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democracy MCQs

Practise focused democracy questions with marked answers for exam preparation and subject revision.

democracy Mcqs
1. Direct democracy associated with: ___________?
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A. India

B. Britain

C. Greece

D. Russia

2. The two basic principles of liberal theory of democracy, which were emphasised by Locke, were:
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A. Universal adult franchise and right to property

B. Natural Rights and Representative Democracy

C. Woman suffrage and secret ballot

D. Popular sovereignty and constitutional government
3. In democracy public opinion is necessary. Which of the following is true about the meaning public opinion in democracy?
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A. It means majority opinion

B. It means opinion of intelligent people in the society

C. It means unanimous opinion

D. It means opinion of dominant sections based on common good
4. Referendum is a device of direct democracy, which authorises the people:
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A. To demand reference of laws passed by the legislature to people

B. To request the head of the state to withhold signature on the bill passed bythe legislature

C. To direct the Legislature to enact laws desired by them

D. To refer the bill to the Court to ascertain its constitutional validity

5. Which one of the following is true about elitist theory of democracy?
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A. It believes that in it public opinion is the moving force

B. It believes that the people are the real sovereign

C. It believes that power is used by a small group of elites

D. It believes that in it real power is with voters

E. It believes that the judiciary is real power in the state

6. Which one of the following is not applicable to indirect elections?
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A. Elected representatives are not respobsible to the electorates

B. None of the above

C. In it the people are directly involved in electing their representatives

D. Elected representatives are responsible to the executive only

E. It it voters do not directly take part in elections but their representatives elect the mebers
7. Which one of the followings has been wrongly listed as a feature of the Elitist theory of democracy?
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A. The elite group generally tries to protect its own interests

B. The elite groups are well-organised

C. The positions of control and decision-making mechanism in the political system are always occupied by a small group of individuals

D. There is no competition and adjustment among the various elite groups existing in a society
8. In a democracy who gets prominence:
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A. The judiciary

B. The citizens

C. The executive

D. The administrators

9. Which one of the following has been wrongly listed as a feature of Marxian democracy?
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A. It stands for popular control over the means of production and distribution

B. It should work through representative Parliaments

C. It lays emphasis on economic freedom

D. It shall work on the basis of decisions taken through consensus

10. Democracy can succeed in a country:
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A. Where people have spirit toleration

B. Which has vast areas

C. Which has small territories

D. Which is thinly populated

E. Which is thickly populated

11. Which one of the folloing is not a feature of liberal democracy?
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A. Free elections

B. Universal suffrage

C. Active involvement of people in politics

D. Manhood suffrage
12. Lord Bryce has written That form of government in which the ruling power of a state is legally vested, not in any particular class, but in the members of the community as a whole. Which form of government he is referring to _________?
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A. Democracy

B. Parliamentary government

C. Federal government

D. Unitary government

13. The concept of power elite is connected with:
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A. C. Wright Mills

B. James Burham

C. Pareto

D. Mosca

14. Which one of the followings has been wrongly listed as contribution of Rousseau to the Liberal theory of democracy?
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A. General Welfare

B. Natural Equality

C. Consent of people as basis of state

D. Inalienable right of individual to determine their affairs

15. The two words demos and cratia from which democracy draws its origin belong to: _________?
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A. French language

B. Latin language

C. Greek language

D. Spanish language

16. The basic principle of Liberal democracy that the sovereign drew his authority from the people was first developed by:
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A. J.S.Mill

B. None of the above

C. Hobbes

D. Locke

17. In Western democracies Parliaments are based on: __________?
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A. Groups of Citizens

B. Party system

C. Trade Union System

D. The Citizens

18. The democracy can function successfully in a country:
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A. Which is small in size and population

B. Which is big in size

C. Which has hot climate

D. Which is big in size and population

19. The modern democracy is known as: _________?
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A. Representative democracy

B. Peoples democracy

C. Direct democracy

D. Socialist democracy

20. Democracy has been preferred because: ___________?
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A. In it there are no chances of violence

B. In it real patriots participate

C. The people are participants in law making process

D. It believes that it is government of highly competent persons

21. Which one of the following is wrongly listed as a feature of Liberal theory of democracy?
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A. It does not give any power to the people to oppose the authority of the state

B. It holds that common interest can be realised only through democratic government

C. It emphasises that the power rests with the people

D. It concedes to the people the right to oppose the state

22. Direct democracy is a system of government in which :______________?
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A. People appoint the civil servants

B. People directly representatives

C. All government officials are appointed subject to the final approval of the people

D. People take direct part in the administration of the country
23. Which one of the followings has been wrongly listed as an essential attribute of democracy?
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A. Freedom of speech

B. Equality before law

C. Freedom of religion

D. Equality of property
24. Who of the following philosophers was not associated with the Liberal Theory of Democracy?
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A. Hobbes

B. J.S. Mill

C. Karl Marx

D. Locke

25. The chief contribution of Green to the Liberal theory of democracy was:
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A. Emphasis on absolute freedom of individual

B. None of the above

C. Absolute powers for the state

D. Emphasis on collective well-being as condition of individual freedom
26. Which of the following is not an essential element of political democracy?
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A. Every citizen has equality before law

B. Every citizen has a right to work

C. Every adult citizen has right to take part in elections

D. Every citizen has a right to criticise government

E. Every adult citizen has a right to occupy and political office

27. Who of the following is not associated with liberal democracy?
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A. J.S.Mill

B. T.H.Green

C. MacIver

D. Bakunin

E. Laski

28. One of the essential conditions for the success of democracy is that the people should be:___________?
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A. Propertied one

B. Well versed in the game of politics

C. Educated

D. Devoted to social service

29. Democracy has come under criticism these days because:
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A. It is government of the amateurs

B. In it there is too much dependence on the representatives of the people

C. In it, it is not possible to have stable governments

D. In it sincere persons can never participate

30. Who of the following is not associated with elitist theory of democracy?
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A. Michels

B. Pareto

C. Burham

D. Laski
31. Which of the following is correct definition of democracy?
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A. In it people are sovereign

B. In it working classes govern

C. In it rich and poor cooperate really with each other

D. In it propertied adults have right to elect their representatives

32. Land of direct democracy is ___________?
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A. East Germany

B. Switzerland

C. France

D. USSR

E. India

33. The exponents of elitist theory
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A. Believe in equality between ruler and ruled

B. Believe in political equality

C. Believe in all the above three principles

D. Do not believe in equality between ruler and ruled
34. The classical theory of democracy can be traced back to the writings of: __________?
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A. Ancient Chinese philosophers

B. Ancient Greek Philosophers

C. Proudhon

D. French philosophers of the seventeenth century

35. Which one of the following is not true about liberal democracy? It means:
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A. Independence of Judiciary

B. Freedom of thought and expression

C. Representative government

D. Dential of fundamental rights

E. Free mass media

36. Which one of the following is not true about socialist democracy of the Marxists?
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A. In that there will be no antagonistic classes

B. In that economic needs of the people will be met

C. In that interests of the poor will only be protected

D. In that there will be no social conflicts

E. In that leaders will guide the workers

37. Which one of the following thinkers emphasised the principles of adult franchise, representative government, freedom of press and frequent elections, which form the cornerstone of Liberal theory of democracy?
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A. All the three

B. J.S.Mill

C. Rousseau

D. Locke

38. Landsgemeinde is a device, which enables:
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A. The people to recall their representatives if they do not act according to their wishes

B. The adult citizens to take direct part in the solution to the affairs facing their area

C. The people to remove the corrupt judges

D. The local self-government institutions to work efficiently

39. Which one of the followings has been wrongly listed as a feature of Marxian democracy?
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A. Provision for recall of the representatives

B. Emphasis on political freedom

C. Elected Judiciary

D. Dominant role of leaders in preserving the system

40. Which one of the following criticisms holds good for Western democracy?
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A. It promotes apathy towards Politics

B. All the above

C. It leads to monopoly over the means of communications

D. It is characterised by vast socioeconomic inequalities

41. In democracy the final authority rests with: __________?
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A. Parliament

B. People

C. Civil servants

D. Council of Ministers

42. Who of the following thinkers asserted the principle that consent of the people is the basis of state?
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A. Herbert Spencer

B. Locke

C. Adam Smith

D. Bentham

43. Democracy is a system of government in which the final power rests with
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A. The people

B. The civil servants

C. The politicians

D. The mob

44. Which one of the followings has been wrongly listed as a critic of democracy?
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A. Lecky

B. Locke

C. Leveleye

D. Maine

45. When the voters take part in the elections of representative bodies themselves and elect the members, the system is known as:
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A. Representative democracy

B. Indirect democracy

C. Direct election

D. Proportional democracy

E. Universal adult suffrage

46. Out of the following who championed the cause of direct democracy?
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A. Stalin

B. Herbert Spancer

C. Rousseau

D. Jawahar Lal Nehru

47. According to Mosca main reason for controlling power by elite group in democracy is:
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A. That they are rich

B. That they have influence in the masses

C. That they are educated

D. That they are an organised minority

E. That they have control over economic activity

48. Success of democracy depends on giving right to the:
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A. Muddle in the affairs of Government quite frequently

B. People to hold property

C. People to criticise Government

D. People to get higher education

49. Which one of the following is not true about Pluralist theory of democracy?
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A. It is opposed to concentration of power

B. It is opposed to holding frequent elections

C. It attaches great importance to elections

D. It believes that political power should be divided in groups

E. It is of the view that elections help in knowing public opinion

50. Who of the following believed that political freedom without economic democracy is a sham?
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A. Socialists

B. Fascists

C. Individualists

D. Idealists

E. Utilitarian