Social Science 2 Marks Each

(1) Elections reflect the prevailing mood of the people; wherein the people decide either to retain the ruling party or to vote it out of office.
(2) Elections provide an opportunity to the people to evaluate the performance of their government. Large-scale dissatisfaction leads to the people voting against the party in power and electing the alternative party at the election.
(3) People endorse the policies and programmes of political parties by voting for or against it in the election. Thus, election determines the future direction of policy.
Therefore, elections are described as a barometer of democracy.

(1) In parliamentary democracy, unlike the presidential democracy, there is fusion of the legislative and executive organs of the government.
(2) The ministers are members of parliament. They participate and direct the working of parliament.
(3) They are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha-the elected House.
(4)It is important as the Council of Ministers remain in office as long as it enjoys the support of majority. Lok Sabha can remove a Council of Ministers by passing a vote of no-confidence.
In this sense, parliamentary democracy is unique and important.

(1) Elections is an important feature of democracy. It provides an opportunity to the people-voters to elect their government.
(2) The voters exercise their right to vote and elect their representatives.
(3) From among the elected representatives of the political party that has secured majority of seats form the government.
(4) When the voters are dissatisfied with the working of the government, they elect the representatives from the other party.
In this sense, the voters are lifeline of democracy.

National Parties: (1) BJP (2) CPI (3) INC (4) CPIM (5) BSP
Regional Parties: (1) DMK (2) RJD (3) JDU (4) Samajwadi Party (SP) (5) Shiv Sena

(1) Tamil Nadu: DMK. AIADMK
(2) Andhra Pradesh Telugu Desam Party
(3) Punjab: Akali Dal
(4) Bihar: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal United (JDU)
(5) Uttar Pradesh - Samajwadi Party
(6) Jammu and Kashmir-National Conference
(7) West Bengal - Trinamul Congress
(8) Assam-Assam Gana Parishad
(9) Maharashtra - Shiv Sena

The Election Commission recognises those political parties as 'National' parties which have secured minimum four per cent votes in minimum four states in the preceding election.

The following activities are included in the election process:
(1) Notification of the programme of election by the Election Commission
(2) Filing of the nomination papers, scrutiny and withdrawal of the nomination papers
(3) Notification regarding the final list of the candidates
(4) Distribution of election symbols to political parties/candidates
(5) Election campaign under the supervision of the Election Commission
(6) Voting, counting of votes and notification of election results by the Election Commission

(1) The daily newspapers publish news items, editorials, articles and news reports on the current issues. These influence the views of their readers.
(2) The weekly, the fortnightly and the monthly periodicals publish articles and comments on the current issues.
(3) The specialised journals, too, play an Important role in the formation of the public opinion.

(1) The makers of the Indian Constitution wanted to establish democracy in India.
(2) The success of democracy requires free and fair elections.
(3) In order to ensure free and fair elections an impartial election machinery is essential.
Therefore, there is provision for an autonomous Election Commission in the Constitution of India.

(1) The regional aspirations of the people find expression in the formation of regional political parties.
(2) There is imbalance in economic development. The people in less developed states have 'real' or 'Imaginary' grievances. Their grievances provide political capital to regional parties who aspire to rule in their states.
(3) These parties espouse regional valour. regional language and preferential treatment to 'the sons of soil'.
(4) The failure of the national parties to fulfill aspirations of people in many states has led to the emergence of regional parties.
As a result, there are a large number of regional parties in India.

(1) India is a huge country with plurality of language, caste, religion and culture.
(2) This diversity finds expression in the emergence of the regional parties in different states.
(3) Some political parties have a wider mass-base in four or more states.
(4) Thus, we have national parties, regional parties, splinter parties and local parties.
(5) The total number of registered political parties till 10th March, 2014 was 1,593.
Thus, there is multi-party system in India.

(1) A strong and well-organised public opinion serves as a check on the working of the government.
(2) The government is required to frame its policies in response to the public opinion.
(3) An anti-people policy is strongly resented in the media. This forces the government to modify its policies to pacify people.
(4) The government cannot mislead an informed and politically-conscious public opinion.
Thus, a strong and well-organised public opinion is necessary for democracy.

(1) Freedom of thought and expression includes freedom of press.
(2) The print media reaches the people through newspapers. It provides information and perspective on various subjects.
(3) The electronic media has reached almost every household. Its news coverage, discussions and live coverage of political events keep people in formulating their opinions.
Thus, in a democracy the media plays an important role in the formation of public opinion.