Class 9- Civics: Electoral Politics

What is an election?

An election is a process by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals.

What is a constituency?

A constituency is a geographical area from which a candidate is elected to the legislative body.

What is the role of the Election Commission?

The Election Commission is an independent body responsible for conducting free and fair elections.

What is Universal Adult Franchise?

Universal Adult Franchise means every adult citizen above 18 years has the right to vote, regardless of their gender, caste, or wealth.

What are the main stages of the election process?

The main stages are:

Declaration of election dates.

Filing of nominations.

Election campaigning.

Polling and counting of votes.

Declaration of results.

What is a political party?

A political party is an organization that seeks to achieve political power by contesting elections.

What is a coalition government?

A coalition government is formed when no single party gets a majority, and multiple parties join together to form a government.

What are electoral roll or voters' list?

It is the list of all eligible voters in a constituency.

What is the importance of Model Code of Conduct?

It is a set of guidelines to be followed by political parties and candidates during elections to ensure fair play.

What are Reserved Constituencies?

Reserved constituencies are those where only candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) can contest.

What is NOTA?

NOTA stands for "None of the Above," an option that allows voters to reject all the candidates if they don't want to vote for any.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is a document published by political parties before elections, outlining their policies and programs.

What are mid-term elections?

Mid-term elections are held when the elected government is dissolved before completing its term.

What is a General Election?

General elections are held to elect representatives for all constituencies in a country simultaneously, typically after the completion of the government's term.

What is a by-election?

A by-election is held when a representative's seat becomes vacant before the completion of their term, such as due to death or resignation.

What is the meaning of "incumbent"?

The incumbent is the current holder of a political office who is seeking re-election.

What is a ballot paper?

A ballot paper is a piece of paper on which voters mark their choice of candidates. It has the names of all the candidates along with their symbols.

What is an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)?

An EVM is an electronic device used to record votes in place of a ballot paper during elections.

What are electoral malpractices?

Electoral malpractices include activities like rigging, booth capturing, bribing voters, or manipulating election results.

What is the significance of the Secret Ballot?

Secret Ballot ensures that the voter's choice remains confidential, preventing coercion or undue influence.

What is a multi-party system?

A multi-party system is a political system where more than two parties contest elections, and different parties may share power.

What is a one-party system?

A one-party system is where only one political party is allowed to contest elections and hold power, common in non-democratic countries.

What are election campaigns?

Election campaigns are activities carried out by political parties and candidates to influence voters' decisions before an election.

What is the significance of polling booths?

Polling booths are designated locations where voters cast their votes on election day.

What are independent candidates?

Independent candidates are those who contest elections without the backing of any political party.

What is vote-bank politics?

Vote-bank politics refers to political strategies where politicians focus on gaining votes from particular social groups by promising benefits.

What is delimitation?

Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of constituencies based on population changes to ensure balanced representation.

What is "first-past-the-post" system?

It is a voting system where the candidate who gets the most votes wins, even if they do not secure more than 50% of the total votes.

What is an Election Manifesto?

It is a public declaration by political parties outlining their goals and policies if they win the election.

What is Voter Turnout?

Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who cast their votes in an election.