Class 10 Social Science - PUNJAB
Political Science: Power-sharing
The chapter 'Power-sharing' in Class 10 Political Science (PSEB) explores how democratic nations manage diversity and resolve conflicts through the distribution of political power. It uses two classic case studies—Belgium and Sri Lanka—to illustrate the consequences of sharing power versus majoritarianism. Students learn about the various forms of power-sharing among organs of government, levels of government, social groups, and political parties. This chapter is vital for board exams as it builds the foundational understanding of democratic design, federalism, and the accommodation of social differences, frequently appearing in both objective and long-answer exam formats.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Power-sharing
The distribution of power among different organs, levels, and social groups of a government to ensure all sections have a voice in decision-making.
Majoritarianism
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
Prudential Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of violent conflict and instability between social groups.
Moral Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, giving citizens a stake in governance where they are entitled to be consulted.
Horizontal Distribution of Power
Power is shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, practicing a system of checks and balances.
Vertical Distribution of Power
Power is shared among governments at different levels, such as a general central government and regional or state governments.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 10 Social Science examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include 1-mark objective questions (multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blanks), 2-mark short-answer questions, and occasionally a 4-mark long-answer question based on the forms of power-sharing or lessons from Belgium and Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
Power-sharing is desirable because it reduces the chances of conflict between social groups (prudential reason) and upholds the democratic principle that citizens have a right to be consulted in governance (moral reason).
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power-sharing?
Horizontal power-sharing is among different organs of government at the same level (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary) with checks and balances. Vertical power-sharing is among different levels of government (Central, State, Local).
What led to ethnic tension in Sri Lanka?
The Sri Lankan government adopted majoritarian measures after independence in 1948, establishing Sinhala supremacy, declaring Sinhala as the only official language, and favoring the Sinhala community in jobs and universities, which alienated the Tamil minority.
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