parties

PointPolitical partyPressure group
AimWin powerInfluence policy
Contests electionsYesNo
MembershipWideOften a particular interest
ExampleA recognised partyTrade union, farmers' union, student body

10. Local government and women

Local self-government brings democracy close to the people. The Gram Sabha is the meeting of all adult voters in a village. Women hold at least one-third of the seats in Panchayats and municipalities, which has brought many women into public life for the first time. Andhra Pradesh has also gone beyond the minimum in reservation for women in local bodies, so check the latest official rule for the exact share. Local bodies still need funds, staff and powers to work well.

Exam traps

  • Horizontal vs vertical power sharing.
  • Union List vs State List vs Concurrent List.
  • Coming-together vs holding-together federalism.
  • National party vs State party recognition by the Election Commission.
  • Pressure group vs political party: the first does not seek power.
  • General Assembly vs Security Council: one vote each vs veto for permanent members.
  • ICJ (The Hague) vs UN headquarters (New York).
  • Trusteeship Council vs ECOSOC.

One-liners

  • 1. Belgium used accommodation; Sri Lanka used majority rule.
  • 2. India has a three-tier federal structure with local government as the third tier.
  • 3. Article 1 describes India as a Union of States.
  • 4. The Seventh Schedule has Union, State and Concurrent lists.
  • 5. The 73rd Amendment concerns Panchayats and the 74th concerns municipalities.
  • 6. The Anti-Defection law is in the Tenth Schedule.
  • 7. The Chipko movement was a movement to protect forests.
  • 8. Article 17 abolishes untouchability.
  • 9. The Security Council has five permanent members with veto power.
  • 10. The ICJ sits at The Hague.
  • 11. WHO has its headquarters at Geneva.
  • 12. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on 10 December 1948.

Practice questions

  1. Democracy is best described as

    1. rule by the army
    2. rule by a single party without elections
    3. rule by the people through elected representatives
    4. rule by one hereditary king
    Answer

    C. rule by the people through elected representatives

    Rulers are accountable to citizens.

  2. One person, one vote, one value is a feature of

    1. feudalism
    2. universal adult franchise
    3. military rule
    4. monarchy
    Answer

    B. universal adult franchise

    Every adult has an equal vote.

  3. The minimum voting age in India is

    1. 25 years
    2. 21 years
    3. 16 years
    4. 18 years
    Answer

    D. 18 years

    It was lowered from 21 by the 61st Amendment.

  4. In Belgium, the problem between language groups was handled by

    1. a ban on French
    2. majority rule
    3. accommodation and shared power
    4. forced migration
    Answer

    C. accommodation and shared power

    Community government and equal ministers.

  5. Sri Lanka's majority-rule step of 1956 made which language the only official language?

    1. Sinhala
    2. Pali
    3. English
    4. Tamil
    Answer

    A. Sinhala

    It increased Tamil alienation.

  6. Power sharing among legislature, executive and judiciary is called

    1. community power sharing
    2. horizontal power sharing
    3. vertical power sharing
    4. party power sharing
    Answer

    B. horizontal power sharing

    Each organ checks the others.

  7. Power sharing among Union, State and local governments is

    1. vertical power sharing
    2. coalition
    3. horizontal power sharing
    4. veto
    Answer

    A. vertical power sharing

    It is the base of federalism.

  8. Reservation of seats for SC/ST in legislatures is power sharing among

    1. organs of government
    2. countries
    3. social groups
    4. levels of government
    Answer

    C. social groups

    It gives representation to weaker groups.

  9. Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a

    1. Confederation
    2. Union of States
    3. Federation of Provinces
    4. Unitary republic
    Answer

    B. Union of States

    States cannot secede.

  10. Which of these subjects is in the Union List?

    1. Agriculture
    2. Police
    3. Public order
    4. Defence
    Answer

    D. Defence

    Police and public order are State subjects.

  11. Education and forests are in the

    1. Union List
    2. Concurrent List
    3. State List
    4. Residuary List
    Answer

    B. Concurrent List

    Both Union and States can make laws.

  12. Residuary powers in India are with the

    1. Panchayats
    2. State governments
    3. Union government
    4. Courts
    Answer

    C. Union government

    Subjects outside all three lists go to the Union.

  13. Federations formed when independent states join are called

    1. coming-together federations
    2. military regimes
    3. holding-together federations
    4. unitary systems
    Answer

    A. coming-together federations

    The USA and Switzerland are examples.

  14. India is an example of

    1. a unitary system
    2. a confederation
    3. coming-together federalism
    4. holding-together federalism
    Answer

    D. holding-together federalism

    Power is shared among units of a large country.

  15. The first State formed on a linguistic basis in India was

    1. Maharashtra
    2. Andhra
    3. Punjab
    4. Gujarat
    Answer

    B. Andhra

    Andhra State was formed in 1953.

  16. The 73rd and 74th Amendments concern

    1. Panchayats and municipalities
    2. anti-defection
    3. Parliament and the Supreme Court
    4. citizenship and elections
    Answer

    A. Panchayats and municipalities

    They created the third tier.

  17. The Anti-Defection law is found in the

    1. Seventh Schedule
    2. Eighth Schedule
    3. Tenth Schedule
    4. Eleventh Schedule
    Answer

    C. Tenth Schedule

    It was added by the 52nd Amendment (1985).

  18. A political party is a group of people who

    1. avoid politics
    2. contest elections to hold power
    3. only run schools
    4. only give donations
    Answer

    B. contest elections to hold power

    Parties aim at power.

  19. Which body recognises political parties as national or State parties?

    1. Parliament
    2. Supreme Court
    3. President
    4. Election Commission
    Answer

    D. Election Commission

    Recognition depends on performance in elections.

  20. India follows which party system?

    1. Two-party system
    2. No-party system
    3. One-party system
    4. Multi-party system
    Answer

    D. Multi-party system

    Many parties contest elections.

  21. A major challenge before political parties is

    1. absence of elections
    2. no funding at all
    3. lack of internal democracy
    4. too much choice for voters
    Answer

    C. lack of internal democracy

    Others are dynasty, money and muscle power.

  22. A group that tries to influence government policy without seeking power is a

    1. pressure group
    2. political party
    3. government
    4. legislature
    Answer

    A. pressure group

    Trade unions are examples.

  23. The Chipko movement was started to

    1. end the salt tax
    2. support a dam
    3. demand a new State
    4. protect trees and forests
    Answer

    D. protect trees and forests

    Villagers hugged trees.

  24. The Narmada Bachao Andolan opposed

    1. railways
    2. school education
    3. displacement by dam projects
    4. tree planting
    Answer

    C. displacement by dam projects

    It highlighted rights of displaced people.

  25. The Right to Information movement led to the

    1. Companies Act
    2. RTI Act, 2005
    3. MGNREGA, 2005
    4. Anti-defection Act
    Answer

    B. RTI Act, 2005

    It gave citizens a right to seek records.

  26. The sexual division of labour means

    1. housework is mostly done by women while public work is done by men
    2. work is shared equally
    3. women do all public work
    4. men do all housework
    Answer

    A. housework is mostly done by women while public work is done by men

    It is a gender inequality.

  27. Women have what share of seats reserved in Panchayats at the minimum?

    1. One-tenth
    2. One-fourth
    3. One-third
    4. One-half only everywhere
    Answer

    C. One-third

    Some States have gone higher.

  28. Which Article abolishes untouchability?

    1. Article 17
    2. Article 21
    3. Article 14
    4. Article 19
    Answer

    A. Article 17

    Article 15 bans discrimination.

  29. A secular state is one that

    1. has no official religion and treats all equally
    2. follows one religion
    3. bans all religions
    4. supports only the majority
    Answer

    A. has no official religion and treats all equally

    India is secular.

  30. Communalism means

    1. respect for all religions
    2. equal rights for all
    3. freedom of movement
    4. using religion as the basis of politics
    Answer

    D. using religion as the basis of politics

    It threatens secular democracy.

  31. How many principal organs does the UN have?

    1. Five
    2. Six
    3. Four
    4. Eight
    Answer

    B. Six

    General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, ICJ and Secretariat.

  32. Which UN organ has five permanent members with veto power?

    1. Secretariat
    2. ECOSOC
    3. Security Council
    4. General Assembly
    Answer

    C. Security Council

    The five are the USA, UK, France, Russia and China.

  33. The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for

    1. five years
    2. one year
    3. ten years
    4. two years
    Answer

    D. two years

    There are ten non-permanent members.

  34. The International Court of Justice is located at

    1. Geneva
    2. The Hague
    3. New York
    4. Rome
    Answer

    B. The Hague

    It is the judicial organ of the UN.

  35. The head of the UN Secretariat is the

    1. President of the General Assembly
    2. Chief Justice
    3. Secretary-General
    4. Chairman of the Security Council
    Answer

    C. Secretary-General

    He is the chief administrative officer.

  36. Which agency of the UN has its headquarters at Geneva?

    1. FAO
    2. WHO
    3. UNESCO
    4. IMF
    Answer

    B. WHO

    FAO is at Rome, UNESCO at Paris.

  37. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in

    1. 1950
    2. 1945
    3. 1966
    4. 1948
    Answer

    D. 1948

    It was adopted on 10 December.

  38. Consider the statements. 1. In the General Assembly every member state has one vote. 2. The permanent members have veto power in the General Assembly. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Veto power is in the Security Council.

  39. Consider the statements. 1. The State List includes police. 2. The Concurrent List includes defence. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Defence is a Union subject.

  40. Consider the statements. 1. A pressure group contests elections to form the government. 2. A political party aims to gain power. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Pressure groups try to influence policy without seeking power.

  41. Consider the statements. 1. Federalism has two or more levels of government. 2. In federalism, courts have no role in settling disputes between levels. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Courts settle disputes.

  42. Consider the statements. 1. Caste is a factor in Indian elections. 2. All voters of a caste vote for one party. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    No party wins all votes of one caste.

  43. Which of the following is a function of a political party?

    1. Conducting court trials
    2. Fixing interest rates
    3. Printing currency
    4. Forming and running governments or acting as opposition
    Answer

    D. Forming and running governments or acting as opposition

    Parties contest elections and form government or opposition.

  44. The Trusteeship Council suspended its operation in

    1. 1960
    2. 1945
    3. 1994
    4. 2005
    Answer

    C. 1994

    It had completed its work as trust territories became independent.

  45. Which is a feature of a federal system?

    1. No written constitution
    2. No independent courts
    3. Division of powers is written in the Constitution
    4. All powers rest with one level
    Answer

    C. Division of powers is written in the Constitution

    The Constitution divides powers.

Page 1 of 1
‹
›