🏅 Class 10 Political Science – Democratic Politics II
Chapter 1: Power Sharing
Original Visual Revision Notes Independently created study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NCERT.

📌 Contents 1. 📚 Chapter Notes 2. 🎨 Easy Illustrations 3. ✏️ Worked Examples 4. 📋 Cheat Sheet 5. 🏠 Take-Home Handout 6. 🃏 Revision Flashcards 7. 🧠 Mind Map

📚 1. Chapter Notes — Power Sharing

What is Power Sharing?
Power sharing means dividing authority among different groups. No single person or group holds all power. This prevents misuse of power. Democracy depends on shared power.
Case Study: Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Europe. Its population is mixed — 59% Dutch-speaking, 40% French-speaking. In Brussels, 80% speak French but Dutch speakers are the national majority. Leaders chose to share power equally between communities. They changed their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993. This avoided conflict and kept the country united.
Belgian Model — Key Features
Case Study: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has 74% Sinhala speakers and 18% Tamil speakers. After independence in 1948, the Sinhala majority passed laws favouring their community. Sinhala was made the only official language. Tamils were discriminated in jobs and education. This caused deep mistrust and eventually a long civil war that ended in 2009.
Majoritarianism — The Danger
Majoritarianism means the majority community rules as it wishes, ignoring minority needs. Sri Lanka is an example. The majority imposed its will. This damaged unity and led to conflict. Belgium avoided this by sharing power.
Four Forms of Power Sharing
Why Power Sharing is Good — Two Reasons
Checks and Balances
In a democracy, all three organs of government balance each other. The legislature makes laws. The executive runs government. The judiciary checks both. No single organ can exercise unlimited power. This system is called checks and balances.
Belgium vs Sri Lanka — Quick Contrast
Community Government in Belgium
Belgium created a third type of government called community government. It is elected by people of one language group. It handles cultural, educational and language matters. This gives each community direct control over its own affairs.

🎨 2. Easy Illustrations

Belgium vs Sri Lanka — Approach to Diversity Belgium ✓ Success Recognised diversity Amended constitution 4 times Equal ministerial representation Community governments created Both communities felt respected Result: Peace & Unity Brussels = EU headquarters Sri Lanka ✗ Failure Majority imposed its will Sinhala-only language law (1956) Tamils discriminated in jobs Buddhism given state support Tamils felt alienated Result: Civil War Thousands killed, 1983–2009

Comparison of how Belgium and Sri Lanka handled diversity

Four Forms of Power Sharing 1. Horizontal Among organs Legislature Executive Judiciary Each checks the others Separation of powers 2. Vertical Among govt levels Central Govt State Govt Local Govt Federalism and Panchayats Federal division of power 3. Social Groups Among communities Minorities Women Weaker sections Reserved seats in legislatures Community government 4. Political Parties Among parties Opposition parties Pressure groups Coalitions Free elections and competition Coalition government

The four main forms of power sharing in a democracy

Why Power Sharing? Two Types of Reasons Prudential Reasons (Practical / Calculative) ● Reduces conflict between groups ● Brings political stability ● Prevents violence and civil war ● Good outcomes in the long run Moral Reasons (Ethical / Principled) ● People have a right to participate ● Spirit of democracy itself ● Sharing power makes govt legitimate ● Citizens become stakeholders

Prudential vs Moral reasons for power sharing

Checks and Balances — How It Works Legislature Makes laws Parliament / Assembly Controls budget Executive Runs government Ministers & officials Accountable to Parliament Judiciary Interprets laws Courts & judges Independent of executive

Three organs of government check and balance each other

Ethnic Composition Comparison Belgium 59% Dutch 40% French 1% German Complex mix → Power-sharing solution Sri Lanka 74% Sinhala 18% Tamil 8% others Majority dominance → Civil war

Population distribution in Belgium and Sri Lanka

✏️ 3. Worked Examples

💡 Question 1: Why did Belgium change its constitution four times? What was the result?

1 Identify the problem — Belgium had Dutch, French and German-speaking communities with unequal power.
2 The French minority in Brussels was economically powerful. Dutch speakers had less economic opportunity earlier.
3 Tension could have caused the country to split into two along language lines.
4 Belgian leaders chose to share power. Between 1970–1993, they amended the constitution four times.
5 Results: Equal ministers in cabinet, community governments, no single community can decide alone.
✅ Result: Belgium avoided civil conflict. It became so peaceful that Brussels became headquarters of the European Union.
💡 Question 2: What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing? Give examples from India.

1 Horizontal power sharing is between organs at the same level — legislature, executive, judiciary.
2 Example: In India, Parliament makes laws, Cabinet runs the government, Supreme Court interprets the constitution.
3 Vertical power sharing is between different levels — central, state and local governments.
4 Example: Defence is a central subject, police is a state subject, drinking water is a local government responsibility.
5 Horizontal = same level, different organs. Vertical = different levels of government.
✅ Both types exist in India. Together they ensure no single authority holds all power.
💡 Question 3: Give one prudential and one moral reason for power sharing. Use an Indian example.

1 Prudential reason = practical benefit of sharing power.
2 India has many religions, languages and castes. Sharing power prevents one group from dominating others.
3 Reserved constituencies for SC/ST in Parliament is a prudential step — it reduces social conflict.
4 Moral reason = it is the right thing to do in a democracy.
5 Citizens have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Democracy means self-governance.
✅ Prudential: Reduces conflict (e.g., reserved seats for minorities). Moral: People have a right to be part of governance.
💡 Question 4: What went wrong in Sri Lanka? How could it have been avoided?

1 Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. The Sinhala majority passed majoritarian laws.
2 Sinhala became the only official language. Tamil was ignored. Tamils lost jobs and education access.
3 Tamils felt like outsiders in their own country. Political parties began demanding autonomy.
4 When denied, armed groups formed. Civil war began in the 1980s and lasted until 2009.
5 It could have been avoided by sharing power — making Tamil also official, giving Tamils equal opportunities.
✅ The lesson: Ignoring minority needs destroys national unity. Sharing power prevents conflict.

📋 4. Cheat Sheet — Key Terms

TermSimple Meaning
Power SharingDividing authority among different groups or organs of government
MajoritarianismBelief that majority community should rule as it wishes, ignoring minority
EthnicGroup sharing common culture, language or ancestry
Civil WarViolent conflict between groups inside one country
Horizontal Power SharingPower divided among legislature, executive and judiciary at same level
Vertical Power SharingPower divided between central, state and local governments
FederalismSystem where power is shared between central and regional governments
Community GovernmentGovernment in Belgium elected by one language community for cultural matters
Coalition GovernmentGovernment formed when two or more parties join together after elections
Checks and BalancesSystem where each organ of government limits the power of the others
Prudential ReasonPractical reason — something is done because it gives better results
Moral ReasonEthical reason — something is done because it is right by principle
Pressure GroupOrganisation that influences government without contesting elections
Legitimate GovernmentA government that has the trust and acceptance of its citizens
Reserved ConstituenciesSeats in Parliament set aside for SC, ST or women to ensure representation

🏠 5. Take-Home Handout — Practice Questions

✍️ Q1: Explain the Belgian model of power sharing. How did it help Belgium stay united?
✍️ Q2: "Power sharing is the spirit of democracy." Explain this statement with two examples.
✍️ Q3: Compare the situation of Tamils in Sri Lanka with the Dutch-speaking people in Belgium. What conclusions can you draw?
✍️ Q4: Describe the four forms of power sharing in modern democracies. Which form is seen in the panchayati raj system?
✍️ Q5: "Tyranny of the majority is not just harmful to the minority. It also harms the majority in the long run." Do you agree? Give reasons.

✅ Model Answers

A1: Belgian Model — Belgium has Dutch (59%) and French (40%) communities. Leaders recognised this diversity. They amended the constitution four times between 1970–1993. Key steps: equal Dutch and French ministers in cabinet; both groups need to agree on special laws; state governments got constitutional powers; community governments handle culture and education; Brussels has equal representation from both groups. Result: Civil conflict was avoided and Belgium became headquarters of EU.
A2: Spirit of Democracy — In a democracy, power belongs to people. Sharing power means people participate in governance. Example 1: Reserved constituencies for SC/ST in India gives disadvantaged groups a voice. Example 2: Coalition government means multiple parties share power, preventing one party from dominating. Sharing power makes governments accountable and gives citizens a stake in the system. That is the core moral reason.
A3: Sri Lanka vs Belgium — Dutch speakers in Belgium were the national majority but minority in Brussels. Instead of using their majority to dominate, they accepted equal representation through negotiation. Sri Lankan Tamils were the minority. The Sinhala majority used its numbers to pass discriminatory laws. Tamils lost their language rights and job opportunities. Conclusion: Sharing power prevents conflict; imposing majority will destroys unity.
A4: Four Forms — (1) Horizontal: among legislature, executive, judiciary — e.g., Supreme Court checking Parliament. (2) Vertical: among central, state, local levels — e.g., Panchayati Raj. (3) Social groups: reserved seats for SC/ST/women. (4) Political parties: competing parties, coalitions. Panchayati Raj is an example of vertical power sharing — power taken to the local level.
A5: Tyranny of Majority — Yes, agreed. When a majority imposes its will, minorities resist. This resistance leads to conflict, instability and sometimes civil war. This hurts everyone including the majority. Sri Lanka is the best example — the Sinhala majority imposed its will on Tamils. This led to decades of civil war that set back Sri Lanka's economy, killed thousands and destroyed social harmony. The majority suffered too.

🃏 6. Revision Flashcards

Belgium changed its constitution how many times?
Four times — between 1970 and 1993
What law did Sri Lanka pass in 1956?
Sinhala as the only official language, ignoring Tamil
What is majoritarianism?
Majority community rules ignoring wishes of minorities
What is horizontal power sharing?
Power shared among legislature, executive and judiciary
What is a community government?
Govt in Belgium for one language group — handles culture and education
Name the two reasons for power sharing
Prudential (practical) and Moral (ethical) reasons
What is a coalition government?
Government formed when two or more parties join together
Sri Lanka's civil war ended in which year?
2009 — after decades of conflict between Sinhala and Tamil groups

🧠 7. Mind Map — Power Sharing

Belgium 4 constitution changes Power shared equally EU headquarters Sri Lanka Sinhala-only law 1956 Tamils discriminated Civil war 1983–2009 4 Forms 1. Horizontal (organs) 2. Vertical (levels) 3. Social groups 4. Political parties Why Share Power? Prudential: reduces conflict Moral: citizens' right Prevents tyranny Spirit of democracy Checks & Balances Legislature ↔ Executive ↔ Judiciary None can hold unlimited power POWER SHARING Chapter 1

Mind map of Power Sharing — Chapter 1