🧠 Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 – Power Sharing

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In this post, we provide you with detailed, exam-ready notes for Civics Chapter 1 – Power Sharing, where you’ll learn how power is divided in a democracy and why sharing power is essential for political stability.

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⚖️ I. What is Power Sharing?

Power sharing is the distribution of political power among various levels and groups in a country.

✅ Why is Power Sharing Important?

1. Reduces conflict among different social groups

2. Promotes unity and integrity of the nation

3. Encourages participation in democracy

4. Prevents concentration of power (dictatorship)

5. Ensures political stability and peace

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🌍 II. Case Studies

📌 A. Belgium

🔹 Location:

• Small country in Europe, borders France, Netherlands, Germany

🔹 Community Composition:

🔹 Conflict:

• French-speaking community was richer and more powerful

• Dutch-speaking felt discriminated

🔹 Solution: Belgian Model of Power Sharing

• Equal number of ministers from Dutch & French groups

• Separate government for Brussels

• Community government to handle cultural, educational, language issues

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📌 B. Sri Lanka

🔹 Location:

• Island nation near India

🔹 Ethnic Composition:

🔹 Conflict:

• Sinhala government favored Sinhala as the official language

• Tamils felt ignored and discriminated (jobs, education, culture)

🔹 Result:

• Civil war between Tamils and Sinhala government

• Thousands killed; country became unstable

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🧭 III. Forms of Power Sharing

1️⃣ Power is shared among different organs of government

– Known as horizontal distribution
– Example: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary

✅ Prevents concentration of power
✅ Each organ checks the others (checks and balances)

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2️⃣ Power is shared among governments at different levels

– Known as vertical distribution
– Example: Union, State, Local governments in India

✅ Promotes federalism
✅ Helps in local governance

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3️⃣ Power is shared among different social groups

– Example: Religious, linguistic minorities, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Tribes (STs)

✅ Ensures community representation
✅ India provides reservations, special representation

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4️⃣ Power is shared among political parties, pressure groups, and movements

– Different parties contest elections, form coalitions
– Pressure groups influence decisions

✅ Promotes multi-party democracy
✅ Prevents monopoly of one party

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📝 IV. Key Terms

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📌 Summary

• Power sharing is the spirit of democracy

• Helps prevent conflict and civil war

• Seen in Belgium (peaceful solution) vs. Sri Lanka (violent outcome)

• Shared among organs, levels, communities, and political actors