Power Sharing
1. In which European country does 59% of the population live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch?
a) Belgium
b) Germany
c) Luxembourg
d) Netherlands
Answer: a) Belgium
2. What percentage of the population in Belgium speaks German?
a) 10%
b) 5%
c) 1%
d) 20%
Answer: c) 1%
3. What was the main cause of tension between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities in Belgium during the 1950s and 1960s?
a) Religious differences
b) Economic and educational inequality
c) Political rivalry
d) Cultural traditions
Answer: b) Economic and educational inequality
4. What is the capital city of Belgium?
a) Luxembourg
b) Brussels
c) Antwerp
d) Geneva
Answer: b) Brussels
5. Which community in Sri Lanka forms 74% of the population?
a) Indian Tamils
b) Sri Lankan Tamils
c) Sinhala-speakers
d) Muslims
Answer: c) Sinhala-speakers
6. In what year did Sri Lanka pass an Act to recognize Sinhala as the only official language?
a) 1948
b) 1956
c) 1965
d) 1978
Answer: b) 1956
7. What does “majoritarianism” mean in the context of Sri Lanka?
a) Promoting diversity in governance
b) Ensuring equal rights for all communities
c) Dominance of the majority community over others
d) Protecting minority communities
Answer: c) Dominance of the majority community over others
8. Which group in Sri Lanka demanded an independent state called Tamil Eelam?
a) Sinhala-speakers
b) Indian Tamils
c) Sri Lankan Tamils
d) Buddhists
Answer: c) Sri Lankan Tamils
9. How did Belgium address the issue of power-sharing?
a) By giving all powers to the central government
b) By ignoring regional differences
c) Through constitutional amendments to share power equitably
d) By enforcing military rule
Answer: c) Through constitutional amendments to share power equitably
10. What is one key principle of democracy, as highlighted in the text?
a) Power should remain centralized
b) People are the source of all political power
c) Only one group should have decision-making authority
d) Conflicts strengthen democracy
Answer: b) People are the source of all political power
11. What is the population of Belgium compared to Haryana, India?
a) Double that of Haryana
b) Half that of Haryana
c) Equal to Haryana
d) Less than one-fourth of Haryana
Answer: b) Half that of Haryana
12. Which region in Belgium has a majority of French-speaking people?
a) Flemish region
b) Wallonia region
c) Brussels
d) Luxembourg
Answer: b) Wallonia region
13. What proportion of Brussels’ population speaks French?
a) 40%
b) 50%
c) 80%
d) 90%
Answer: c) 80%
14. Which community in Sri Lanka constitutes 18% of the population?
a) Sinhalese
b) Tamil-speakers
c) Christians
d) Muslims
Answer: b) Tamil-speakers
15. What led to feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils?
a) Economic dominance of Sinhala-speakers
b) Discrimination in education and jobs
c) Lack of recognition for Tamil as an official language
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
16. What is “prudential” power-sharing?
a) Sharing power to promote equality
b) Power-sharing to reduce conflict and ensure stability
c) Sharing power for cultural unity
d) Sharing power among the majority only
Answer: b) Power-sharing to reduce conflict and ensure stability
17. Which of these was NOT a part of Belgium’s power-sharing model?
a) Equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the central government
b) A separate government for Brussels
c) Preference for the Dutch community in education
d) Powers for state governments that are not subordinate to the central government
Answer: c) Preference for the Dutch community in education
18. When did Sri Lanka gain independence?
a) 1948
b) 1950
c) 1956
d) 1965
Answer: a) 1948
19. What is the term used for a belief that the majority community should rule a country without considering the needs of minorities?
a) Federalism
b) Majoritarianism
c) Secularism
d) Regionalism
Answer: b) Majoritarianism
20. What is the ethnic composition of Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils in the country?
a) 13% and 5% respectively
b) 18% and 2% respectively
c) 8% and 10% respectively
d) 15% and 3% respectively
Answer: a) 13% and 5% respectively
21. Which term is used to describe power-sharing among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary?
a) Horizontal distribution of power
b) Vertical distribution of power
c) Federalism
d) Coalition government
Answer: a) Horizontal distribution of power
22. What was the main cause of the civil war in Sri Lanka?
a) Unequal economic policies
b) Religious conflicts
c) Demand for Tamil Eelam
d) Preference for European languages
Answer: c) Demand for Tamil Eelam
23. What is the population of Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the text?
a) 1 crore
b) 2 crore
c) 5 crore
d) 50 lakh
Answer: b) 2 crore
24. Which of these countries followed a unitary system before transforming into a federal system?
a) India
b) Belgium
c) Sri Lanka
d) Germany
Answer: b) Belgium
25. How did the Belgian government ensure equality in Brussels?
a) By allowing Dutch-speakers to dominate
b) By giving equal representation to both communities
c) By excluding French-speakers from decision-making
d) By appointing only local leaders
Answer: b) By giving equal representation to both communities
26. Why is power-sharing considered essential in democracy?
a) It leads to faster decisions
b) It reduces social conflicts and promotes stability
c) It gives more power to majority groups
d) It eliminates regional governments
Answer: b) It reduces social conflicts and promotes stability
27. What is a federal division of power?
a) Power shared only among minorities
b) Power shared between central and state governments
c) Power given exclusively to the judiciary
d) Power exercised only by one government
Answer: b) Power shared between central and state governments
28. What type of power-sharing arrangement is seen in Belgium’s community government?
a) Horizontal division of power
b) Power shared among social groups
c) Power shared among different levels of government
d) Power shared among political parties
Answer: b) Power shared among social groups
29. In which region of Sri Lanka are the Tamil population concentrated?
a) Western and Southern regions
b) Northern and Eastern regions
c) Central and Northern regions
d) Southern and Eastern regions
Answer: b) Northern and Eastern regions
30. Which of the following is NOT a prudential reason for power-sharing?
a) It reduces conflict among social groups
b) It ensures political stability
c) It is the very spirit of democracy
d) It promotes efficient governance
Answer: d) It promotes efficient governance
31. What is the moral reason for power-sharing?
a) It is a way to reduce corruption
b) It is valuable for democracy as it ensures participation
c) It guarantees faster decision-making
d) It ensures dominance of the majority group
Answer: b) It is valuable for democracy as it ensures participation
32. What is the term used for the vertical division of power between different levels of government?
a) Separation of powers
b) Federal division of power
c) Coalition government
d) Community government
Answer: b) Federal division of power
33. Which organ of the government checks the functioning of the executive?
a) Legislature
b) Judiciary
c) Central government
d) Local government
Answer: b) Judiciary
34. How many constitutional amendments were made in Belgium between 1970 and 1993 to accommodate power-sharing?
a) Two
b) Four
c) Six
d) Five
Answer: b) Four
35. What was the major demand of Sri Lankan Tamils?
a) A separate country
b) Regional autonomy and equality
c) Sinhala as their official language
d) Preferential job opportunities
Answer: b) Regional autonomy and equality
36. Which community in Sri Lanka primarily practices Buddhism?
a) Tamils
b) Sinhalese
c) Christians
d) Muslims
Answer: b) Sinhalese
37. What does the Belgian model of power-sharing emphasize?
a) Giving power only to the majority
b) Sharing power equally among all groups
c) Suppressing minority communities
d) Focusing on economic development
Answer: b) Sharing power equally among all groups
38. What is the meaning of “civil war”?
a) Conflict between two countries
b) Violent conflict between groups within a country
c) Political conflict among leaders
d) Economic disputes between regions
Answer: b) Violent conflict between groups within a country
39. What did the 1956 Act in Sri Lanka state?
a) Tamil and Sinhala are both official languages
b) Sinhala is the only official language
c) English is the official language
d) Tamil is the official language
Answer: b) Sinhala is the only official language
40. What type of power-sharing exists in a coalition government?
a) Power-sharing among different social groups
b) Power-sharing among different political parties
c) Power-sharing between state and central government
d) Power-sharing within the judiciary
Answer: b) Power-sharing among different political parties
41. Which country has Brussels as its capital?
a) Belgium
b) Netherlands
c) Germany
d) France
Answer: a) Belgium
42. Why did Belgium adopt a “community government”?
a) To strengthen central authority
b) To protect the rights of linguistic and cultural groups
c) To promote economic growth
d) To make governance simpler
Answer: b) To protect the rights of linguistic and cultural groups
43. What is the primary religion of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka?
a) Buddhism
b) Hinduism
c) Christianity
d) Islam
Answer: b) Hinduism
44. What was the majoritarian measure adopted in Sri Lanka in 1978?
a) Sinhala was made the national religion
b) Preferential policies for Sinhala-speaking applicants
c) Constitution protected Buddhism
d) Both b and c
Answer: d) Both b and c
45. What does “horizontal power-sharing” ensure?
a) Dominance of a single organ of government
b) Equal distribution of power among organs of government
c) Faster decision-making
d) Elimination of judiciary
Answer: b) Equal distribution of power among organs of government
46. Which type of government structure involves both central and state governments?
a) Federal government
b) Unitary government
c) Coalition government
d) Community government
Answer: a) Federal government
47. What does the system of “checks and balances” ensure?
a) All power is concentrated in one organ
b) Equal power among different organs of government
c) Suppression of minorities
d) Faster decision-making
Answer: b) Equal power among different organs of government
48. What was the population of Brussels during the time described in the text?
a) Predominantly Dutch-speaking
b) Predominantly French-speaking
c) Equally Dutch and French-speaking
d) Predominantly German-speaking
Answer: b) Predominantly French-speaking
49. Why did Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated?
a) Sinhala was made the official language
b) They faced discrimination in jobs and education
c) Their cultural and political demands were ignored
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
a) Belgium
b) Sri Lanka
c) Germany
d) Canada
Answer: a) Belgium
51. What is one disadvantage of majoritarianism in a diverse country?
a) Faster decision-making
b) Suppression of minorities
c) Improved governance
d) Better economic policies
Answer: b) Suppression of minorities
52. What does the term “prudential” mean in the context of power-sharing?
a) Based on moral principles
b) Based on careful calculations of gains and losses
c) Based on cultural practices
d) Based on religious beliefs
Answer: b) Based on careful calculations of gains and losses
53. What is a key feature of Belgium’s government in Brussels?
a) Dominance of the Dutch-speaking community
b) Equal representation of both linguistic communities
c) Complete autonomy for the French-speaking community
d) Suppression of German speakers
Answer: b) Equal representation of both linguistic communities
54. What is the significance of the “community government” in Belgium?
a) It promotes linguistic diversity
b) It gives power to only the central government
c) It focuses on economic development
d) It ensures representation for linguistic groups in cultural, educational, and language issues
Answer: d) It ensures representation for linguistic groups in cultural, educational, and language issues
55. How did the Sri Lankan Tamils respond to their alienation?
a) They launched political parties
b) They demanded regional autonomy
c) They sought equal opportunities in education and jobs
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
56. What was the outcome of the civil war in Sri Lanka?
a) Improved relationships between communities
b) Thousands killed and displacement of many families
c) Creation of a new constitution
d) Division of the country
Answer: b) Thousands killed and displacement of many families
57. What is the principle of vertical division of power?
a) Power is shared among social groups
b) Power is divided between central, state, and local governments
c) Power is concentrated in one level of government
d) Power is shared among political parties
Answer: b) Power is divided between central, state, and local governments
58. In which year did the Sri Lankan civil war end?
a) 1998
b) 2001
c) 2009
d) 2012
Answer: c) 2009
59. What does power-sharing among political parties ensure?
a) Faster decision-making
b) Representation of diverse ideologies and social groups
c) Dominance of one political party
d) Elimination of social conflicts
Answer: b) Representation of diverse ideologies and social groups
60. What does “tyranny of the majority” mean?
a) Oppression of the majority by the minority
b) Oppression of the minority by the majority
c) Equal treatment of all groups
d) Centralized decision-making
Answer: b) Oppression of the minority by the majority
61. What is the role of “reserved constituencies” in India?
a) To suppress minority voices
b) To give weaker sections fair representation in legislatures
c) To concentrate power in the central government
d) To reduce political competition
Answer: b) To give weaker sections fair representation in legislatures
62. Which of the following forms of power-sharing exists in Belgium?
a) Unitary government with linguistic dominance
b) Centralized federal government
c) Power-sharing among linguistic groups
d) Military rule with equal representation
Answer: c) Power-sharing among linguistic groups
63. What is the relationship between democracy and power-sharing?
a) Democracy thrives on concentrated power
b) Democracy is strengthened by power-sharing
c) Democracy is unrelated to power-sharing
d) Power-sharing undermines democracy
Answer: b) Democracy is strengthened by power-sharing
64. Which type of government prevents the concentration of power by promoting “checks and balances”?
a) Federal government
b) Horizontal power-sharing
c) Coalition government
d) Unitary government
Answer: b) Horizontal power-sharing
65. What happened to Sri Lankan Tamils who fled the country during the civil war?
a) They were granted regional autonomy
b) They became refugees in other countries
c) They returned to their homeland
d) They were given preferential treatment
Answer: b) They became refugees in other countries
66. What type of power-sharing involves the division of power among different levels of government?
a) Vertical division of power
b) Horizontal division of power
c) Community government
d) Unitary government
Answer: a) Vertical division of power
67. Which of the following is an example of horizontal power-sharing?
a) Power shared among judiciary, executive, and legislature
b) Power shared among central, state, and local governments
c) Power shared among linguistic communities
d) Power shared among political parties
Answer: a) Power shared among judiciary, executive, and legislature
68. What was the primary demand of political organizations formed by Sri Lankan Tamils in the 1980s?
a) Complete independence for Sri Lanka
b) Regional autonomy for Tamil-dominated areas
c) Preference in jobs and education
d) Sinhala as the only official language
Answer: b) Regional autonomy for Tamil-dominated areas
69. What does the Belgian model of governance aim to prevent?
a) Linguistic dominance by the majority
b) Equal power-sharing
c) Military intervention
d) Centralized governance
Answer: a) Linguistic dominance by the majority
70. Which form of power-sharing is evident when two or more political parties form a coalition government?
a) Vertical power-sharing
b) Power-sharing among political parties
c) Horizontal power-sharing
d) Federal power-sharing
Answer: b) Power-sharing among political parties
71. Which country is an example of federal power-sharing?
a) Sri Lanka
b) India
c) Belgium
d) Both b and c
Answer: d) Both b and c
72. What is a key reason for adopting power-sharing in a democracy?
a) To promote dictatorship
b) To reduce the possibility of social conflicts
c) To strengthen the majority community
d) To ensure faster decision-making
Answer: b) To reduce the possibility of social conflicts
a) Horizontal power-sharing
b) Vertical power-sharing
c) Community government
d) Federalism
Answer: c) Community government
74. In which country is the community government an important feature of power-sharing?
a) Sri Lanka
b) Belgium
c) India
d) Canada
Answer: b) Belgium
75. What is a coalition government?
a) A government where power is shared among different social groups
b) A government formed by the central authority only
c) A government where multiple political parties share power
d) A government with no representation for minorities
Answer: c) A government where multiple political parties share power
76. Which form of power-sharing helps to ensure cultural and linguistic rights?
a) Federalism
b) Horizontal power-sharing
c) Power-sharing among social groups
d) Unitary government
Answer: c) Power-sharing among social groups
77. What does vertical division of power prevent?
a) Centralization of power
b) Linguistic diversity
c) Cultural representation
d) Economic development
Answer: a) Centralization of power
78. Which group in Sri Lanka was economically and politically dominant after independence?
a) Tamils
b) Christians
c) Sinhalese
d) Muslims
Answer: c) Sinhalese
79. What was the outcome of the preferential policies introduced in Sri Lanka for Sinhalese?
a) Unity between communities
b) Alienation of Tamil-speaking people
c) Increased economic equality
d) Religious harmony
Answer: b) Alienation of Tamil-speaking people
80. Which power-sharing arrangement is present when the judiciary can check the laws made by the legislature?
a) Horizontal power-sharing
b) Vertical power-sharing
c) Federalism
d) Community government
Answer: a) Horizontal power-sharing
81. What principle ensures that power is distributed among as many people as possible in a democracy?
a) Federalism
b) Power-sharing
c) Majoritarianism
d) Unitary governance
Answer: b) Power-sharing
82. What was the Belgian leaders’ solution to linguistic and cultural conflicts?
a) Imposing Dutch as the official language
b) Granting equal representation to all communities
c) Removing regional governments
d) Centralizing power in the federal government
Answer: b) Granting equal representation to all communities
83. Which group demanded a separate state called Tamil Eelam?
a) Indian Tamils
b) Sinhalese
c) Sri Lankan Tamils
d) Christians
Answer: c) Sri Lankan Tamils
84. Which system of governance does NOT involve power-sharing?
a) Democracy
b) Federalism
c) Unitary government
d) Coalition government
Answer: c) Unitary government
85. Why is “checks and balances” important in democracy?
a) It ensures one organ dominates others
b) It prevents misuse of power by any one organ
c) It delays decision-making
d) It strengthens central authority
Answer: b) It prevents misuse of power by any one organ
86. What caused the tensions in Sri Lanka after 1948?
a) Economic inequality
b) Dominance of Tamil-speaking people
c) Policies favoring Sinhala speakers
d) Military intervention
Answer: c) Policies favoring Sinhala speakers
87. What is an example of power-sharing in India?
a) Coalition government at the central level
b) Federal structure of government
c) Reservation of seats for weaker sections
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
88. Why did Belgian leaders amend their constitution multiple times?
a) To ensure faster governance
b) To prevent linguistic and regional conflicts
c) To favor French-speaking people
d) To abolish local governments
Answer: b) To prevent linguistic and regional conflicts
89. What is the spirit of democracy in power-sharing?
a) Excluding minority groups
b) Centralizing decision-making
c) Including all affected groups in decision-making
d) Ensuring dominance of majority groups
Answer: c) Including all affected groups in decision-making
90. What is the opposite of power-sharing in governance?
a) Federalism
b) Unitary system
c) Coalition government
d) Community government
Answer: b) Unitary system
91. Which country shows the consequences of ignoring power-sharing?
a) Belgium
b) Sri Lanka
c) Canada
d) Germany
Answer: b) Sri Lanka
92. How does power-sharing reduce corruption?
a) By centralizing power
b) By involving people in governance
c) By favoring the majority
d) By removing social representation
Answer: b) By involving people in governance
93. What is a key feature of democracy?
a) Tyranny of the majority
b) Centralization of power
c) Power-sharing among diverse groups
d) Suppression of minorities
Answer: c) Power-sharing among diverse groups
94. What type of government is common in federal countries?
a) Community government
b) Vertical division of power
c) Horizontal power-sharing
d) Unitary government
Answer: b) Vertical division of power
95. Which group was the minority in Sri Lanka?
a) Sinhalese
b) Tamils
c) Christians
d) Muslims
Answer: b) Tamils
96. What leads to long-term stability in a democracy?
a) Concentration of power
b) Power-sharing
c) Dominance of majority groups
d) Suppression of cultural differences
Answer: b) Power-sharing
97. What is the foundation of power-sharing?
a) Suppression of opposition
b) Respect for diverse groups and views
c) Economic stability
d) Faster decision-making
Answer: b) Respect for diverse groups and views
98. What does the Sri Lankan example teach about majoritarianism?
a) It strengthens unity
b) It undermines unity
c) It promotes peace
d) It reduces cultural diversity
Answer: b) It undermines unity
99. How does community government in Belgium function?
a) It focuses on economic equality
b) It ensures representation for linguistic communities
c) It promotes central authority
d) It favors Dutch speakers
Answer: b) It ensures representation for linguistic communities
100. What lesson does power-sharing provide for democracies?
a) Concentrating power leads to better governance
b) Inclusion of diverse groups ensures stability
c) Tyranny of majority strengthens democracy
d) Power-sharing delays decisions
Answer: b) Inclusion of diverse groups ensures stability