Question

What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

NECRT CLASS 10 CIVICS​

Answer 1

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The different forms of power sharing in modern democracies are:

• Horizontal Division of Power: It is the sharing of power among the different organs of government, for example, power sharing by the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. In this type of power sharing arrangement, different organs of government, placed at the same level, exercised different powers. Such a separation ensure that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power, thereby putting a check on each other. For example, judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures.

• Vertical Division of Power: It is a system of power sharing among governments at different levels. A general government for the entire country usually known as federal government and governments at provincial or regional levels also known as State Government in India. In India, we refer to it as the Central Government, State Governments, Municipality, Gram Panchayat etc. The Constitution lays down the powers of different levels of government.

• Division of Power among different Social Groups: Power can also be shared among different groups which differ socially like different religious and linguistic groups. ‘Community Government’ in Belgium is a good example of this type of power sharing. The system of reserved constituencies in India is another example. Such an arrangement is used to give minority communities space in the government and administration and a fair share in power, who otherwise would feel alienated from the government.

• Division of Power among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Movements: In contemporary democracies such a division takes the form of competition among different parties, which in turn ensure that power does not remain in one hand and is shared among different political parties representing different ideologies and social groups. Sometimes this kind of sharing is direct when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections.