Page 1 - Lesson Note

SAI International school
Session 2020-21
Grade- IX

Political Science
Ch-3. Electoral Politics
Sub topic-1-Why Elections?
NOTES

What is election? Why Do We Need Elections?

The mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change
them whenever they want to is called an election.

Elections take place regularly in any democracy.

In an election the voters make many choices:

 They can choose who will make laws for them.
 They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
 They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.

What Makes an Election Democratic?

Minimum conditions of a democratic election include the following points.

1. Everyone should be able to choose their own representative.
2. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice
to the voters.
3. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.
4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they
really wish.

Is it Good to have Political Competition?

 Elections are all about political competition.
 This competition takes place amongst political parties.
 At the constituency level, it takes the form of competition among several candidates.

Reason for this competition

 Political leaders all over the world, like all other professionals, are motivated by a desire to
advance their political careers.
 They also want to remain in power or get power and positions for themselves.

Merits of Political Competitions