Power Sharing

What you'll learn

Learn what power sharing means, why democracies need it, and its four key forms, explained with the Belgium and Sri Lanka case studies for Class 10.

This chapter has

Power Sharing — solved practice questions

8 Class 10 Political Science questions with step-by-step solutions. Attempt each, then reveal the answer.

1. Q1easy

   Power sharing is considered important in a democracy mainly to:

   • Amake government stronger
   • Breduce conflicts and ensure stability
   • Chelp the majority
   • Dsimplify government
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) reduce conflicts and ensure stability

   Power sharing reduces conflicts among different groups and ensures stability by giving all sections a stake in governance.

2. Q2easy

   Belgium had conflicts mainly between which communities?

   • ADutch-speaking Flemish & French-speaking Walloon
   • BGerman & French
   • CCatholic & Protestant
   • DChristian & Muslim
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) Dutch-speaking Flemish & French-speaking Walloon

   Belgium had conflicts between the Dutch-speaking Flemish community (majority in the north) and the French-speaking Walloon community (majority in the south).

3. Q3easy

   Sri Lanka has had conflicts between:

   • ASinhala & Tamil communities
   • BHindu & Muslim
   • CBuddhist & Christian
   • DSinhala & Malay
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Hindu & Muslim

   Sri Lanka had a civil war between the Sinhala-Buddhist majority (who passed preferential laws) and the Tamil-Hindu minority.

4. Q4medium

   The Belgium model of power sharing is based on:

   • Amajority rule only
   • Bcommunity government with linguistic regions
   • Cmilitary control
   • Dpresidential system
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) community government with linguistic regions

   Belgium adopted a model of community government — where each linguistic community controls aspects of its own cultural affairs, separate from the central/regional governments.

5. Q5medium

   Sharing of power between different social groups (minorities, women) is called:

   • Afederal system
   • Bvertical distribution
   • Caccommodation of social diversity
   • Dcoalition government
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) accommodation of social diversity

   Power sharing among social groups (like reserved constituencies for minorities, SC/ST, women) is a form of horizontal power sharing.

6. Q6easy

   A government that has different levels (central and state) is called:

   • Aunitary
   • Bfederal
   • Cconfederal
   • Dpresidential
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) federal

   A Federal government divides power between the central government and state/regional governments.

7. Q7medium

   Prudential reasons for power sharing stress:

   • Areducing conflict and ensuring stability
   • Bmoral values
   • Chistorical tradition
   • Deconomic development
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) reducing conflict and ensuring stability

   Prudential reasons: power sharing reduces conflict, ensures political stability and helps maintain unity — pragmatic reasons.

8. Q8medium

   Moral reasons for power sharing stress:

   • Ait is economically efficient
   • Bcitizens' right to participate — spirit of democracy
   • Cit reduces government expenditure
   • Dit is traditional
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) citizens' right to participate — spirit of democracy

   Moral reasons: power sharing is the very spirit of democracy — citizens have the right to participate in governance.

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