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Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows:
The Belgian leaders took a different path. They recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country. The arrangement they worked out is different from any other country and is very innovative. Here are some of the elements of the Belgian model. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally. Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutchspeaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government. Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and languagerelated issues. You might find the Belgian model very complicated. It indeed is very complicated, even for people living in Belgium. But these arrangements have worked well so far. They helped to avoid civic strife between the two major communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines. When many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union, Brussels was chosen as its headquarters.
Question (i)
When and why was the Belgian Constitution amended by its leaders?
Answer:
From the Paragraph
The Belgian leaders took a different path. They recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country. The arrangement they worked out is different from any other country and is very innovative.
Between 1970 and 1993 , the Belgian leaders amended the constitution four times so that everyone lived together in harmony within the same country.
Question (ii)
How is power distributed among governments in Belgium?
Answer:
From the paragraph,
Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
- In Belgium, Many powers of the central government are in the hands of the state government .
- The state government is not subordinate to the Central Government .
In this way, power is distributed among the Government in Belgium.
Question (iii)
Which is the third kind of government in Belgium and who elects it?
Answer:
From the paragraph
Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French, and German-speaking – no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
- The third kind of government that exists in the Belgium is Community government .
- The community government is elected by the people belonging to one language community. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational, and language issues.
