Power Sharing

Presented By – Akshay Kumar KushawahaClass – 10th, B Roll No. 03 Radiant Academy

HOLIDAY

HOMEWORK

What is Power Sharing?‘Power Sharing’ is the distribution of powers/subjects among the organs of the government like – legislature, executive and judiciary. It is an intelligent step to ensure the stability of political order. Besides, power sharing also includes sharing at the different levels like union, state and local.

Belgium Sri Lanka European Union Parliament on Belgium

Belgium and Sri Lanka

Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller in area than the state of Haryana. It has border with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It has a population of a little over one

crore, about half the population of Haryana. The ETHNIC composition of this country is very complex. Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language. Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speaks German. In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch-speaking. The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful.

Belgium

Communities & Regions of BelgiumBrussels –

Capital Region – Dutch were a

Minority

Wallonia – 40% - French –

Rich & Powerful

Flemish – 59% - Dutch – benefit of

education and economic

development.

German – 1%

Sri Lanka is an island nation, just a few kilometers off the southern coast of Tamil Naidu. It has about two crore people, about the same in Haryana. Sri Lanka has diverse

population. The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) and the Tamil-speakers (18 per cent). Among Tamils there are two subgroups. Tamil natives of the country are called ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ (13 per cent). The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period, are called ‘Indian Tamils’. Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There are about 7 per cent Christians, who are both Tamils and Sinhala.

Sri Lanka

Ethnic Communities of Sri LankaSri Lankan Tamils –

Occupy N & E – Hindus & Muslims

Sinhalese – 74% - Buddhist

–

Indian Tamils – Hindus & Muslims

Muslims – 1%

Tamils – 18%

Both Sinhalese & Tamil – 7% -

Christian

MAJORITARIANISM IN SRI LANLA•Dominance of Sinhalese community due to majority •1956 Act made Sinhala as the only official language•Preferential policies favouring Sinhalese in university position and jobs•State to protect and foster Buddhism

Position of Sri Lankan Tamils…

• Launched political parties and struggles for recognizing Tamil as an official language

• Demanded autonomy • Equal opportunity in education and

jobs • Political organization was formed

demanding an independent TAMIL EELAM in North & East Sri Lanka

Civil War…Causes

Both sides started distrusting each other

Effects Social, Cultural & Economic

setback

ACCOMMODATION IN BELGIUM•Equal number of Ministers from Dutch and

French speaking areas in the Central Govt.•No single community can make decisions unilaterally •Transfer of power from the centre to the state. State govt. will not be a subordinate to the centre.•Separate govt. in Brussels with equal representation for the French and the Dutch.•Formation of COMMUNITY Govt elected by the people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German wherever they live. This has power regarding•Culture, education and language related issues.

Power Sharing - Result

The country united respecting the feelings of different communities and regions.

•Similarities: Both are democracies.•Differences: Power sharing arrangement is different.

Q. What is unique about Belgium?Ans. Leaders have realized that unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions.Q. What was the drawback in the system followed by Sri Lanka?Ans. Dominance of majority community - Sinhalese by refusing to share power with Tamils resulting in disunity.

Belgian & Sri Lanka

Why is Power Sharing desirable in a Democracy?

Prudential1. Reduces conflicts between

social groups.2. Stability of political order.3. Better outcome.

Moral1. It is the spirit of democracy.2.People have the right to be consulted for governing practices.3. Power sharing is valuable.

Why in a democracy should political power be distributed?

• People are the source of all power.• People rule themselves through institutions

of self governance.• Due respect is given to diverse groups and

views.• All have a voice in shaping public policies.

Forms of Power Sharing…

• The Central Govt. is set up for the whole nation.• The state/provincial govt. is set up for each provinces/states.• The central govt. transfers/shares some of the powers to/with the state

govt. (as in Belgium)• In a big country like India, this type of two tier system is not sufficient.• So we have the third tier – the Local Self Govt.• Both the Central and State govt. have transferred power and resources

to the Local bodies.

Central Govt.

State Govt.

Local Bodies

Vertical Power Sharing

The Legislature The Executive The Judiciary

• Each of these organs is placed at the same level to exercise different powers• None of them has unlimited power thus maintains balance.• Each one of them keeps watch on the functioning of the other two.• Hence it is called Check and Balance System

Horizontal Power Sharing

Amongst different organs of Govt. legislature, executive and

judiciary

Amongst Government at different levels

Different Social groups, religious/

linguistic

Political parties ,pressure groups

and movements influence those in power

Horizontal distribution as it allows different organs to exercise different powers

A general govt. for the entire country-called Centre and government at the provincial/regional level. Federal Govt.

Accommodates social diversities who would feel otherwise alienated.

Formation of coalition Govt. when different parties form alliances

No organ gets unlimited powers State Govt. Influence of interest groups-businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers.

Each organ checks the other Constitutional distribution of power to the state and centre

Results in balance of power Same with Panchayat and Municipality

All ministers /Govt. officialsare responsible to parliament/state assemblies

Vertical division of power

Judges can also check the work of other organs

A system of checks and balances

Thank You