In modern democracies, the different forms of power sharing are as given below:
(i) Power sharing among different organs of government.
(ii) Power sharing among governments at different levels.
(iii) Power sharing among different social groups.
(iv) Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements. These are explained in the following way:
(i.) power sharing among different organs of government: The power is shared by three organs of government i.e., legislature, executive and judiciary. Generally, legislature enacts laws, executive executes the law, makes decisions. Judiciary inter-prets the low and protects the rights of the people. It is called horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power: Each organ checks the others and a balance of power is maintained. For example, in India, executive i.e., Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers must enjoy the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. If they loose confidence of the Lok Sabha, they have to resign. Similarly judges are appointed by the executive, but they check the function of executive or laws made by the legislatures.
(ii) Power sharing among governments at different levels? There are governments at the National, State and Local levels. Powers are divided among these governments. For example, in India, there is a division of powers between Centre and the States. There are three lists i.e., Union list, State list and Concurrent list. The residuary powers which have not been included in the three lists are with the Central Government. Now some powers have been given to local governments under the Panchayati Raj system. Such a system is followed in countries where there is federal form of government as in the USA and Belgium. Such division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government is called vertical division of power. However, in countries where there is unitary form of government as in tire Great Britain, there is no division of powers. All the powers are vested in the central or national government.
(iii) Power sharing among different social groups: Sometimes religious and linguistic groups too share power as is the case in Belgium where there is a “community government” which is elected by people belonging to one language community no matter, where they live. Such government enjoys power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues. In
India, seats are reserved for SCs and STs in assemblies and parliament. Such a system is adopted to give minority communities a fair share in power so that they are not alienated from the government as has happened in Sri Lanka.
(iv) Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements:
When no party gets an absolute majority in legislature, different parties come together and form a coalition government, and share power in a democracy. For example, the present UPA
(United Progressive Alliance) government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh is a coalition government in which power is share by different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups. In addition to this, different pressure groups, interest groups and movements also directly or indirectly influence the decision making process of the government.
Thus there is power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements.