Election and Representation Class 11 Polity Notes

Election and Representation Class 11 Notes: CBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes are essential for students studying Social Science, as Political Science is a crucial sub-subject that requires properly written answers. Scoring well in Political Science is just as important as other subjects.

These notes talk about different kinds of elections and how they happen in our country. They also tell us about two important ways elections are done: First Past the Post and proportional representation. We also learn about important groups like the Election Commission and the Delimitation Commission, which make sure elections are fair. By reading these notes, students can improve their chances of getting higher marks in their Political Science Exam.

Election and Representation Class 11 Polity Notes

Introduction

India is a country where people have a say in how the government works. We have a system called constitutional democracy with a parliamentary style of government. This means that we have rules set by our Constitution, and people vote to choose their leaders. These leaders make decisions for the country. The most important part of this system is the regular, free, and fair elections we have.

During these elections, people vote to decide who will be in the government, who will be in Parliament, and who will be in the state assemblies. Even the President and Vice-President are chosen through these elections.

Elections in India are events involving a lot of planning, organizing, and campaigning by political parties. It’s like a big event where everyone gets involved to make sure things go smoothly.

What is “First Past the Post”?

The ‘First-Past-The-Post’ (FPTP) electoral system, also known as the simple majority system, is employed in India for direct elections to the ‘Lok Sabha’ and ‘State Legislative Assemblies.’

In the FPTP system:

• The country is divided into 543 constituencies.
• Each constituency elects one representative.
• The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a constituency is declared the winner.
• It’s noteworthy that the winning candidate only needs more votes than any other candidate, not necessarily a majority of votes.
• Hence, this method is termed the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, alternatively known as the Plurality System.

What is Proportional Representation?

In the system described, each party selects a portion of its nominees from a predetermined preference list prior to the elections.

Under this system:

• Parties are allocated seats in proportion to their share of votes.
• This means that if a party receives 40% of the votes, it should ideally secure 40% of the seats.

What type of election system is followed in India?

In India, we use a proportional representation (PR) system for some indirect elections. The Constitution describes a third and complex version of the PR system for choosing the President, Vice President, and for elections to the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishads.

Comparison of FPTP and PR System of Election

FPTP – First Past The Post:

• The country is divided into small areas called constituencies or districts, each electing one representative.
• Voters choose a candidate.
• A party may win more seats in the legislature than the number of votes it received.
• The winning candidate may not necessarily get the majority of votes. Examples include the UK and India.

Proportional Representation (PR):

• Larger areas are designated as constituencies, and more than one representative may be elected from each.
• In this system, voters vote for a party, and each party gets seats in the legislature proportionate to the percentage of votes it received.
• The winning candidates typically receive the majority of votes. Examples include Israel and the Netherlands.

What are the advantages of the FPTP system?

The First Past the Post (FPTP) system is popular because it’s easy to understand. In this system, each area, called a constituency, elects one representative.

1. Voters just need to choose one candidate or party during elections.
2. Sometimes voters focus more on the party, sometimes on the candidate, or they balance both.
3. FPTP gives voters a choice between parties and individual candidates.
4. In this system, voters know who their local representative is and can hold them responsible for their actions.

Why is it believed that ‘FPTP’ would be a good choice instead of ‘PR system’ for a stable government?

PR-based elections may not be suitable for ensuring a stable government in a parliamentary system.

For this system to work, the executive needs to have a majority in the legislature. However, since seats are distributed based on vote share, it’s unlikely for one party or coalition to have a clear majority.

In a diverse country like India, a PR system might encourage each community to form its own national party.

On the other hand, the FPTP system allocates more bonus seats to the largest party or coalition than their vote share would allow. This encourages the formation of a stable government in a parliamentary system.

The FPTP system is simple and familiar to ordinary voters. Candidates must belong to the community or social group for which the seat is reserved, but all voters in a constituency can vote.

According to the Constitution, seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Originally set for 10 years, this reservation has been extended until 2020 through subsequent constitutional amendments. Parliament can decide to extend the reservation period after it expires.

Delimitation Commission

Who decides which constituency is to be reserved? On what basis is this decision taken?

The Delimitation Commission, an independent body, decides on the reservation of constituencies. It is appointed by the President of India and works closely with the Election Commission of India.

The number of reserved seats in each state depends on the proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) residents in that state. After drawing the boundaries, the Delimitation Commission analyzes the population composition of each constituency.

Seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes are allocated to constituencies with the highest proportion of ST residents.

When it comes to Scheduled Castes, the Delimitation Commission considers two factors. Firstly, it selects constituencies with a higher proportion of SC residents. Secondly, it distributes these constituencies throughout the state.

This is because the Scheduled Caste population is relatively evenly distributed across the country.

How many times has the ‘Delimitation Commission’ changed the boundaries of the nation-state?

The Delimitation Commission has been established four times: in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002, under the Acts of 1950, 1962, 1972, and 2002 respectively.

1. Under the 42nd Amendment of 1976, seats were to remain unchanged until the year 2000.
2. However, the 84th Amendment of 2001 froze the seats until 2026.

Universal Franchise & Right to Contest

Who can vote & who has the right to contest elections?

Universal Adult Franchise grants the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of their wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or any other restriction, with only a few exceptions.

Initially, the voting age was set at 21 years for being considered an adult. However, in 1989, the Constitution was amended through the 61st Amendment, reducing the voting age to 18 years.

This principle, known as ‘Universal Adult Franchise,’ ensures that all citizens have the opportunity to participate in the process of selecting their representatives, aligning with the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Right to Contest Election

All citizens possess the right to stand for election and potentially become representatives of the people.

Different minimum age criteria exist for contesting elections. For instance, to run for a Lok Sabha or Assembly election, a candidate must be at least 25 years old.

A legal provision disqualifies individuals who have served a prison sentence of two or more years for certain offenses from contesting elections.

There are no restrictions based on income, education, class, or gender on the right to contest elections.

Election Commission Of India

What is the Election Commission of India?

The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional authority tasked with overseeing the electoral processes at both the Union and State levels in India.

This body is responsible for conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, as well as for the positions of President and Vice President.

Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution outline the powers, functions, tenure, and eligibility criteria of the Election Commission and its members.

In each state, a Chief Electoral Officer is appointed to assist the Election Commission in its duties. However, it’s worth noting that the commission is not involved in the conduct of local body elections.

Initially, the Election Commission of India comprised a single member until 1989, when two election commissioners were appointed just before the elections of that year. Subsequently, in 1993, two election commissioners became a permanent feature, turning the commission into a multi-member body.

Multi-Member Commission

A multi-member Election Commission is deemed more suitable as it promotes power-sharing and enhances accountability.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) leads the Election Commission but does not wield greater authority than the other Election Commissioners. Together, they hold equal decision-making powers regarding electoral matters.

Their appointment is made by the President of India, based on the recommendations of the Council of Ministers.

The Constitution guarantees the security of tenure for the CEC and Election Commissioners. They serve a six-year term or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first.

The CEC can only be removed before the end of the term if both Houses of Parliament recommend such action with a special majority. This provision safeguards against the possibility of a ruling party attempting to remove a CEC who refuses to show favoritism in elections.

Functions of the Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India is entrusted with a wide array of responsibilities:

1. Supervising the regular update of the voter’s list to ensure its accuracy and completeness.
2. Ensuring the elimination of errors in the voter’s list, such as the inclusion of ineligible or non-existent individuals or the exclusion of eligible voters.
3. Determining the timing of elections and formulating the comprehensive election schedule, which includes crucial dates like the notification of elections, nomination filing period, scrutiny deadline, withdrawal deadline, polling date, and result declaration date.
4. Solely responsible for conducting elections, the Election Commission has the authority to make decisions aimed at maintaining the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
5. In instances where the electoral atmosphere is deemed compromised, the Commission can postpone or cancel elections at the national, state, or constituency level. It also establishes a model code of conduct for political parties and candidates to adhere to.
6. Authorized to order a re-poll in a specific constituency or recount votes if it deems the counting process to be unfair or flawed.
7. Grants recognition to political parties and assigns symbols to each party, which are used during elections to distinguish between candidates representing different parties.

Electoral Reforms

Eections are really important in India because it’s one of the biggest democracies in the world. Making sure elections are fair and everyone gets to vote is crucial, and that’s why we need to keep updating the rules for elections.

Some experts think we should change how we vote from the current system to a new one called Proportional Representation (PR). This could make sure that the number of seats a party gets matches up with how many votes they get from people.

Another idea is to make sure more women are part of our government. They’re suggesting that at least one-third of the people in charge should be women.

We also need to keep an eye on money in elections. Right now, there should be rules about how much money candidates can spend, and maybe the government should help out with the costs.

It’s also important to have rules about who can run for elections. If someone has been accused of a crime, even if they’re waiting for their court case, they might not be allowed to run. And politicians shouldn’t be allowed to use someone’s caste or religion to get votes.

Lastly, there should be clear rules for political parties so they’re fair and open to everyone.

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FAQs on Election and Representation Class 11 Notes

What is the difference between direct and indirect elections?

In direct elections, voters directly elect their representatives, such as Members of Parliament or State Legislators. In contrast, indirect elections involve voters electing representatives who, in turn, choose the final decision-makers, such as the President or Prime Minister.

How are constituencies determined in electoral systems?

Constituencies are typically determined based on geographical boundaries and population distribution. The process of delimitation involves dividing regions into smaller electoral units to ensure fair representation.

What is the significance of the Election Commission of India?

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body responsible for administering free and fair elections in the country. It oversees the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nominations, polling, and result declaration, to ensure transparency and integrity in elections.

What are some challenges faced in electoral systems?

Challenges in electoral systems include voter disenfranchisement, electoral fraud, gerrymandering, and unequal representation. Ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and fairness in the electoral process is essential to address these challenges.

How can citizens participate in the electoral process?

Citizens can participate in the electoral process by registering as voters, exercising their right to vote on election day, volunteering as poll workers, and engaging in civic education and advocacy to promote democratic values and electoral reforms.