Power-sharing
Forms of power sharing
Identify the four forms of power sharing.
From undivided power to shared power. For a long time people believed all power should sit with one person or group in one place, so decisions could be made and enforced quickly. Democracy changed that. Its basic principle: 'people are the source of all political power'. They rule themselves through their own institutions, every group and view is respected, and everyone has a say. So power should be spread among as many citizens as possible.
1. Horizontal: among the organs of government. The legislature, executive and judiciary sit at the same level but do different jobs, and each checks the others, so none has unlimited power.
- Ministers and officials use power, but they answer to Parliament or the State Assembly.
- Judges are appointed by the executive, but they can check the executive and the laws made by the legislature.
This is called checks and balances.
2. Vertical: among levels of government. A general government for the whole country (in India, the Central or Union Government) and governments for each region (in India, State Governments). The constitution clearly sets out what each level can do. This is the federal division of power: Belgium did it, Sri Lanka refused it. It can go lower still: municipalities and panchayats. Higher and lower levels sharing power is called vertical division.
3. Among social groups. Power can be shared among religious and linguistic groups. Belgium's community government is one example. Another is India's reserved constituencies, which give socially weaker sections and women seats in legislatures. The aim: give groups that might feel left out a fair share in government.
4. Among parties, pressure groups and movements. Citizens must be free to choose between those who want power.
- Competition between parties means power never stays in one hand; over time it passes among parties with different ideas.
- Sometimes it is direct: parties form an alliance, win, and run a coalition government.
- Interest groups of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and workers also share power, by sitting on government committees or influencing decisions.
Which kind is it? Test yourself with the book's examples:
- The Bombay High Court orders the Maharashtra government to improve children's homes: court and government at the same level, so horizontal.
- Nigeria's state finance ministers ask the federal government to explain how it shares revenue: vertical.
- Two Russian parties join to fight elections together: parties.
- Ontario state in Canada settles a land claim with the aboriginal community: social groups.
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