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The NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 3: Election and Representation from the textbook Indian Constitution at Work explores the role of elections in a democracy. It discusses the necessity of elections for representation, the distinction between direct and indirect democracy, and the methods of conducting elections in India. The chapter examines the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, compares it with Proportional Representation (PR), and highlights constitutional provisions like reserved constituencies and the independent Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. It also addresses electoral reforms to strengthen the democratic process. These notes provide a clear and concise summary for revision and exam preparation.
Table of Contents
- 1 Elections and Democracy
- 2 Election System in India: First Past the Post (FPTP)
- 3 Proportional Representation (PR)
- 4 Why India Adopted FPTP?
- 5 Reservation of Constituencies
- 6 Free and Fair Elections
- 7 Independent Election Commission
- 8 Electoral Reforms
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Important Definitions in NCERT Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 3: Election and Representation
- 11 FAQs
Explore Notes of Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory
Elections and Democracy
This section highlights the relationship between elections and democracy, emphasising the necessity of representation and the distinction between democratic and non-democratic elections.
Key Points:
- Democracy requires representation, as all citizens cannot directly participate in decision-making in large populations.
- Elections are the most visible symbol of the democratic process, enabling citizens to choose representatives.
- Direct Democracy: Citizens directly participate in decision-making (e.g., ancient Greek city-states, gram sabhas). Suitable for small groups, not large populations.
- Indirect Democracy: Citizens elect representatives who make decisions, as practised in India.
- Not all elections are democratic; non-democratic regimes hold elections to appear democratic without threatening their rule.
- The Constitution lays down basic rules for democratic elections, including voter eligibility, candidate eligibility, election supervision, voting methods, and vote counting.
Significance: Elections ensure representation in a democracy, but constitutional rules are essential to make them free, fair, and democratic.
Example: Non-democratic elections may manipulate results to favour ruling parties, unlike democratic elections, where voter choice determines outcomes.
Election System in India: First Past the Post (FPTP)
This section explains the FPTP system used in India and its implications for representation.
Key Points:
- India uses the FPTP system, where:
- The country is divided into 543 constituencies for the Lok Sabha elections.
- Each constituency elects one representative.
- The candidate with the highest votes in a constituency wins, regardless of securing a majority (Plurality System).
- FPTP can lead to disproportionate representation. For example, in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won 48% of votes but secured 415 of 543 seats (over 80%).
- The system favours larger parties, as smaller parties, like the BJP (7.4% votes, <1% seats in 1984), may win fewer seats despite significant vote shares.
- Votes for losing candidates are “wasted,” as they do not contribute to seat allocation.
Significance: FPTP is simple but may not reflect proportional voter preferences, impacting smaller parties and minority representation.
Example: A party with 25% votes in every constituency could win all seats if others get fewer votes, highlighting FPTP’s winner-takes-all nature.
Proportional Representation (PR)
This section compares FPTP with the PR system used in countries like Israel.
Key Points:
- In PR, parties receive seats in proportion to their vote share.
- Types of PR:
- Entire country as one constituency (e.g., Israel, Netherlands), with seats allocated based on national vote share.
- Multi-member constituencies (e.g., Argentina, Portugal), where voters choose parties, and seats are distributed by party vote share.
- Voters choose parties, not candidates, and parties select representatives from pre-declared lists.
- India uses PR for indirect elections (e.g., President, Vice President, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Parishads) but not for Lok Sabha or State Assemblies.
Significance: PR ensures proportional representation but is complex and less suited for India’s large and diverse population.
Example: In Israel, a party with 20% votes gets approximately 20% of the parliamentary seats, unlike FPTP’s disproportionate outcomes.
Why India Adopted FPTP?
This section discusses the reasons for choosing FPTP over PR in India.
Key Points:
- Simplicity: FPTP is easy for voters to understand, requiring only a choice of candidate or party.
- Clear Choice: Voters select specific candidates, ensuring local accountability, unlike PR’s party-list focus.
- Stable Government: FPTP often gives the largest party/coalition bonus seats, ensuring a majority in parliamentary systems, unlike PR’s fragmented outcomes.
- Social Integration: FPTP encourages diverse social groups to align for electoral success, preventing community-specific parties that PR might foster.
- India’s experience shows FPTP supports larger parties and coalitions, though smaller parties can still participate via coalitions.
Significance: FPTP suits India’s diversity and parliamentary system, promoting stability and voter familiarity.
Example: Post-1989, India’s multi-party coalitions demonstrate FPTP’s flexibility, allowing smaller parties to gain influence.
Also Read:
- NCERT Solutions Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory Chapter 7 Nationalism (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6 Political Theory: Citizenship Solutions (Free PDF)
Reservation of Constituencies
This section explains the system of reserved constituencies to ensure the representation of marginalised groups.
Key Points:
- FPTP can disadvantage smaller social groups, especially in India’s history of caste-based discrimination.
- The Constitution reserves seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Lok Sabha (84 for SC, 47 for ST as of 2019) and State Assemblies, proportional to their population.
- In reserved constituencies, all voters can vote, but candidates must belong to the reserved community (unlike separate electorates).
- The Delimitation Commission, appointed by the President, decides reserved constituencies based on:
- High ST population for ST seats.
- High SC population, spread across regions for SC seats.
- The reservation was initially for 10 years, extended to 2030, with possible further extensions.
- The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Significance: Reservations ensure fair representation for marginalised groups, addressing historical inequalities.
Example: A constituency with a high ST population is reserved for ST candidates, ensuring their representation.
Free and Fair Elections
This section discusses mechanisms to ensure impartial and transparent elections.
Key Points:
- Free and fair elections allow voters’ aspirations to be legitimately expressed through results.
- Universal Adult Franchise: All citizens above 18 (reduced from 21 in 1989) can vote, ensuring equality and non-discrimination.
- Right to Contest: All citizens can contest elections, with a minimum age of 25 for Lok Sabha/Assembly elections. Restrictions include imprisonment for two or more years.
- The Election Commission of India (EC), under Article 324, supervises elections independently, ensuring fairness.
Significance: Universal franchise and open candidacy make elections inclusive, while the EC ensures transparency.
Example: Lowering the voting age to 18 in 1989 expanded democratic participation.
Independent Election Commission
This section details the role and powers of the Election Commission in conducting elections.
Key Points:
- The EC, established under Article 324, has authority over voter lists, election schedules, and the conduct of elections.
- It is a multi-member body (since 1993) with a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners, appointed by the President.
- The CEC and Commissioners have equal powers, with secure tenure (6 years or age 65). CEC removal requires a special parliamentary majority.
- Functions:
- Prepares accurate voter lists.
- Sets election schedules and enforces a model code of conduct.
- Can postpone/cancel elections, order re-polls, or recounts for fairness.
- Recognises parties and allots symbols.
- The EC controls administrative machinery during elections, ensuring non-partisan conduct.
- The EC has become more assertive, using existing powers effectively without needing constitutional changes.
Significance: The EC’s independence ensures free and fair elections, upholding democratic integrity.
Example: In 2002, the EC postponed Gujarat Assembly elections due to violence, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
Electoral Reforms
This section outlines proposed reforms to improve India’s election system.
Key Points:
- Despite strengths, the election system has flaws, prompting reform suggestions:
- Shift from FPTP to PR for proportional seat allocation.
- Reserve one-third seats for women (already implemented via Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam).
- Public funding of election expenses to reduce the role.
- Bar candidates with criminal cases, even if appeals are pending.
- Ban caste/religious appeals in campaigns.
- Regulate political parties for transparency and democratic functioning.
- Reforms require consensus and adherence to democratic principles.
- Beyond laws, vigilant citizens and active political institutions are crucial for fair elections.
Significance: Reforms aim to enhance fairness and representation, but their success depends on democratic commitment.
Example: Public funding could reduce financial barriers, making elections more equitable.
Conclusion
This section summarises the role of elections in Indian democracy.
Key Points:
- Elections are central to democracy, enabling representation through the FPTP system, which is simple and stable but may not be fully proportional.
- Reserved constituencies ensure representation for SCs, STs, and (via recent laws) women.
- The Election Commission’s independence guarantees free and fair elections.
- Proposed reforms aim to address flaws like money power and lack of proportionality.
- India’s election system balances simplicity, stability, and inclusivity, making it a model for diverse democracies.
Important Definitions in NCERT Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 3: Election and Representation
This section will help you to understand the key concept and list key terms for clarity and revision.
- Direct Democracy: Citizens directly participate in decision-making, suitable for small groups (e.g., gram sabhas).
- Indirect Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions, as in India.
- First Past the Post (FPTP): An Election system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, regardless of majority.
- Proportional Representation (PR): System where seats are allocated based on a party’s vote share.
- Universal Adult Franchise: All citizens above 18 can vote, ensuring equal participation.
- Reserved Constituencies: Seats reserved for SCs, STs, or women, where only candidates from these groups can contest.
- Delimitation Commission: An Independent body that draws constituency boundaries and decides reservations.
- Election Commission: An Independent body under Article 324, responsible for conducting free and fair elections.
- Model Code of Conduct: EC guidelines to ensure fair election practices by parties and candidates.
Explore Notes of Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory
Download the Solutions of Other Chapters of Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory
Also Read:
- NCERT Class 11 Political Science Political Theory: Chapter 2 Freedom Solutions (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 2: Freedom Notes (Free PDF)
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FAQs
Elections enable citizens to choose representatives, ensuring governance reflects voter preferences.
FPTP elects the candidate with the most votes per constituency, while PR allocates seats based on vote share.
It supervises voter lists, schedules, enforces a code of conduct, and can postpone or re-poll to ensure fairness.
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