Majority rule
Also called: Rule by majority · Topic: Democracy: Forms of Government, Principles and Outcomes · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Outcomes of Democracy"
Meaning
Majority rule means decisions are taken by the larger number of people. Class 10 warns that it stays democratic only under two conditions. First, the majority must work with the minority, and neither group should be permanent. Second, it must never become rule by a majority religious, racial or language community. Everyone must have a chance to be in the majority at some time. If birth keeps someone out for good, democracy has stopped including them.
Example
India avoided permanent majorities by creating linguistic states. It reached a compromise on official languages in 1963/1967 and protects minority rights under Arts. 29–30. Class 10 uses Sri Lanka, where the majority community dominated, as a warning.
Don't confuse with
- Majoritarianism: this is when a fixed community uses its numbers to dominate others for good. It is the opposite of democratic majority rule.
- Criteria of democracy: majority rule is not a test of how good a democracy is (Class 10 exercise).