Civics Polity

Political Systems and Governance

1,767 Questions

This section provides practice questions on various political systems including democracies, authoritarian regimes, and oligarchies. Understanding political governance and theories is crucial for cracking civil services and state PSC examinations. Regular practice ensures a solid grasp of political concepts and frameworks.

Authoritarian regimesLiberal democracyPolitical legitimacyOligarchy and plutocracyTransitional democracies

Political Systems and Governance Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: A brief passage or a statement is given and a question is asked, based on the information provided in the passage/statement. Critically examine the five alternative answer options marked (1) to (5) and choose the best answer. �Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely� You are most likely to refute your opponent's argument using the above line, if he says that

  1. Power flows from the barrel of the gun

  2. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown

  3. The opposition parties are redundant in a democracy and are valuable only for their decibel- power.

  4. Power and responsibility must go hand in hand.

  5. Political power is a function of one's professed honesty in public
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1), a quote by Mao Tse Tung, conveys the idea of political power emanating from the use of force to which the key line cannot be a suitable refutation. The responsibilities and duties that go with a high profile job are being highlighted in option (2), to which again the key sentence cannot be an appropriate reply. Option (4) stresses the fact power and responsibility being handmaids while option (5) is entirely irrelevant, because one's professed honesty is certainly not the focus of attention here. The key sentence, a famous quote, attributed to Lord Acton, the famous British politician, encapsulates the very importance of having an effective opposition in a democracy of any kind. To this idea, one can give an effective counter-reply in the form of option (3), which alleges that the opposition parties are totally useless in a democratic setup.

Multiple choice

If the society is organised as a political entity, elections and other political processes will tend to exacerbate conflict;...............

  1. but this will happen only when we indulge in politics of division

  2. social and cultural divisions get sharpened under tutelage of the political masters

  3. that is perhaps an inadvertent price we have to pay for democracy

  4. properly directed they could be used to reduce it

  5. that is perhaps why autocracies have better conflict management
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Options (2), (3) and (5) can be easily rejected. (4) is a better fit than (1).

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is correct? Extension of the suffrage indicates

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Perhaps the best political epigram of recent years is the saying that 'this is the century of the common man'. The coming of this century can be seen far back in the extension of the suffrage and later in the development of social legislation. For many years all men have been equal before the law, every adult man and woman has the vote. We are slowly creating economic democracy, that is, such a measure of economic freedom that poverty prevents no one from taking his part in public affairs or enjoying the facilities, educational and other which the state provides for all. It might seem that when this is achieved our work is done. In fact, it is only the beginning.

  1. spread of suffering

  2. suffering of the common man

  3. right of vote for more and more people

  4. spread of crime in politics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Suffrage is related to voting rights.

Multiple choice

What does the term ‘epigram’ mean?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Perhaps the best political epigram of recent years is the saying that 'this is the century of the common man'. The coming of this century can be seen far back in the extension of the suffrage and later in the development of social legislation. For many years all men have been equal before the law, every adult man and woman has the vote. We are slowly creating economic democracy, that is, such a measure of economic freedom that poverty prevents no one from taking his part in public affairs or enjoying the facilities, educational and other which the state provides for all. It might seem that when this is achieved our work is done. In fact, it is only the beginning.

  1. A flattering remark

  2. An unsuitable remark

  3. A caustic remark

  4. A short and precise remark
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A suitable or precise remark.

Multiple choice

What does ‘economic democracy’ stand for?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Perhaps the best political epigram of recent years is the saying that 'this is the century of the common man'. The coming of this century can be seen far back in the extension of the suffrage and later in the development of social legislation. For many years all men have been equal before the law, every adult man and woman has the vote. We are slowly creating economic democracy, that is, such a measure of economic freedom that poverty prevents no one from taking his part in public affairs or enjoying the facilities, educational and other which the state provides for all. It might seem that when this is achieved our work is done. In fact, it is only the beginning.

  1. Equal distribution of wealth

  2. Equal economic opportunity for all

  3. Application of democratic process in economic institutions

  4. Importance of money in political activities
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Equal economic opportunity for all.

Multiple choice

The ‘obsolete system of government’ refers to

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

During the nineteenth century, liberals everywhere shared the conviction that power politics and war were residues of on obsolete system of government and that with the victory of democracy and constitutional government over absolutism and autocracy, international harmony and permanent peace would win out over power politics and war. The struggle for power on the international scene was seen as a temporary phenomenon, a historical accident that was bound to disappear once the peculiar conditions that had given rise to it were eliminated. Jeremy Bentham believed that the competition for colonies was at the root of all international conflicts. "Emancipate your colonies" was his advice to the governments and international conflict and war would surely disappear. Adherents of free trade were convinced that the removal of trade barriers was the only condition for the establishments of permanent harmony among nations, and might even lead to the disappearance of international politics altogether. For Marx and his followers, capitalism was at the root of international discord and war. They maintained that international socialism would do away with the struggle for power on the international scene and would bring about permanent peace.

In recent times, the conviction that the struggle for power can be eliminated from the international scene has been connected with the great attempts at organising the world such as the League of Nations and the United Nations. The United Nations was thought to usher in a new era of international collaboration to kill power politics, in order that, by the methods of democracy, “the will of the people shall prevail." The reality has, however, been far from encouraging.

  1. a system out of sync with modernity

  2. a system based on exploitation

  3. an autocratic and feudal system

  4. a system based on conflict
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The ‘obsolete system of government’ refers to a system out of sync with modernity. 

Multiple choice

The author’s idea can be concluded best by which of the following options?

Passage 5
Why have public expenditures in India failed to deliver basic services to the majority of poor citizens, when political representatives taking decisions over public resource allocation depend upon the support of the poor to win office? India is unique in the developing world not only in sustaining democratic elections to multiple tiers of government over an extended period of time, but also in extensive participation in the political process by its poor and disadvantaged citizens, which by several accounts have been increasing over time.

  1. Political incumbents and contenders therefore have to choose policies to woo the large majority of low income voters in order to win elections.

  2. Thus the politicians of all hues have to address these pressing needs of the Indian democracy.

  3. Thus the political contenders and incumbents ensure the support of poor people by any means, even if they are illegal.

  4. Inspite of this, the benefits of public expenditure in India continues to elude the low income voters.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Clearly Option 4 continues and concludes the idea in the best possible way. Although Options ‘1’ to ‘3’ do continue the argument they do not conclude it in any definite way.

Multiple choice

The case for local self-government rests on the premise that

  1. it makes for better administration

  2. it facilitates a non-partisan approach

  3. it is a training ground for democracy

  4. it reduces corruption
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The case for local self-government rests on the premise that it is a training ground for democracy.

Multiple choice

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”

Which of the following statements counters the spirit of the above saying?

  1. Power flows from the barrel of the gun

  2. The opposition parties don't have much role to play in a democracy.

  3. Power and responsibility must go hand in hand.

  4. Political power is a function of honesty in public.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The function of opposition in a democracy is to keep a check on the use of absolute power by the government, particularly when it goes against public good.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a way to maintain peace in a country with multiple ethnic communities?

  1. People have a sense of belongingness to the country as well as their community.

  2. Political leaders accommodate the demands of one community at the cost of another.

  3. Political leaders are willing to share power and do not try to suppress minorities.

  4. Leaders of different communities make demands which can be accommodated within the constitutional framework of the country.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option 2 is not a way to maintain peace in a country as it will threaten and agitate the neglected community.

Multiple choice

Directions: Given below are two statements.

Assertion (A): Many East European countries became democracies after 1980. Reason (R): Poland changed from communist country to a democratic one.

Choose the correct option.

  1. A is true, R is false.

  2. A is false, R is true.

  3. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

  4. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Break up of Soviet Union inspired East European countries to become democracies.Hence (A) is true but (R) is not the explanation to (A). 

Multiple choice civics media and democracy role and importance of media understanding media role of media in democracy administrative reforms

An independent media is not so important in a democracy.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Media plays an important role in democracy. It is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy. It provides news and discusses events taking place in the country. It makes people aware of how the government works, what are the policies being implemented by the government so that people can take action accordingly. 

It plays important role in promoting transparency in the system. Writing a balanced report depends on the media being independent. It means media is not influenced or controlled by anyone not even government. It writes news unbiasedly and upholds the trusts of people in the media.
Independent media forms the backbone of awareness in the country. Biased media can manipulate the facts and figure and falsification will ultimately lead to deterioration of democracy.