Ch 1: Power Sharing Notes I Civics Class 10

Ch. 1: Power Sharing — Civics Class 10

Why do some countries stay peaceful while others explode into civil war? It isn’t just luck. It’s about how they handle Power. Think of power like a cake—if one person grabs the whole thing, everyone else gets angry. If you share it, everyone stays at the table.

I. Case Study 1: Belgium (The Model of Intelligence)

The Logic: Belgium is a tiny country in Europe (smaller than Haryana) with a very complex ethnic mix.

• The Ethnic Composition:

  • 59% live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch.

  • 40% live in the Wallonia region and speak French.

  • 1% speak German.

• The Tension: In the capital, Brussels, the situation was reversed: 80% spoke French and 20% spoke Dutch. The French-speaking minority was relatively rich and powerful, which the Dutch-speaking majority resented.

The “Power Logic” of Belgium:

Instead of fighting, Belgium amended its Constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to create an arrangement where everyone felt included.

II. The Belgian Model (Check & Balance Flow)

The Logic: They didn’t just share power; they “balanced” it so no one could dominate.

1. Equal Representation: The Central Government has an equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers. No single community can make decisions unilaterally.

2. State Power: Many powers of the Central Government were given to State Governments. The States are not subordinate to the Center.

3. Brussels: The capital has a separate government where both communities have equal representation.

4. Community Government: This is the “Secret Sauce.” A third tier of government elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, or German). It handles cultural, educational, and language-related issues.

III. Case Study 2: Sri Lanka (The Warning Tale)

The Logic: Sri Lanka shows what happens when a majority tries to “bully” a minority.

• The Ethnic Composition:

  • 74% are Sinhala-speakers (mostly Buddhists).

  • 18% are Tamil-speakers (Hindus or Muslims).

    • Sri Lankan Tamils (13%): Native to the island.

    • Indian Tamils (5%): Descendants of plantation workers from the colonial era.

• Majoritarianism in Action: In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.

  • The government followed preferential policies for Sinhalas in university positions and government jobs.

  • A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.

The Resulting Chain Reaction:

Tamils felt alienated -> Launched parties/struggles for autonomy -> Demanded a separate state (Tamil Eelam) -> Civil War.

IV. Why is Power Sharing Desirable?

The Logic: This is the most famous 5-mark question in Civics. You must use the two distinct sets of reasons.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• The Brussels Reverse: Remember, in the country Dutch were the majority, but in Brussels French were the majority. Don’t flip these in MCQs!

• Majoritarianism vs. Democracy: Majoritarianism is actually the enemy of true democracy because it ignores the rights of the minority.

• The Year 1956: This is a key date for Sri Lanka’s “Official Language Act.” Mark it in red!

The Keyword “Vault”

• Ethnic: A social division based on shared culture. People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent.

• Majoritarianism: A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, disregarding the needs of the minority.

• Civil War: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so sharp that it resembles a war.

IV. Modern Forms of Power Sharing

The Logic: In most modern democracies, power is shared in four distinct ways. Think of these as the “Four Pillars” of a stable country.

1. Horizontal Distribution of Power (The Check & Balance System)

• The Organs: Power is shared among different organs of government: the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary.

• The Logic: All three organs are placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

• Checks and Balances: Each organ “checks” the others.

  • Example: Ministers (Executive) are responsible to the Parliament (Legislative). Judges (Judiciary) are appointed by the Executive but can check the functioning of the Executive and the laws made by the Legislative.

2. Vertical Distribution of Power (Federalism)

• The Levels: Power is shared among governments at different levels—a general Central Government for the entire country and Provincial/State Governments at the regional level.

• The Logic: This is called the Federal division of power. Higher levels of government share power with lower levels (like Municipalities and Panchayats in India).

3. Sharing Among Social Groups

• The Logic: Power may also be shared among different religious and linguistic groups.

• The Examples: * Belgium: The ‘Community Government’ is a perfect example.

  • India: The system of ‘Reserved Constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament for socially weaker sections (SC/ST) and women. This ensures that groups who would otherwise feel alienated get a fair share in power.

4. Sharing Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements

• The Logic: In a democracy, citizens must have a choice among various contenders for power.

• Competition: Competition between different parties ensures that power does not remain in one hand.

• Coalition Governments: When two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections and win, they form a Coalition Government, directly sharing power.

• Interest Groups: Traders, farmers, and industrial workers influence decision-making by participating in governmental committees or bringing pressure on the decision-making process.

V. The “Check & Balance” Flow Chart

The Logic: This is how the Horizontal system prevents any one organ from becoming a “Dictator.”

Parliament (Legislature)  ->Makes Laws.

Cabinet (Executive) -> Implements Laws -> But stays accountable to Parliament.

Courts (Judiciary) -> Interprets Laws -> Can declare laws “Unconstitutional” if they are unfair.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• Horizontal vs. Vertical: Don’t mix them up!

  • Horizontal = Hevel (Same level: Leg/Exe/Jud).

  • Vertical = Various heights (Center -> State -> Local).

• Reserved Constituencies: This is a form of sharing among Social Groups, not political parties.

• Coalition Government: This only happens when multiple parties share power together.

The Keyword “Vault”

• Checks and Balances: A system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power.

• Coalition: A temporary alliance of political parties forming a government.

• Pressure Groups: Organizations that attempt to influence government policies without seeking political office themselves.

The Answer Architect: 5-Mark Practice

Q: “Explain the four forms of power sharing in modern democracies.”

• Intro: Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy, and it is practiced through various institutional arrangements.

• Point 1 (Horizontal): Power is shared among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. This system of checks and balances ensures that no organ exercises unlimited power.

• Point 2 (Vertical): Power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units like State or Local governments. This is known as federalism.

• Point 3 (Social Groups): Power is shared among different ethnic, linguistic, or religious groups, often through mechanisms like “Community Government” or “Reserved Constituencies.”

• Point 4 (Political Competition): Different political parties compete for power, ensuring it doesn’t stay with one group. Coalition governments are a direct form of this sharing.

• Point 5 (Influence Groups): Interest groups like trade unions and farmers’ associations influence government policy and decision-making through pressure and participation.

• Conclusion: These diverse forms of power sharing ensure that democracy remains inclusive and stable.

padhayi.com “Quick-Fix” Summary

1. Belgium: Success through accommodation (Community Government).

2. Sri Lanka: Failure through majoritarianism (Civil War).

3. Prudential Reasons: Stability and avoiding conflict.

4. Moral Reasons: The spirit of democracy and legitimacy.

5. Horizontal Sharing: Checks and Balances among Leg/Exe/Jud.

6. Vertical Sharing: Federalism (Center -> State -> Local).

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