a) Which religion is followed in Sri Lanka?
b) How did Sinhalese become the official language of Sri Lanka?
c) What is the Horizontal distribution of power?
d) What does Ethnic mean?
e) What does Majoritarianism mean?
f) Which prudential reasons make power sharing desirable?
g) What is the basic principal of democracy?
h) How does pressure group influence government?
Long questions
Answers
Answer:
a) Ans : Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka, with about 70.2% of the country's population as followers. Arahath Mahinda, son of Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka, led the mission to Sri Lanka in 246 BCE when he converted the Sri Lankan king, Devanampiya Tissa, to Buddhism.
b) Ans : Sinhala Only Bill, (1956), act passed by the government of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) making Sinhalese the official language of the country. The bill was the first step taken by the new government of S.W.R.D. ... Violently opposed by the Tamil-speaking minority in Ceylon, the passage of the bill was followed by rioting.
c) Ans : In democracy, power is shared among different organs of government i.e. legislature, executive and judiciary. This is known as horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
e) Ans : relating to a population subgroup (within a larger or dominant national or cultural group) with a common national or cultural tradition.
f) Ans : According to prudential reason power sharing accommodates social diversity hence, helps in reducing the possibility of conflict between social groups. Power sharing in another way ensures the political stability through competition among various political parties.
g) Ans : It is correctly remarked that democracy is for the people, of the people and by by the people. The ultimate source of power and the sovereignty lies in the hands of people. They have got right to choose the governments who represent them, suffice the need of the nation and the election process empowers people to change the government if it is working or functioning against the interests of the people.
h) Ans : Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in a variety of ways.
They try to gain public support and sympathy for their cause by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc.
By organising strikes and disruptions, they seek to make the government take note of their demands.
They also influence decision-making by lobbying.
The issues raised by them often influence the policies of political parties.