Question map
Consider the following features: 1. Consent of the governed 2. Political equality 3. Accountability of the ruled to the ruler Which of the above feature/features outline democratic rule?
Explanation
Democratic rule is fundamentally characterized by the 'consent of the governed' and 'political equality'. In a democracy, the just powers of government are derived from the consent of the people. Political equality is an essential principle ensuring that all citizens have an equal basis in electing rulers and participating in civic life [2]. Accountability is a cornerstone of democracy, but it specifically entails the accountability of the 'ruler to the ruled' (government to the citizenry), not the 'ruled to the ruler' [1]. In democratic systems, government officials are answerable to the people for their decisions and actions, and citizens hold the power to change representatives through elections if they fail to perform. Therefore, features 1 and 2 correctly outline democratic rule, while feature 3 describes an authoritarian or top-down relationship rather than a democratic one.
Sources
- [2] Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY? > 1.2 FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY > p. 4
- [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Governments > DON'T MISS OUT > p. 193