Social Science 4 Marks Each

Elections are the foundation of the representative government. Unlike the ancient Greek city states, the people themselves cannot undertake the task of governance.
→Election is the device-mechanism whereby the people (voters) express their political preference.
→ People vote for the candidates of political parties as per their political convictions.
→ People elect their representatives who form the ruling party or the opposition party. In this sense elections provide an opportunity to the people to elect their government.
→The elections also provide an opportunity to the people to review the performance of their representatives and thereafter enable them to 'reward or punish' them.
→ Elections also enable the people to vote out an insensitive, or Irresponsible or corrupt government.
→ Elections are regarded as barometer of prevailing mood of the voters. They decide the fate of political parties.
→ Elections keep democracy alive. A dictatorial rule may emerge in the absence of free and fair elections.

In democracy the people are sovereign. They decide who shall govern the country.
→ A voter is a citizen of India who has completed eighteen years of age and is not otherwise disqualified.
→The Election Commission prepares and updates electoral roll from time to time, which is a list of the registered voters in the constituency.
→The political parties contest the election to secure/retain power.
→ The political party that secures majority of seats in the Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha forms the government. Its leader is appointed as the Prime/Chief Minister.
→Parliament/State Legislature consists of the representatives elected by the people. They exercise control on the government on behalf of the people.
→ The elected representatives ventilate the grievances of the people, draw attention to the problems faced by the people and seek the intervention of the government to solve these problems.
→The media, too, take up the problems of people. It exerts pressure on the government to frame or revise policy for the well-being of the people.
→The government is not only responsible but also responsive to the people. An unsympathetic or insensitive government loses the trust of the people. It is voted out of power by the people at the first available opportunity.
→The people are 'master' and the government is their 'servant'. The 'master' has power to hire and fire the 'servant'.

In order to ensure that the voters exercise their right to vote without fear or favour, the system of secret ballot is adopted in democratic countries.
→The identity of the voter and his/her voting preference is kept secret.
→Prior to introduction of the EVM, the Election Commission used to print the ballot papers with the names of the candidates and their election symbols. The voters used to express their voting preference by putting stamp on the election symbol.
→Before the counting, the votes from booths were mixed up and then sorted out.
→With the introduction of the Electronic Voting Machine, the process has become simpler as the voting preference is registered by pressing the button.
→ A new provision has been 'NOTA' - None of the above; whereby a voter can register negative voting.
→The counting of votes has also become faster with the use of the EVMs.

Elections in India are of two types. (1) direct and (2) indirect. The elections to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas are direct. wherein the people elect their representatives. The elections to the offices of the President and the Vice-President of India are indirect as they are elected by the representatives. Similarly, the elections to the Rajya Sabha and the Vidhan. Parishads are indirect.
→ In order to ensure free and fair elections, the Constitution of India had made provisions for an autonomous Election Commission.
→ The Election Commission is entrusted the responsibility of conducting, regulating and overseeing the entire election process.
→ It undertakes the task of preparation of electoral rolls and their updating from time to time.
→ Neither Parliament nor the Union Executive can interfere with the working of the Election Commission.
→ The Election Commission decides the entire election process, which consists of (1) Announce-ment of the election date (2) Last Date for receiving nominations (3) Last Date for the withdrawl of candidature (4) Date for scrutiny of the nominations and declaration of the list of valid candidates (5) Allocation of the symbols to candidates (6) Declaration of the date on which code of conduct comes into force (7) Vigilant observation of the code of conduct (8) Arrangement for voting (9) Scrutiny and counting of votes (10) Declaration of the result
→ The political parties select their candidates. issue Election Manifesto, carry out election campaign, issue election literature and other related matters.
→Any dispute regarding election of an elected representative are settled by the High Court within the state.

(A) Importance of public opinion: It is believed that in democracy the government respects public opinion and formulates its policies accordingly.
→ A political party secures power with the approval of public opinion.
→ It remains in power and retains power by respecting public opinion.
→ Popularity of the government is reflected in the media coverage.
→ A strong and well-organised public opinion serves as a restraint on the government and checks corruption, inefficiency and dictatorial tendency.
→ Any neglect of the public opinion infuriates people and persistent neglect of public opinion leads to the downfall of government. It is voted out of power by the people at the next election.
(B) Role of Media in the formulation of public opinion: Print media and electronic media play an important role in the formation of public opinion.
1. Print Media: The newspapers, weeklies. periodicals and journals create a well-informed and critical reader class. The news coverage, special articles and editorials in the print media make the readers aware of the issues before the country. The print media discusses, approves or criticises the government and its policies. These views mould public opinion either in favour of or against the government.
2. Electronic Media: Radio, television, cinema and in recent times computer-based internet have emerged as powerful agencies in moulding the public opinion. Their news, discussions and live telecast are viewed by millions of the people across the country. They create Media Hype' and force the government to formulate or change policies accordingly. The political parties make use of the social media to influence public opinion.