Page 195 - SST Class 06

chy, a ruler‘s powers are limited by a document FRANCHISE (RIGHT TO VOTE)
called a constitution. Franchise means right to express one’s choice by

Aristocracy vote. When all adult citizens have a right to
An aristocracy is a government by the “best” franchise or vote is called ‘Universal Adult
people. A person who rules in an aristocracy is Franchise’, In India, a citizen, who is 18 years of
called an aristocrat. Aristocracy is different from age and above and who is not otherwise disqual-
nobility, in that nobility means that one bloodline ified, has right to vote in the election. This means
would rule, an aristocracy would mean that a few that citizens can choose their representative
or many bloodlines would rule or that rulers be through an election.
chosen in a different manner. The vote, therefore, enables citizens to elect the
Dictatorship person who can govern the country and can
replace them due to being dissatisfied, in the next
Under a dictatorship, the government is run by
election with others.
one person who has all the power over the
people in a country. Originally, the Republic The system of ‘Universal Adult Franchise’ is
made dictators to lead during the time of war. based on ‘one person one vote’. This ensures
The Roman dictators (and Greek tyrants ) were political equality in the country. In England,
not always bad. The Roman dictators only held people had to struggle hard to get ‘Universal
power for a small time. In modern times, a Adult Franchise’. In the beginning franchise was
dictator’s rule is not stopped by any laws, consti- limited to the landholders whose landed property
tutions or other social and political institutions. yielded an annual land revenue of forty shillings.
After World War II, many governments in Latin Gradually, franchise was extended to common
America, Asia, and Africa were ruled by dicta- people, but women were excluded from the
tors. Examples of dictators include Idi Amin, franchise for several decades.
Muammar al-Qaddafi and Gamal Abdul Nasser. WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
Oligarchy The right to vote was not given to women in

An oligarchy is a government ruled by a small many countries of the world until the beginning
group of powerful people. These people may of 20th century. It was during the First World War
spread power equally or not equally. An oligar- that a women’s suffrage movement was
chy is different from a true democracy because launched. By suffrage is meant the right to vote
very few people are given the chance to change in political elections. The women who cam-
things. An oligarchy does not have to be heredi- paigned for this right are known as suffragettes.
tary or passed down from father to son. An During the war, when men were busy fighting the
oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but war in the battle-field, there was need for women
several powerful people. Some past examples of to do some of the men’s work. They soon began
oligarchy are the former Union of Soviet Socialist to learn new skills of managing different kinds of
Republics and Apartheid South Africa. A fictional works. Women even went for nursing duty in the
example is the dystopian society of Oceania in battle field. Many were even employed as drivers
the book ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’. Some critics of of vehicles and other jobs. This brought about an
representative democracy think of the United awakening among women. They thought they
States as an oligarchy. This view is shared by were unfairly made stereotypes and confined to
anarchists. home. Now, they gained courage and confidence

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