One-Word Answer Type Questions on Power-Sharing
1. What type of power-sharing exists among different levels of government?
Answer: Federal
Explanation: In federalism, power is divided between a central government and state or regional governments. This prevents the concentration of power at one level and ensures autonomy for local governments .
2. What type of power-sharing exists among different organs of government?
Answer: Horizontal
Explanation: In a democracy, power is shared among the legislature, executive, and judiciary to prevent one branch from dominating. This is known as the system of checks and balances .
3. What system of government divides power between the central and state governments?
Answer: Federalism
Explanation: A federal government ensures that governance is shared between a central authority and state governments, allowing local administration while maintaining national unity .
4. What is the primary benefit of power-sharing?
Answer: Stability
Explanation: Power-sharing helps reduce conflicts among different social groups, ensuring political stability and preventing the tyranny of the majority .
5. What is the power-sharing arrangement in Belgium that protects linguistic groups?
Answer: Community
Explanation: Belgium follows a system of “community government” where different linguistic groups have the autonomy to make decisions regarding cultural, educational, and language-related matters .
6. What type of government exists when multiple parties share power?
Answer: Coalition
Explanation: In a coalition government, multiple political parties come together to form a government, preventing the dominance of a single party and ensuring broader representation .
7. What is the fundamental principle of democracy related to power-sharing?
Answer: Participation
Explanation: A democracy is based on the principle of power-sharing, where citizens actively participate in governance through elections and decision-making processes .
8. What was the majoritarian policy in Sri Lanka that led to conflict?
Answer: Sinhala
Explanation: The Sri Lankan government promoted Sinhala supremacy by making Sinhala the only official language and giving preference to Sinhala-speaking people in government jobs, leading to ethnic tensions .
9. What is the term for a government where different social groups have representation?
Answer: Consociational
Explanation: Consociational democracy is a form of power-sharing where diverse social groups, such as linguistic or religious minorities, are represented in governance, as seen in Lebanon and Belgium .
10. What system prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Answer: Checks
Explanation: The system of checks and balances ensures that no single branch of government, such as the executive, becomes too powerful, maintaining democratic governance .