Chapter 7: Elections - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering key terms, systems, constitutional provisions, laws, and digital apps detailed in Chapter 7: Elections.

Direct Elections

Elections in which citizens vote directly to choose their representatives or leaders.

Indirect Elections

Elections in which citizens vote for representatives who then choose or elect the leaders.

Psephology

The scientific study of elections, derived from the Greek word psēphos (meaning 'pebble') and logy (meaning 'systematic study').

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) System

A plurality electoral system where each voter votes for one candidate in their constituency, and the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they receive less than 50% of the total votes polled.

Bicameral Structure

A state legislature having two houses: an Upper House, known as the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council), and a Lower House, known as the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

Vidhan Sabha

The directly elected Legislative Assembly (Lower House) that makes laws for its respective State or Union Territory using the FPTP electoral system.

Vidhan Parishad

The Legislative Council (Upper House) in states with a bicameral legislature, consisting of members elected by Vidhan Sabha members, local bodies, graduates, teachers, and members nominated by the Governor.

Proportional Representation (PR)

An electoral system in which voters vote for a political party rather than an individual person, and seats in the parliament are allotted in proportion to the total votes received by each party.

Quota (Single Transferable Vote)

The minimum number of votes required for a candidate to win an election under the proportional representation system, calculated as: $\text{Quota} = \left[ \frac{\text{Total valid votes}}{\text{Seats to be filled} + 1} \right] + 1$

Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RPA, 1950)

Parliamentary legislation that mainly deals with the allocation of seats, delimitation of constituencies, preparation and revision of electoral rolls, and ensuring non-discriminatory voting rights for citizens above 18 years of age.

Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA, 1951)

Parliamentary legislation governing election conduct, rules for candidate nomination, election campaigns, voting procedures, resolution of post-election disputes, and listing electoral offences and corrupt practices.

Delimitation

The process of determining the number of seats and fixing territorial boundaries in each state for elections to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha based on population density.

Delimitation Commission

A commission mandated under Article 82 of the Constitution of India to redraw constituency boundaries to ensure equal ratio of seats to population across all constituencies.

Election Commission of India (ECI)

An autonomous permanent constitutional body established on 25 January 1950 under Articles 324 to 329, vested with the superintendence, direction, and control of the entire election process in India.

Electoral Roll

An official list of eligible electors prepared for each constituency and organized polling station-wise; only citizens whose names appear on it are allowed to vote.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

An exercise conducted by the ECI to update, verify, and correct electoral rolls by adding newly eligible voters (aged 18) and deleting deceased, relocated, or duplicate enrolments.

ETPBS

Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, which enables Service Voters to receive and cast their postal ballots electronically from locations outside their originally assigned voting constituency.

Defection

The act of abandoning or switching from the political party under whose banner a candidate was elected, either by joining another party or by voting independently against party instructions.

Anti-Defection Law

A law passed in 1985 through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act that disqualifies MPs or MLAs who voluntarily give up party membership or vote against party instructions, aiming to provide government stability.

cVIGIL App

A digital application allowing voters to report Model Code of Conduct violations and election misconduct in real time, prompting auto-location navigation by flying squads.

ERONET

An electoral software framework that facilitates seamless processing of forms, easy database handling, simplified dashboards, and efficient maintenance of E-Rolls.

Sugam

A web-based application used for managing, tracking, and allocating fuel for vehicles requisitioned or diverted from other government departments for election duties.

Suvidha

An exclusive app for contesting candidates and political parties to access nomination forms, track updates, and apply for campaign permissions such as rallies, loudspeakers, and vehicles.

Saksham App

An application created by the ECI providing customized services to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), helping them with voter registration, finding polling stations, and accessibility.

International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP)

A flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of other nations and international organizations.