Class 9 Democracy Mock Test (CBSE)

Topics in Democracy

• Democratic traditions from early times
• Popular sovereignty
• Rule of law and fundamental rights
• Separation of powers
• Accountability and transparency
• Multi-party system
• Types of democracy
• Democracy in practice in India
• Challenges to democratic practices

Democracy practice questions with answers

1. Q1Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following organs of government is primarily responsible for implementing and executing laws made by the legislature?

   1. (a)Judiciary
   2. (b)Executive
   3. (c)Legislature
   4. (d)Election Commission
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) Executive+1

   Answer: (b)
2. Q2Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which fundamental democratic provision best ensures that citizens can actively scrutinize government actions and hold elected authorities accountable?

   1. (a)Reservation of legislative seats for weaker sections
   2. (b)Freedom of expression and rights to information
   3. (c)Directive principles guiding state welfare policy
   4. (d)Freedom of religion and the right to worship
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) Freedom of expression and rights to information+1

   Answer: (b)
3. Q3Multiple choice·1 mark
   In a robust democratic framework, the constitutional principle of 'separation of powers' primarily serves which of the following functions?

   1. (a)Dividing powers between the central and the state governments
   2. (b)Using checks and balances so that no one organ can misuse its power
   3. (c)Transferring powers from the state to local bodies like panchayats
   4. (d)Letting the courts make laws if the legislature fails to act on time
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) Using checks and balances so that no one organ can misuse its power+1

   Answer: (b)
4. Q4Short answer·2 marks
   Explain how the separation of powers acts as a check against the arbitrary exercise of authority in a democratic system, with reference to any two organs of government.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. State that separation of powers divides governance functions among distinct organs (legislature, executive, judiciary) to prevent concentration of power.+1
   2. Explain that each organ exercises checks and balances over the others, such as the judiciary reviewing legislative or executive actions for constitutionality.+1

   Answer: Separation of powers divides functions among the legislature, executive and judiciary so that no organ holds all power; each checks the others, e.g. the judiciary can strike down laws or executive actions that violate the Constitution, and the legislature holds the executive accountable through questions and no-confidence motions.
5. Q5Short answer·3 marks
   In a legislature with 200 seats, five parties won seats as follows: Party P 58, Party Q 47, Party R 39, Party S 33 and Party T 23. (i) Does any single party have a majority of seats? Show your reasoning. (ii) If no party has a majority alone, what must the parties do to form a government? Explain why this is needed.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Majority needs more than half of the seats: $\frac{200}{2} = 100$, so a party must win more than $100$, that is at least $101$ seats.+1
   2. The largest party, P, has $58$ seats, which is less than $101$, so no single party has a majority.+1
   3. Since no party has a majority, several parties must join together in an alliance to form the government. This is a coalition government, needed to get a majority in the house.+1

   Answer: (i) No party has a majority; the largest party P has 58 of the 200 seats, and a majority needs at least 101 seats. (ii) Parties must form an alliance, a coalition government, so that together they hold more than 100 seats.
6. Q6Short answer·3 marks
   In a town's election, two problems are noticed. (a) One candidate with large personal wealth spends heavily on advertisements and gifts to voters. (b) Another candidate, who has several pending criminal cases, is backed by armed followers who threaten the supporters of rival candidates. Name each challenge to democratic practice shown here and distinguish between them in terms of how each one affects a fair contest.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Situation (a) shows the challenge of money power, where wealth is used to influence voters and the election.+1
   2. Situation (b) shows the challenge of criminalisation of politics, where muscle power and criminal backing are used to intimidate rivals and voters.+1
   3. Distinction: money power unfairly favours candidates who can afford to spend, while criminalisation works through threat and force, so it denies voters and rivals a free choice.+1

   Answer: (a) Money power, which lets wealthy candidates buy influence and visibility. (b) Criminalisation of politics, which uses intimidation and force. Money power distorts fairness through spending, while criminalisation distorts it through fear and threat.

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