Representation, Elections and Political Parties Questions and Answers AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Chapter 11

Reviewing AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Study Material Chapter 11 Representation, Elections and Political Parties Questions and Answers can help students prepare confidently for exams.

AP Inter 2nd Year Civics 11th Lesson Representation, Elections and Political Parties Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Write about eligibility for Home Voting.
Answer:
The Election Commission of India has provided the facility of home voting for the elders and persons with disability in 2024 Parliamentary elections. Voters above 85 years and persons with above 40% disability can avail this facility.

Question 2.
Expand VVPAT
Answer:

• VVPAT – Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
• A VVPAT allows voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly.
• It is an independent system attached with the EVMs.

Question 3.
Explain Universal Adult Franchise
Answer:
Universal Adult Franchise refers to the right of all adult citizens to vote regardless of caste, religion, gender, education, property and place of birth. The 61st Constitutional Amendment in 1988, reduced the minimum voting age from 21 years to 18 years.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Write any four differences between Simple Majority system and Proportional Representation system.
Answer:
In the First Part The Post (FPTP) system the candidate who secured the highest number of votes is declared elected. The simple majority system is prevalent in Britain, USA, Canada.

Proportional Representation is an electoral device to ensure representation of all sections of the people in proportion to their voting strength. It provides fair representation to both majority and minority groups.

Question 2.
Mention any four electoral reforms after 1996.
Answer:
1) Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections: In 1997, the number of electors as proposers and seconders for contesting election to the President was increased from 10 to 50 and to Vice President from 5 to 20. The amount of security deposit was increased from Rs. 2500/- to Rs. 15,000 for contesting election to both the President and Vice President to discourage frivolous candidates.

2) Voting Through Postal Ballot: In 1999, a provision was made for voting by certain classes of persons through postal ballot. The persons belonging to notified class can give their votes by postal ballot.

3) Facility to opt Vote Through Proxy: In 2003, the facility to opt to vote through proxy was provided to the service voters belonging to the armed forces. Such service voters who opt to vote through proxy have to appoint a proxy in a prescribed format and intimate the Returning Officer of the Constituency.

4) Declaration of Criminal Antecedents, Assets by Candidates: In 2003, the Election Commission directed every candidate seeking election to the Parliament or State legislature to furnish following information on nomination paper,

• Criminal Offence and Imprisonment
• Pending Cases and Charges framed
• Assets
• Liabilities
• Educational Qualifications.

Question 3.
Write the classification of political parties based on number.
Answer:
Political parties are broadly classified into two types. One classification was on the basis of Ideology and another one is on the number of political parties in a country.

Types of Party Systems:
Based on the number of Parties in a state, political party systems are classified into three types

1. Single Party System: In a single party system only one party is in existence. The other political parties are not allowed to function. Single party system is not a good option for democracy.
Ex: Nazi Party in Germany, Fascist Party in Italy, Communist Party in China and in former USSR.

2. Bi-Party System: Under a bi-party system, two major political parties are working in a political system. One forms the government and the other functions as opposition. Political power may alternate between two major political parties. – Republican and Democratic Parties in USA.

3. Multi-party System: In a multi-party system more than two parties operate in a political system. Sometimes they may align with either the ruling party or the opposition party. This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation. But the multi-party system also can lead to political instability.
Ex: India, France, Sweden, Norway.

Question 4.
Describe the recognition criteria of National Political Parties.
Answer:
The Election Commission of India registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance. Recognition of political parties is endowed with benefits like a reserved symbol, placement of their names at the top of ballot paper and financial benefits.

Recognition criteria of National Political Parties:
A party is recognised as national party if any one of the following conditions is fulfilled.

• If a political party secures six percent of valid votes in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly and wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states, or
•  If it wins two percent of seats in the Lok Sabha at a general election, and these candidates are elected from three different states, or
• If it recognised as state party in four or more states.

There are 6 national parties in India in 2026. These are Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Admi Party and National Peoples Party.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Discuss the functions of political parties.
Answer:
A political party is a group of people agreed on some policies and programmes for the society and come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

“A political Party is an organised group of citizens who profess to share the same political views and by acting as a political unit, try to control the government”.- J. Gilchrist

Functions of Political Parties:

1. Representation: Political Parties represent the interests of the people. They highlight the issues through their members and activists. They articulate the important interests for acceptance by political decision-makers.

2. Integration: A political party integrates the individual into the political system. Political Parties are agents of political participation.

3. Interest Conversion or Aggregation: Political party functions as an agency to convert the interests of the people into policy decisions. Political party try to persuade the masses to accept the policies they have formed.

4. Political Recruitment: Political Parties function as a platform through which future leaders of the nation are recruited. Political parties recruit leaders, train them and make them ministers to run the government.

5. Policy Formulation: Political Parties formulate broad national policies for implementing them when they come to power. Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.

6. Control of the Government: In a Parliamentary Democracy, the ruling party takes control of the government. The parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition by criticizing government for its failures. The opposition keeps a healthy watch on the government.

Question 2.
Examine the functions of Election Commission of India.
Answer:
The Constitution of India created an independent Election Commission of India) to conduct free and fair elections. It is a permanent, autonomous, constitutional independent body established on 25th January 1950. To assist the Election Commission of India, there is a Chief Electoral Officer in every state.

Functions of Election Commission of India:
Articles 324 to 328 of the Constitution outline the powers and functions of the Election Commission of India (ECI):

1. The Commission prepares, revises and publishes electoral rolls, ensuring they are accurate and updated.
2. It notifies the election schedule, including dates of polling and counting.
3. During elections, the ECI has the authority to take all necessary decisions to ensure a free and fair poll.
4. It may postpone or cancel elections in any constituency or state if the polling environment is vitiated.
5. The Commission enforces the Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates.
6. It can order recounting of votes if it believes the counting process was not fair.
7. The ECI recognises political parties, allots election symbols and settles related disputes.
8. It advises the President on whether elections can be held in a state under President’s Rule.
9. It advises the Governor on matters related to the disqualification of members of the State Legislature.
10. The Commission exercises supervision and control over the election machinery during the electoral process.
11. It oversees the delimitation of constituencies based on the Delimitation Commission Act passed by Parliament.

Question 3.
Analyse the characteristic features of Indian Party system.
Answer:
Characteristics Features of Indian Party System:

1. Multi-Party System: India has a large number of political parties because of its vast size, diverse society, and universal adult franchise. It has six national parties, more than 65 state parties, and over 2900 recognised and unrecognised parties.

2. One-Party Dominance: The Congress Party dominated Indian politics until the Fourth General Elections, leading scholars to call it the “Congress System.” Today, the BJP is the dominant party at the Union level.

3. Lack of Clear Ideology: Except for BJP, CPI, and CPI(M), most parties do not have a clear ideological base. Most parties support similar values such as democracy, secularism, and socialism, making politics largely issue-based.

4. Personality Cult: Many political parties revolve around popular leaders rather than, party ideology. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, N.T. Rama Rao, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and Narendra Modi are examples.

5. Based on Traditional Factors: Many Indian political parties are formed on the basis of religion, caste, language, culture, or region. This differs from many Western countries where parties are mainly based on political and economic programmes.

6. Emergence of Regional Parties: Regional parties became powerful in many states after the 1960s. They now play an important role in national politics, especially during coalition governments.

7. Factions and Defections: Indian politics often witnesses splits, mergers, factionalism, and defections within parties. To control defections, the Anti-Defection Law was introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985.

8. Lack of Effective Opposition: A strong opposition is necessary for the success of parliamentary democracy. However, opposition parties in India often lack unity and differ in ideology, making it difficult to provide a strong alternative to the ruling party.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Elections are essential in this system.
1. Monarchy
2. Aristocracy
3. Oligarchy
4. Democracy
Answer:
4. Democracy

Question 2.
The main supporter of Functional Representation
1. JS Mill
2. GDH Cole
3. Edmund Burke
4. Rousseau
Answer:
2. GDH Cole

Question 3.
Famous advocate of Proportional Representation
1. JS Mill
2. GDH Cole
3. Edmund Burke
4. Rousseau
Answer:
1. JS Mill

Question 4.
The FPTP System also called
1. List System
2. Simple Majority
3. Limited Vote
4. Proportional Representation
Answer:
2. Simple Majority

Question 5.
The 61 Constitutional Amendment reduced voting age to
1. 17 Years
2. 18 years
3. 19 Years
4. 20 years
Answer:
2. 18 years

Question 6.
The Article that explains the organisation of Election Commission of India
1. 321
2. 322
3. 323
4. 324
Answer:
4. 324

Question 7.
Tenure of Chief Election Commissioner and Commissioners
1. 60/5 Years
2. 65/5 Years
3. 65/6 Years
4. 60/6 Years
Answer:
3. 65/6 Years

Question 8.
The founder of DMK Party
1. Annadurai
2. MG Ramachandran
3. M. Karunanidhi
4. Jayalalithaa
Answer:
1. Annadurai

Fill in the Blanks

Question 1.
Anti Defection Law was introduced in the year ___________
Answer:
1985

Question 2.
Recognition to political parties is given by ___________
Answer:
Election Commission of India

Question 3.
Oldest national party in India ___________
Answer:
Indian National Congress

Question 4.
The officer responsible to conduct elections in a constituency is ___________
Answer:
Returning officer

Question 5.
Founder of Telugu Desam Party ___________
Answer:
NT Rama Rao

Question 6.
Open Ballot System is followed in India in the election of
Answer:
Rajya Sabha

One Word Answers

Question 1.
The type of party system followed in USA
Answer:
Bi Party System

Question 2.
In which state General Elections, the EVMs were used for the first time?
Answer:
Goa

Question 3.
Full form of NOTA
Answer:
None of The Above

Question 4.
In which year was the Election Commission of India established?
Answer:
1950

Question 5.
The number of days for effective campaigning before elections.
Answer:
14 days