Democratic Governments around the World

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 9.3

Learn

Democracy is the most popular form of government today, and all democracies share key principles: equality (equal treatment and equality before the law), freedom of choice and expression, representative participation through elections, universal adult franchise, fundamental rights, and an independent judiciary to protect them. These ideals evolved: India gave every adult the vote from 1950, while Swiss women won it only in 1971, and effective universal suffrage came to the UK in 1928 and the USA by 1965.

In a direct democracy, citizens decide everything themselves (some forms exist in Switzerland), but this is hard in large countries. Most countries are representative democracies: people elect representatives at regular intervals (every five years in India, four in the USA), and the government stays accountable. In a parliamentary democracy like India, ministers are members of the legislature and need its confidence (the Lok Sabha's in India). In a presidential democracy like the USA, the people elect a president who works independently of the legislature (Congress). Separation of powers keeps the three organs from interfering in each other's work.

India's democratic roots go deep. In the Vajji mahājanapada, the Lichchhavis made decisions together and chose leaders by merit: an early republic. The 10th-century Uttaramerur inscriptions of the Chola period describe village elections with sealed ballot pots, qualifications for members, their duties, and removal of anyone found corrupt. Greece and Rome had republics too, though often only some free men could vote.

Explore: parliamentary or presidential?

1. Sort each card.

Remember

• Democracies share equality, freedom, elections, universal adult franchise, fundamental rights and an independent judiciary.
• Most are representative, either parliamentary (India) or presidential (USA); India's democratic roots include early republics and Uttaramerur.

Quick check

Why is an independent judiciary important in a democracy?

1. it protects citizens' rights and checks that everyone, even the government, follows the law
2. it makes all the laws
3. it chooses the prime minister
4. it collects taxes

Think about it

Why do democracies hold elections at fixed intervals instead of whenever leaders like?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.