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In Class 9 Civics, under the chapter Electoral Politics, Why Do We Need Elections? explains why elections are essential in a democracy. Students learn how citizens choose representatives, hold governments accountable, replace leaders peacefully when needed, and give legitimacy to the government. The topic also highlights voting as a means for people to express their choices and expectations.
Practice questions
01 If a government repeatedly postpones elections, which right of people will be affected?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The right to choose the government
Explanation: Direct answer: A is correct. Elections give citizens a regular opportunity to choose representatives and decide whether the current government should continue. If elections are repeatedly postponed without a valid democratic basis, people lose the timely opportunity to participate, replace leaders and hold the government accountable. A is correct because it concerns the political right to choose the government through voting. B and C are unrelated personal or entertainment matters, not the democratic purpose at issue. D is wrong because citizens do not possess a general right to increase taxes; taxation is a government and legislative matter. Memory cue: regular elections renew people's power to choose and question rulers.
02 On what basis can voters give a government another chance in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. By being satisfied with its work and policies
Explanation: Correct answer: A — voters may give a government another chance when they are satisfied with its work and policies. Elections allow citizens to judge the performance of the government that has been in office. They can consider whether promises were addressed, public services improved, and policies served the public interest. If they approve of the record, they may vote for the same party or candidates again; if not, they can choose an alternative. Option A is correct because it describes a reasoned, performance-based choice. Option B is irrelevant because a government's colour has no democratic value. Option C is wrong because voting should be voluntary, not based on fear. Option D is wrong because removing the law is not the purpose of re-election. Memory cue: re-election means judging past work before choosing again.
03 Why is the presence of opposition parties necessary for voters in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They provide options and a chance for criticism
Explanation: Correct answer: A — opposition parties provide voters with alternatives and an opportunity to examine and criticise the government. Democracy is not meaningful if citizens can vote for only one unquestionable party. Opposition parties present different programmes, raise public concerns, point out weaknesses in government decisions, and offer themselves as an alternative in elections. This helps voters compare choices and hold the ruling party accountable. Option A is correct. B is wrong because opposition parties participate in and support electoral competition, not the stopping of voting. C is wrong because opposition does not make a government permanent; it can challenge and replace it. D is the opposite of the democratic role of opposition. Memory cue: the ruling party governs, while the opposition questions, criticises, and offers a choice.
04 How do elections give citizens indirect influence on policy making?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They choose representatives who make policies
Explanation: Correct answer: A — citizens indirectly influence policy by electing representatives who make decisions and policies on their behalf. In a large country, every citizen cannot meet daily to write every law or run the government directly. Elections provide a practical democratic link: people compare candidates and parties, vote for representatives, and later judge their work. Elected representatives then debate issues, form governments, and take policy decisions within constitutional limits. Option A is correct because it explains this representative or indirect form of participation. B is wrong because citizens do not directly write every law through elections. C is wrong because courts are not appointed by voters as an election choice. D is wrong because national elections choose domestic representatives, not a foreign government. Memory cue: citizens choose the decision-makers, then monitor and question them.
05 Why do people remember candidates' promises in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. So that they can compare work and promises in the next election
Explanation: Correct answer: A — people remember promises so that, at the next election, they can compare what was promised with what was actually done. This comparison helps voters judge the performance and credibility of candidates or parties. If promises were fulfilled or useful work was completed, voters may support them again; if promises were ignored without good reason, voters may choose another option. This is an important way in which elections create accountability. Option A is correct. B is wrong because remembering promises helps voters use their vote meaningfully, not destroy its value. C is wrong because the purpose is to assess candidates, not stop elections. D is unrelated because courts are separate institutions and are not closed for this reason. Memory cue: promise remembered, performance checked, representative judged.
06 Why is low public participation in elections a concern for democracy?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Because public will may be less clear and representation may weaken
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Democracy depends on citizens taking part in public decision-making, and voting is an important form of participation. When many eligible people do not vote, the result may reflect the preferences of only a smaller section of society. The public will therefore becomes less clear, and elected bodies may represent citizens less fully. A is correct because low turnout can weaken the representative character and legitimacy of an election, even though a result may still be legally valid. B is wrong because low participation does not automatically make a government more accountable; broad participation usually creates stronger public scrutiny. C is wrong because low participation means fewer people are active, not all citizens. D is wrong because fairness depends on equal rules and free choice, not merely on a low turnout. Memory cue: fewer voices heard means weaker representation.
07 Why does an elected government get legitimacy through elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Because it receives people's approval and votes
Explanation: The governing concept is electoral legitimacy, meaning that a government is accepted as having the right to exercise public authority because citizens have authorised it through a recognised election. Voters evaluate alternatives, cast ballots, and give a mandate to the candidate or party that wins according to established rules. This public approval does not make the government unlimited: it must still obey the constitution, laws, rights, and institutional checks, and it can be replaced in a later election. Option A is correct because it connects legitimacy with people’s votes and approval. Options B and C are false because elected governments remain subject to law and are answerable to voters; option D denies the very basis of democratic authority.
08 If voters have the right to replace a candidate in elections, what does it indicate?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. People’s control over representatives
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Elections are not only a method of choosing representatives; they also give citizens a way to judge their performance later. If voters can refuse to re-elect a poorly performing representative, representatives have an incentive to listen to public needs and fulfil promises. This is called electoral accountability or public control through elections. A is correct because the possibility of replacement gives people influence over who continues to represent them. B is wrong because the power to replace leaders limits their power rather than making it unlimited. C is wrong because foreign rule means outside control and has no connection with citizens choosing representatives. D is wrong because replacing a candidate is possible through voting, so it confirms the continuing importance of elections. The right to replace does not mean every decision will satisfy everyone; it means citizens have a peaceful constitutional method of correction. Memory cue: poor performance can lead to replacement.
09 Why are both freedom and fairness necessary in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. So that voters can express their choice without fear and under equal rules
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Freedom in an election means that voters can make a choice without intimidation, threats, bribery or improper pressure. Fairness means that candidates and parties compete under known and equally applied rules, and that votes are counted honestly. Both conditions are needed: freedom without fairness could allow unequal treatment or manipulation, while rules without freedom could force people to vote in a particular way. A is correct because it combines independent choice with equal electoral conditions. B is wrong because pressure destroys free choice. C is wrong because a result fixed in advance makes voting meaningless. D is wrong because a democratic election should provide genuine alternatives, not remove them. Freedom does not mean breaking election rules; fairness does not mean that every candidate receives the same votes. Memory cue: free choice plus fair rules produces a trustworthy election.
10 What is the relationship between elections and civic education?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They encourage citizens to think about issues, policies and responsibility
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Civic education helps people understand their rights, duties, public institutions and the effect of government decisions. Elections can support this learning because campaigns and public discussions bring issues such as education, health, employment, equality and local development into public attention. Citizens also learn to compare policies, question claims, discuss common problems and consider the responsibility of choosing representatives. A is correct because elections can encourage informed and responsible citizenship. B is wrong because elections connect citizens with public affairs rather than keeping them away from politics. C is wrong because democratic participation can remind citizens of their rights and responsibilities. D is wrong because elections do not stop education; they may create opportunities for public learning, although information must be checked carefully. Civic education does not mean supporting one party; it means understanding issues and evaluating choices. Memory cue: elections turn public issues into civic learning.
11 If candidates do not communicate with people during elections, what effect will this have on voters?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. It will be difficult for voters to make informed decisions
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Communication gives voters an opportunity to learn about a candidate’s priorities, policies, record, plans and understanding of public problems. Meetings, debates, manifestos and other lawful campaign activities can help citizens compare candidates and ask questions. If candidates do not communicate, voters may have less reliable information and may find it harder to judge which choice serves public interests. A is correct because informed voting requires some meaningful knowledge about the alternatives. B is wrong because voters cannot automatically know candidates’ positions without information. C is wrong because silence can reduce transparency rather than increase it. D is wrong because the vote still has legal and democratic value, even though choosing wisely becomes more difficult. Communication is not a guarantee that every claim is true, so voters should compare sources and examine promises critically. Memory cue: no information, no sound comparison.
12 Why can the party that wins a majority in elections form the government?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Because it receives sufficient support from voters
Explanation: Correct answer: A. In a representative parliamentary system, the party or coalition that commands a majority of elected members is generally invited to form the government. A majority indicates that the governing side has enough support in the elected legislature to pass measures and sustain the executive, subject to constitutional rules. This support is connected to the voters’ choice and is often described as a public mandate, although the government remains answerable to the legislature, opposition and citizens. A is correct because sufficient electoral support gives the party the authority to seek government formation. B is wrong because a majority government must still obey the Constitution and laws. C is wrong because opposition members do not lose their seats merely because their party is not in government. D is wrong because citizens retain their rights after elections and can question or replace representatives in later elections. Memory cue: majority gives a mandate, not unlimited power.
13 If people repeatedly do not elect a poorly performing representative, what function are elections performing?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Accountability and correction
Explanation: Correct answer: A. Elections provide a peaceful and regular way for citizens to evaluate representatives. If a representative performs poorly and voters choose someone else, the election communicates public dissatisfaction and corrects the earlier choice. The possibility of losing office encourages representatives to consider public needs and remain answerable. A is correct because repeated rejection is an example of electoral accountability and democratic correction. B is wrong because citizens are exercising their right to vote, not losing it. C is wrong because elections for representatives do not mean that citizens are running courts or replacing the judicial function. D is wrong because foreign policy is a government responsibility, not the direct function described in the question. Correction through elections does not guarantee perfect leaders or instant improvement, but it gives citizens a lawful alternative to indefinite continuation in office. Memory cue: voters can reward good work and reject poor work.
14 If people choose a new party in an election, what does it show?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. People are using change and choice
Explanation: The correct answer is A: people are using their power to choose an alternative and bring change. Elections allow citizens to replace an existing party or support a new one through a peaceful, lawful process. This shows that political power is not permanently owned by one party and that voters can evaluate the present government and select another option. Option A is correct because choice and possible change are central purposes of democratic elections. Option B is wrong because voting gives citizens an important form of political power. Option C is wrong because the ability to choose a new party demonstrates that elections have real meaning. Option D is wrong because elections can lead to a change of government when voters prefer another party or coalition. A useful memory cue is “vote gives voice and choice”: the voter may continue the government or select an alternative.
15 The need for elections is not only about choosing a government but also about what?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Accountability, participation and public opinion
Explanation: The correct answer is A: elections also create accountability, public participation and an opportunity for public opinion to influence government. Choosing representatives is only the first step. Citizens also communicate their approval or dissatisfaction through their votes, judge the work of leaders and help decide which issues receive political attention. Option A is correct because democratic elections connect government with the people and make leaders answerable to citizens. Option B is wrong because weather, sports and trade are not the main democratic purposes of elections. Option C is wrong because elections are intended to replace arbitrary or monarchical rule with popular control, not to create fear. Option D is wrong because democratic elections express citizens’ authority rather than foreign rule. Memory cue: elections have three linked roles—choose, participate and hold accountable.
16 If citizens’ choice is not correctly reflected in election results, what problem will occur?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The legitimacy of government and public trust will weaken
Explanation: The correct answer is A: the government’s legitimacy and people’s trust will weaken. An election gives authority to representatives because citizens believe that the result records their genuine choices under accepted rules. If votes are manipulated, wrongly counted or otherwise prevented from being reflected, people may doubt whether the government truly represents them. Option A is correct because democratic authority depends not only on holding an election but also on accurately and fairly reflecting voters’ decisions. Option B is wrong because hiding or distorting people’s choices damages democracy. Option C is wrong because voters are unlikely to feel satisfied when their choices are ignored. Option D is wrong because unfair results reduce, rather than increase, fairness. Memory cue: “real choice, real trust”; without a credible result, the government’s public acceptance becomes weak.
17 How do people reward and punish leaders in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. By voting for good work and not voting for poor work
Explanation: The correct answer is A: citizens can vote for leaders whose work they approve of and vote against leaders whose performance they reject. This is an electoral form of accountability. During the next election, people can consider public services, policies, promises and the conduct of representatives, although their decision may also depend on many other issues. Option A is correct because voting can retain a performing representative or replace one who has not met public expectations. Option B is wrong because courts are institutions of justice and are not removed by voters as an electoral reward or punishment. Option C is wrong because citizens do not need to change the Constitution every time they evaluate a leader. Option D is wrong because secret voting protects free choice and should not be abandoned. Memory cue: “good performance earns support; poor performance risks replacement.”
18 Why do elected representatives maintain contact with people because of elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Because they need people’s support again
Explanation: The correct answer is A: representatives may need people’s support again in a future election. The possibility of re-election gives representatives an incentive to remain connected with citizens, listen to their concerns and explain their work. This does not guarantee that every representative will always perform well, and public contact can have many causes, but elections create an important accountability link between voters and office-holders. Option A is correct because future electoral support depends partly on how citizens judge a representative’s work. Option B is wrong because votes are the basis of electoral authority. Option C is wrong because elections are not always cancelled. Option D is wrong because representatives remain subject to law. Memory cue: “future vote encourages present accountability.”
19 How do people’s choice and the constitutional system work together in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. People vote and the Constitution sets election rules
Explanation: The correct answer is A: people express their choice through voting, while constitutional and legal rules organise and protect the election process. Democracy requires both elements. Popular participation gives the government its representative basis, and rules help determine who can vote, how elections are conducted, how competition is regulated and how results are accepted. Option A is correct because public choice must operate through an orderly rule-based system rather than through force or personal command. Option B is wrong because it removes both voting and rules. Option C is wrong because elections are based on citizens’ participation, not officials voting in their place. Option D is wrong because elections must function within the constitutional framework. Memory cue: “people provide the choice; rules protect the choice.”
20 Which is the most balanced reason for the need for elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They provide representation, accountability, choice and peaceful transfer of power
Explanation: The correct answer is A: elections provide representation, accountability, choice and a peaceful way to transfer political power. Representation means citizens select people to speak and act for them. Accountability means representatives can be judged and replaced. Choice means voters can compare alternatives rather than accept one compulsory ruler. Peaceful transfer of power means a change can occur through an accepted procedure instead of violence or force. Option A is correct because it combines several connected democratic functions. Option B is wrong because elections are intended to limit and scrutinise power, not make it unlimited. Option C is wrong because elections bring citizens into governance through participation. Option D is wrong because voting is a way for public opinion to be expressed, not hidden. Memory cue: “elections represent, answer, offer choice and change power peacefully.”
21 If people get both real choice and a fair process in elections, what effect will it have on democracy?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Democracy will become more representative and trustworthy
Explanation: Answer: A, democracy will become more representative and trustworthy. A real choice means that voters can select among different candidates or policies rather than being forced to accept one option. A fair process means that people can vote freely, candidates can compete under proper rules, and votes are counted honestly. When these conditions exist, elected representatives are more likely to reflect the people’s preferences. Citizens also trust the result because their choice has been respected. Option A is correct because it combines representation with public confidence. B is wrong because fair elections connect government with citizens instead of separating them. C is wrong because voters become more important, not less important. D is wrong because elections remain necessary for choosing and checking representatives. Memory cue: real choice plus fair rules makes democracy meaningful.
22 How do elections change the relation between people and government in a democracy?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They connect government with people’s choice and decision
Explanation: Answer: A, elections connect government with people’s choice and decision. In a democracy, citizens cannot personally manage every government department or decide every policy every day. They therefore choose representatives through elections. The winning candidates receive authority to form or support a government, but that authority comes from the voters. At the next election, citizens can support the same leaders, choose another group, or reject the government. A is correct because elections create a link between public preferences and political power. B is wrong because elections bring rulers closer to public approval. C is wrong because citizens participate by voting and judging performance. D is wrong because democratic office is not inherited by birth. Memory cue: elections act as a bridge between people’s consent and government power.
23 If citizens cannot directly decide every policy, what problem do elections solve?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. They allow people to choose representatives to decide on their behalf
Explanation: Answer: B, elections allow people to choose representatives who decide on their behalf. A large country has many citizens, numerous issues, and complicated government work. It is not practical for every citizen to meet and take every decision directly. Elections provide a workable system of representation: people select leaders, and those leaders discuss policies and make decisions in public institutions. The representatives are expected to act in the public interest and can be questioned or replaced in later elections. A is wrong because elections give citizens a method of exercising political power. C is wrong because elections are the method being used, not something being stopped. D is wrong because secrecy protects the voter’s choice but does not solve the main problem of representation. Memory cue: large democracy needs elected representatives.
24 How do people respond to the government’s work in elections?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. By voting in support or opposition
Explanation: Answer: C, people respond by voting in support of or against the government. Elections give citizens a peaceful and lawful way to evaluate the work of those in power. If voters are satisfied with policies and performance, they may vote for the ruling party or its candidates. If they are dissatisfied, they may vote for an opposition party or another candidate. The result reflects the combined choices of eligible voters, although one election cannot measure every opinion perfectly. A is wrong because silence does not communicate a clear electoral preference. B is wrong because breaking laws is not a democratic method of judging government. D is wrong because voter lists help eligible citizens participate; removing them would weaken participation. Memory cue: elections turn public approval or criticism into votes.
25 What democratic control does the regularity of elections place on power?
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Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. It keeps power dependent on people’s approval from time to time
Explanation: Answer: D, regular elections keep political power dependent on people’s approval from time to time. A government does not receive unlimited authority forever merely because it won one election. After a fixed period, voters get another opportunity to examine its policies, promises, and performance. They can renew its mandate or choose another party and representatives. This possibility encourages rulers to remain answerable to citizens and discourages permanent, unchecked power. A is wrong because regular elections prevent power from being permanently fixed in one person. B is the opposite of the purpose of elections. C is wrong because democratic elections require the opportunity for opposition and competition. D is correct because periodic public approval is a central form of electoral accountability. Memory cue: regular elections mean rulers must return to the people.
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