Synonyms
More meanings
Tip: select a single word for meaning & synonyms.
Select multiple words normally to copy text.
Institutions of Parliamentary Democracy: NBSE class 9 Social Science
Here are the notes, questions, solutions, textual answers, pdf, and extras for Chapter 14: Institutions of Parliamentary Democracy, which is a part of the social science class 9 syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board of School Education. However, these notes should be used only for references and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Introduction
In this chapter, you learn about a democratic government, particularly in the context of the Indian Parliament in a detailed manner. Running a country involves various activities like ensuring security, providing facilities for education and health, building infrastructure etc. To carry out these activities we need a government. A government has three organs: Legislature, executive, and the judiciary.
In a federal democracy like India, we have two governments: one at the state level, and another at the centre. The government at the state level functions through the state legislative assemblies and their members are called MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly). The government at the central level functions through two houses known as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and their members are called MPs (Members of Parliament). The MPs and MLAs are elected by the people of the country and the states. The president, however, is elected by the MPs and MLAs and not directly by the people of the country. Though the president is the head of the country, he/she does not have the powers of the Prime Minister.
To keep the country functioning, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha introduce bills from time to time. These bills, when they are approved by the two houses, are signed by the president of India. Once the bills are passed and signed, they become laws. In this chapter, you will learn in detail about the various powers and functions of the different aspects of the government.
Textual questions and answers
Choose the correct answer
1. Who appoints the Prime Minister?
A. President
B. Speaker
C. Chief Justice
D. Vice President
Answer: A. President
2. The allocation of portfolios is done by
A. President
B. Prime Minister
C. Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D. None of these
Answer: B. Prime Minister
3. Which House is also called the Lower House?
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. Both of these
D. None of these
Answer: A. Lok Sabha
4. Which of the following has superior powers regarding a Money Bill?
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. President
D. None of these
Answer: A. Lok Sabha
5. An Ordinary Bill has to be passed by
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. Both of these
D. Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answer: C. Both of these
6. Who presides over the joint session of both the Houses?
A. Speaker
B. President
C. Vice President
D. Prime Minister
Answer: A. Speaker
7. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided below:
Assertion (A): The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
Reason (R): The President can act only in accordance with the advice rendered by the Prime Minister.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C. (A) is correct but (R) is wrong
D. (A) is wrong but (R) is correct
Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
8. Which of the following is not one of the powers of the officials working from the above depicted building?
A. To elect the President and Vice President
B. To pass a new law
C. To appoint the Chief Justice of India
D. To amend the existing laws
Answer: C. To appoint the Chief Justice of India
Very short answer questions
1. What are the two Houses of Parliament?
Answer: The two houses of Parliament are the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
2. Give one reason why Lok Sabha is given a superior status by our constitution.
Answer: Our Constitution has given a superior status to the Lok Sabha since it is directly elected by the people
3. Give one proof to show that the Lok Sabha and the Rajya do not have equal powers in the passing of the Budget.
Answer: In financial matters, the Lok Sabha has more powers. Once the Lok Sabha passes a budget, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it.
Short answer type questions
1. Explain the difference:
(i) The powers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. [HOTS]
Answer: (i) The powers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha differs in the following aspects:
i. If there is a difference of opinion when an ordinary law has to be passed, the view of Lok Sabha prevails.
ii. Once the Lok Sabha passes a budget, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it.
iii. The moment Lok Sabha passes the “No Confidence Motion” all ministers including the Prime Minister have to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not have this power.
(ii) A Money Bill and an Ordinary Bill
Answer: A Money Bill concerns the finances of a country. Only the Lok Sabha can sanction any expenditure by the Government. All money bills are introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha cannot reject any Money Bill passed by the Lok Sabha.
On the other hand, an Ordinary Bill is one that asks for a change in law or passes a new law on any other subject except finance. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have equal powers on an Ordinary Bill.
2. Describe the powers and functions of the Council of Ministers.
Answer: The Council of Ministers comprises three categories: Ministers of Cabinet Rank, Minister of State and Deputy Ministers. The latter two assist the Cabinet Ministers in the affairs of their departments. The Cabinet plays an important role in the determination of national policies. The Cabinet discusses all sorts of problems under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is responsible for the execution of the national policies through the executive wing of the government as well as approves the Bills before introducing it to the Parliament.
3. How is the President of India elected? [HOTS]
Answer: The President is elected by an Electoral College which consists of the following:
i. Elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
ii. All elected members of all the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the states.
iii. The votes of MPs and MLAs. Their votes have different values depending on how many people they represent.
4. Describe the power and functions of the president.
Answer: The powers and functions of the President include:
i. The President is the highest political executive but has only nominal powers.
ii. The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions in the country.
iii. The President can never claim the kind of direct popular mandate that the Prime minister can.
Long answer type questions
1. ‘The most powerful office in the Central Government is that of the Prime Minister.’ Discuss
Answer: If the cabinet is the most powerful institution in India, within the cabinet, it is the Prime Minister who is the most powerful. The powers of the Indian Prime Minister can be summed up as follows:
i. The Prime Minister is the real executive of the government. He chooses his ministers and he can dismiss them if desired.
ii. The allocation of portfolios is done by the Prime Minister.
iii. The Prime Minister acts as a bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers.
iv. The Prime Minister acts as the chief spokesperson of the government on the floor of the House.
v. The Prime Minister also functions as the ex-officio chairperson of the Planning Commission.
2. Discuss the powers and functions of the Parliament.
Answer: The powers and functions of the Parliament include:
i. It legislates on matters that fall within the Central List.
ii. The income and expenditure to be incurred by the Central Government are approved and controlled by the Union Parliament.
iii. The Parliament alone has the power to amend the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India.
iv. The Parliament has the power to impeach the President and the judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
v. The Parliament approves proclamations made by the President during the period of emergency.
vi. The Parliament exercises control over the executive.
3. Explain how an Ordinary Bill becomes a law.
Answer: After an Ordinary Bill is presented in either of the two Houses, it has to undergo three readings in each of House before it becomes an act.
First Reading: The Bill is introduced when the Minister in charge of the Bill, rises in the Question Hour and says, “Sir, I introduce the Bill.”
Second Reading: It is given a detailed examination and studied clause by clause. Amendments can be moved at this stage.
Third Reading: Now the bill is to be voted upon. A simple majority of members present is required to pass an ordinary bill. Then the bill is sent to the other house. Here again, it goes through the three stages and then passes.
If there is a deadlock, then a joint session of both the Houses is held, presided over by the Speaker. When the Bill is passed, the Bill is sent to the President for his assent. If the President gives his assent the Bill becomes an Act. If the President returns the Bill to the Houses, and if they pass it again, the President has to sign the Bill.
4. Discuss the ‘collective responsibility’ of the council of ministers.
Answer: “Collective responsibility” means that the ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers can continue in office only as long as it has the support of the majority of members of the Lok Sabha. Every minister is individually responsible for what happens in the ministry under his/her charge. There have been occasions when a minister has owned responsibility for something going wrong in his ministry and resigned.
Extra MCQs
1: What are the three organs of the government in India?
A. Parliament, President, Prime Minister
B. Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
C. Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Supreme Court
D. Central Government, State Government, Local Government
Answer: B. Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
2: What is the term for a member of the Lok Sabha?
A. Two years
B. Four years
C. Five years
D. Six years
Answer: C. Five years
3: How many members are nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President?
A. 2
B. 10
C. 12
D. 15
Answer: C. 12
4: Which body has the final authority for making laws in the country?
A. The Supreme Court
B. The President
C. The Prime Minister’s Office
D. The Parliament
Answer: D. The Parliament
5: The system where the government remains in power only as long as it has the support of the elected representatives is known as:
A. Presidential system
B. Federal system
C. Parliamentary system
D. Unitary system
Answer: C. Parliamentary system
6: Which of the following is also known as the ‘Council of States’?
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. Legislative Assembly
D. Union Cabinet
Answer: B. Rajya Sabha
7: Who is the real executive of the government of India?
A. The President
B. The Chief Justice
C. The Vice President
D. The Prime Minister
Answer: D. The Prime Minister
8: A Money Bill can only be introduced in which house of the Parliament?
A. The Lok Sabha
B. The Rajya Sabha
C. Both houses simultaneously
D. A joint session of Parliament
Answer: A. The Lok Sabha
9: Who presides over a joint session of both Houses of Parliament in case of a deadlock?
A. The President
B. The Prime Minister
C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D. The Vice President
Answer: C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
10: The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by:
A. The people directly
B. The elected members of the state Legislative Assemblies
C. The members of the Lok Sabha
D. The President of India
Answer: B. The elected members of the state Legislative Assemblies
11: What is the maximum period for which the Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill?
A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 30 days
D. 6 months
Answer: B. 14 days
12: Who acts as the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha?
A. The President
B. The Prime Minister
C. The Leader of the Opposition
D. The Vice President
Answer: D. The Vice President
13: The principle that ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha as a group is known as:
A. Individual responsibility
B. Nominal responsibility
C. Collective responsibility
D. Executive responsibility
Answer: C. Collective responsibility
14: The President of India is elected by an Electoral College consisting of:
A. All members of Parliament
B. All citizens of India
C. Elected members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies
D. All Ministers and Chief Ministers
Answer: C. Elected members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies
15: Who acts as a bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers?
A. The Vice President
B. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
C. The Prime Minister
D. The Attorney General
Answer: C. The Prime Minister
16: (I) The Lok Sabha is considered to have a superior status to the Rajya Sabha.
(II) The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. I is independent of II.
C. II is the reason for I.
D. I is the reason for II.
Answer: C. II is the reason for I.
17: Assertion (A): The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is never dissolved.
Reason (R): One-third of its members retire every second year.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false but (R) is true.
Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
18: (I) The President of India exercises only nominal powers.
(II) India has a parliamentary system of democracy.
A. I is the cause for II.
B. II is the cause for I.
C. I and II are contradictory.
D. I and II are independent statements.
Answer: B. II is the cause for I.
19: Statement 1: A “No Confidence Motion” can only be passed in the Lok Sabha.
Statement 2: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
A. Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
B. Statement 1 is false, and Statement 2 is true.
C. Both statements are false.
D. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the reason for Statement 1.
Answer: D. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the reason for Statement 1.
20: (I) In financial matters, the Lok Sabha has more powers than the Rajya Sabha.
(II) A budget passed by the Lok Sabha cannot be rejected by the Rajya Sabha.
A. I is the cause for II.
B. I is a contradiction of II.
C. I is independent of II.
D. II is an example that supports I.
Answer: D. II is an example that supports I.
21: Assertion (A): The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
Reason (R): The President can act only in accordance with the advice rendered by the Prime Minister.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
D. (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
22: Arrange the three readings of a legislative bill in the correct sequence.
(i) Second Reading
(ii) Third Reading
(iii) First Reading
A. (iii) → (i) → (ii)
B. (i) → (iii) → (ii)
C. (iii) → (ii) → (i)
D. (ii) → (i) → (iii)
Answer: A. (iii) → (i) → (ii)
23: Select the option that lists the steps for an Ordinary Bill to become a law in the correct order.
(i) The Bill is sent to the President for assent.
(ii) The Bill is introduced in one of the Houses of Parliament.
(iii) The Bill is passed by the second House.
(iv) The Bill undergoes detailed discussion and voting in the first House.
A. (ii) → (i) → (iv) → (iii)
B. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
C. (iv) → (ii) → (i) → (iii)
D. (i) → (ii) → (iii) → (iv)
Answer: B. (ii) → (iv) → (iii) → (i)
24: Consider the following stages in the legislative process. Choose the correct chronological order.
(a) Detailed clause-by-clause examination of the Bill.
(b) The Minister in charge introduces the Bill.
(c) The President gives assent to the Bill.
(d) The whole Bill is voted upon in the House.
A. (b) → (a) → (d) → (c)
B. (a) → (b) → (d) → (c)
C. (b) → (d) → (a) → (c)
D. (c) → (b) → (a) → (d)
Answer: A. (b) → (a) → (d) → (c)
Extra questions and answers
1. Name the three organs of the government?
Answer: The three organs of the government are the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
2. Who has the power to make or change a country’s laws?
Answer: The Parliament is empowered to make or change a country’s laws.
3. How long does the Union Council of Ministers remain in power?
Answer: The Union Council of Ministers remains in power as long as it has the confidence of the Parliament.
4. What is the national assembly of elected representatives called in India?
Answer: In India, the national assembly of elected representatives is called Parliament.
5. What is the assembly of elected representatives called at the state level?
Answer: At the state level, the assembly of elected representatives is called Legislature or Legislative Assembly.
6. What is the crucial task that gives legislative assemblies their name?
Answer: The task of law-making or legislation is so crucial that these assemblies are called legislature.
7. Who is the Chief Executive in some countries with a parliamentary system?
Answer: In some countries with a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is the Chief Executive.
8. What happens when a vote of no confidence is passed?
Answer: When a vote of no confidence is passed, the government including the Prime Minister has to resign.
9. What is the first house of the Indian Parliament called?
Answer: The first house of the Indian Parliament is called the Lok Sabha (House of People).
10. For how long is the Lok Sabha directly elected?
Answer: The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people for a period of five years.
11. What is the second house of the Indian Parliament called?
Answer: The second house of the Indian Parliament is called the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States.
12. How many members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President?
Answer: 12 members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India.
13. From which fields are the nominated members of the Rajya Sabha chosen?
Answer: The nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are chosen for their achievements in the fields of art, literature, science, and social service.
14. What is the tenure of a Rajya Sabha member?
Answer: A Rajya Sabha member serves for six years.
15. Why is the Rajya Sabha considered a permanent body?
Answer: The Rajya Sabha is considered a permanent body because one-third of its members retire every second year, and it is never dissolved.
16. Which list contains areas where both Central and State authorities can legislate?
Answer: The Concurrent List contains areas in which both the Central and the State authorities have powers to legislate.
17. What power does the Parliament have regarding the President and judges?
Answer: The Parliament has powers to impeach the President and the judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
18. Who jointly elects the Vice President?
Answer: The two Houses of Parliament jointly elect the Vice President.
19. Which house is known as the “Upper House”?
Answer: The Rajya Sabha is known as the “Upper House”.
20. Which house is known as the “Lower House”?
Answer: The Lok Sabha is known as the “Lower House”.
21. What is a draft of a legislative proposal called?
Answer: A draft of a legislative proposal is called a Bill.
22. What happens during the First Reading of a Bill?
Answer: During the First Reading, the Bill is introduced when the Minister in charge of the Bill rises in the Question Hour and says, “Sir, I introduce the Bill.”
23. What happens during the Third Reading of a Bill?
Answer: During the Third Reading, the Bill is voted upon. The whole Bill is either supported or rejected without any details being referred to.
24. Who presides over a joint session of both Houses?
Answer: The Speaker presides over a joint session of both Houses.
25. What is the maximum period the Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill?
Answer: The Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill for a maximum of 14 days.
26. Who is the head of the state in India?
Answer: The President is the head of the state in India.
27. Who is the head of the government in India?
Answer: The Prime Minister is the head of the government in India.
28. Who was the first person from the tribal community to become President?
Answer: Droupadi Murmu is the first person from the tribal community to become President.
29. What system is used to count votes in the President’s election?
Answer: The system used to count votes in the President’s election is called the “single trans-ferable vote system.”
30. Who is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
Answer: The Vice President acts as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
31. Who appoints the Prime Minister?
Answer: The President appoints the Prime Minister.
32. Name the three categories within the Council of Ministers.
Answer: The three categories within the Council of Ministers are Ministers of Cabinet Rank, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
33. Who is the most important political office in India?
Answer: The Prime Minister’s is the most important political office in the country.
34. What is meant by collective responsibility?
Answer: Collective responsibility means that the ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers can continue in office only as long as it has the support of the majority of members of the Lok Sabha.
35. Who acts as a bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers?
Answer: The Prime Minister acts as a bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers.
36. Who is the chief spokesperson of the government on the floor of the House?
Answer: The Prime Minister acts as the chief spokesperson of the government on the floor of the House.
37. Who functions as the ex-officio chairperson of the NITI Aayog?
Answer: The Prime Minister functions as the ex-officio chairperson of the NITI Aayog.
38. Define the term ‘Legislature’.
Answer: Legislature is a law-making body, elected directly by the people.
39. Define the term ‘Executive’.
Answer: Executive is the body which executes the laws made by the legislature and looks after the administration.
40. What are the primary responsibilities of a government in a country?
Answer: The government is responsible for ensuring the security of the citizens and providing facilities for education and health to all. It collects taxes and spends the money raised on administration, defence, and development programmes. It also formulates and implements several welfare schemes.
41. Why are institutions necessary for governing a country?
Answer: Governing a country involves various activities where some persons have to take decisions and others have to implement them. If disputes arise on these decisions or their implementation, there should be someone to determine what is right or wrong. To attend to all these tasks, several arrangements are made in modern democracies, and these arrangements are called institutions.
42. Why is the Parliament in India considered more than just a legislative body?
Answer: Parliament in India is much more than a legislative body because it is an institution that has various functions to perform. These functions include:
(i) political and financial control over the government,
(ii) representation and expression of grievances,
(iii) resolution of conflicts, and
(iv) national integration.
43. Why do we need a Parliament? Explain any two reasons.
Answer: We need a Parliament for the following reasons:
Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country. This task of law-making or legislation is so crucial that these assemblies are called legislatures. Parliaments can make new laws, change existing laws, or abolish existing laws and make new ones in their place.
Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the government. In countries like India, this control is direct and full. Those who run the government can take decisions only so long as they enjoy the support of the Parliament.
44. How does the Parliament control the finances of the government?
Answer: Parliaments control all the money that governments have. In most countries, any public money or money raised from the people can be spent only when the Parliament sanctions it or after the approval of the Parliament.
45. Why is Parliament considered the highest forum for discussion and debate?
Answer: Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues, national policy, and issues affecting the people in any country.
46. How is the Lok Sabha composed? What is its term?
Answer: The Lok Sabha, also known as the House of People, is composed of members who are directly elected by the people. Its term is for a period of five years.
47. How are the members of the Rajya Sabha chosen?
Answer: Members of the Rajya Sabha are not directly elected by the people. They are elected by the MLAs of the state they represent. Additionally, 12 members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India for their achievements in the fields of art, literature, science, and social service.
48. What are the Parliament’s powers regarding Constitutional amendments?
Answer: The Parliament alone has the power to amend the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India. Certain provisions can be amended only with the consent of the States. There are also certain provisions, like the secular nature of the State, which have been put beyond the amending powers of the Parliament.
49. Who forms the Electoral College for the election of the President?
Answer: The President is elected by an Electoral College which consists of the following:
(i) Elected members of both Houses of Parliament (all the elected MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
(ii) All the elected members of all the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the states, including the UTs of Delhi & Puducherry.
50. Why does the Lok Sabha have a superior status in our Constitution?
Answer: Our Constitution has given a superior status to the Lok Sabha since it is directly elected by the people.
51. What happens if there is a difference of opinion on an ordinary bill?
Answer: If there is a difference of opinion or a deadlock on an ordinary bill between the two Houses, a joint session of members of both Houses is held. This session is presided over by the Speaker. Since the Lok Sabha has more members than the Rajya Sabha, the view of the Lok Sabha prevails, and the decision of the majority is taken as final.
52. What is the role of a ministry in the creation of a Bill?
Answer: As soon as a proposal for a Bill is conceived, the ministry concerned works out its administrative, financial, and other implications. Its legal and constitutional implications are examined by the Ministry of Law and the Attorney General of India. The Bill is then given a final shape.
53. Describe the process of the Second Reading of a Bill.
Answer: The Second Reading is the most elaborate and important stage in the process of making a law. During this stage, the Bill is given a detailed examination and is studied clause by clause. Amendments can be moved at this stage.
54. What is the President’s role after a Bill is passed by both Houses?
Answer: When a Bill is passed by both Houses, it is sent to the President for his assent. If the President gives his assent, the Bill becomes an Act. The President, being a Constitutional head, does not withhold assent but may seek information and classification. If the President returns the Bill to the Houses and they pass it again, the President has to sign the Bill.
55. Who is Droupadi Murmu? What is her unique position?
Answer: Droupadi Murmu is an Indian politician and former teacher who is serving as the 15th and current President of India since 2022. She is the first person from the tribal community and the second woman to hold the office.
56. Why does the President of India have only nominal powers?
Answer: As India is a parliamentary democracy, the head of the state has only nominal powers. The President of India is indirectly elected and can never claim the kind of direct popular mandate that the Prime Minister can. This ensures that the President remains only a nominal executive.
57. What are the main functions of the Vice President of India?
Answer: The Vice President acts as the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He discharges the duties of the President in case of illness or absence of the President until the President resumes functioning. The Vice President also acts as the President in case of the death, removal, or resignation of the President of India.
58. How is the Council of Ministers appointed?
Answer: The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Once a Prime Minister has been appointed, he or she recommends to the President the names of persons who are to be appointed to the Council of Ministers. The Ministers hold office at the pleasure of the President.
59. What are the different categories of ministers in the Council of Ministers?
Answer: The Council of Ministers comprises three categories: Ministers of Cabinet Rank, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. The latter two categories have no say in the formulation of national policies and attend Cabinet meetings only on invitation. They assist the Cabinet Ministers in the affairs of their departments.
60. What is the role of the Cabinet in determining national policies?
Answer: The Cabinet plays an important role in the determination of national policies, which have to be ratified by the Parliament. Apart from formulating and determining national policies, the Cabinet is also responsible for their execution through the executive wing of the government. The Cabinet takes decisions about Bills to be introduced in the Lok Sabha and also approves the demands for government expenditure and raising revenues through taxes before they are presented.
61. What does the principle of collective responsibility imply for the Council of Ministers?
Answer: Collective responsibility means that the ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers can continue in office only as long as it has the support of the majority of members of the Lok Sabha. Every Minister is also individually responsible for what happens in the ministry under his or her charge.
62. How have coalition politics imposed constraints on the Prime Minister’s power?
Answer: In recent years, the rise of coalition politics has imposed certain constraints on the power of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister of a coalition government has to accommodate the views and interests of alliance partners.
63. What are political institutions? Why does the Constitution lay down rules for them?
Answer: To attend to all the tasks of governing a country, several arrangements are made in modern democracies. Such arrangements are called institutions. These institutions are broadly categorised into executive, legislature and judiciary. The Constitution of a country lays down basic rules on the powers and functions of each institution.
64. Explain the meaning and key features of a parliamentary democracy in India.
Answer: In a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament is a representative body. It is elected on the basis of universal adult franchise and is empowered to make or change a country’s laws.
The key features of a parliamentary democracy in India are that the Parliament has power over the Executive of the country, as the Executive is chosen from the elected members of the Parliament. The Executive, which is the Union Council of Ministers, remains in power as long as it has the confidence of the Parliament. The Parliament also controls the National Budget of the country. Thus, in a democracy, the Parliament has the power to control the Executive.
65. Why is a Parliament essential for a democracy? Explain its four main roles.
Answer: In all democracies, an assembly of elected representatives exercises supreme political authority on behalf of the people, which is why a Parliament is essential. It exercises this political authority in many ways, and its four main roles are:
Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country. This task of law-making or legislation is so crucial that these assemblies are called legislature. Parliaments all over the world can make new laws, change existing laws, or abolish existing laws and make new ones in their place.
Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the government. In some countries like India, this control is direct and full. Those who run the government can take decisions only so long as they enjoy the support of the Parliament.
Parliaments control all the money that governments have. In most countries, any of the public money can be spent only when the Parliament sanctions it.
Parliaments is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national policy in any country.
66. Describe the composition and tenure of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Answer: Parliament in India consists of two houses. The first is the Lok Sabha (House of People), which is directly elected by the people for a period of five years.
The Second House is called the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. Members of the Rajya Sabha are not directly elected by the people; they are elected by the MLAs of the state they represent. In addition, 12 members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India for their achievements in the fields of art, literature, science and social service. A Rajya Sabha member serves for six years, with one-third of the members retiring every second year. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is never dissolved.
67. Explain the legislative and financial functions of the Indian Parliament.
Answer: The legislative functions of the Indian Parliament include legislating on matters that fall within the Central List and the Concurrent List. The Parliament alone has the powers to amend the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India. It also has powers to create a new State or alter the name and boundary of an existing state.
The financial functions of the Parliament are that the income and expenditure to be incurred by the Central Government are approved and controlled by the Union Parliament. Public money can be spent only when the Parliament sanctions it.
68. How does the Parliament hold the executive accountable? Mention specific measures.
Answer: The Parliament exercises control over the executive. The efficiency of the government is brought to light by a number of measures like the Questions during Question Hour, Adjournment Motions and the Motion of No Confidence. The most important power of the Lok Sabha is that it controls the executive or the government. The government remains in power only as long as it enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha. The moment the Lok Sabha passes the “No Confidence Motion,” all ministers, including the Prime Minister, have to quit.
69. Explain the relationship between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha regarding ordinary bills.
Answer: Regarding an ordinary bill, it has to be passed by both the Houses. If there is a difference of opinion or a deadlock on any issue, then a joint session of members of both Houses is held. Since the Lok Sabha has more members than the Rajya Sabha, the view of the Lok Sabha prevails in a joint session, where the decision of the majority is taken as final.
70. How is the Lok Sabha more powerful than the Rajya Sabha in financial matters?
Answer: In financial matters, the Lok Sabha has more powers. A Money Bill is only introduced in the Lok Sabha. Once the Lok Sabha passes a budget or a Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay its passing for a maximum of 14 days or offer some changes. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept these changes.
71. Describe the three readings a Bill undergoes before becoming an act.
Answer: A Bill has to undergo Three Readings in each House before it becomes an act.
(i) First Reading: The Bill is introduced when the Minister in charge of the Bill rises in the Question Hour and says, “Sir, I introduce the Bill.”
(ii) Second Reading: This is the most elaborate and important stage. The Bill is given a detailed examination and is studied clause by clause. Amendments can be moved at this stage.
(iii) Third Reading: Now the Bill is to be voted upon. The whole Bill is either supported or rejected without any details being referred to.
72. Differentiate between the powers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over a Money Bill.
Answer: The powers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over a Money Bill are not equal. A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. When the Lok Sabha passes it, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it for a maximum of 14 days or make suggestions, which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept. In contrast, for an Ordinary Bill, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have equal powers.
73. Describe the process of the election of the President of India.
Answer: The President of India is indirectly elected by an Electoral College, which consists of the following:
(i) Elected members of both Houses of Parliament (all the elected MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
(ii) All the elected members of all the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the states including the UTs of Delhi & Puducherry.
The votes of MPs and MLAs have different values, depending on how many people they represent. Their votes are counted through a complicated system called the “single trans-ferable vote system.” A candidate standing for the President’s post has to get a majority of votes to win the election.
74. “The President is the head of the state, while the Prime Minister is the head of the government.” Explain.
Answer: The President is the head of the state and the First Citizen of the country. However, as India is a parliamentary democracy, the head of the state exercises only nominal powers. The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions in the country so that they operate in harmony to achieve the objective of the state.
In contrast, the Prime Minister is the head of the government. In the Parliamentary System followed by India, the Prime Minister exercises most of the real powers and is the real executive of the government of India.
75. Describe the composition of the Council of Ministers. What is the role of the Cabinet?
Answer: The Council of Ministers comprises three categories: Ministers of Cabinet Rank, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. The latter two categories have no say in the formulation of national policies. They attend Cabinet meetings only on invitation and assist the Cabinet Ministers in the affairs of their departments.
The Cabinet plays an important role in the determination of national policies. Apart from formulating and determining national policies, the Cabinet is also responsible for their execution through the executive wing of the government. The Cabinet takes decisions about the Bills to be introduced in the ensuing session of the Lok Sabha. The demands for government expenditure and raising revenues through taxes are also approved by the Cabinet before being put in the Lok Sabha.
76. Explain the concept of collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha.
Answer: Collective responsibility means that the ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers can continue in office only as long as it has the support of the majority of members of the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a ‘No Confidence Motion,’ all ministers, including the Prime Minister, have to quit. While every minister is individually responsible for what happens in the ministry under his or her charge, the entire council is collectively responsible for the government’s actions.
77. “The Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha.” Justify this statement with examples.
Answer: While the Rajya Sabha is called the “Upper House” and the Lok Sabha the “Lower House,” it does not mean that the Rajya Sabha is more powerful than the Lok Sabha. Our Constitution has given a superior status to the Lok Sabha since it is directly elected by the people. This can be seen in the following aspects:
Any ordinary bill has to be passed by both the Houses. But if there is a difference of opinion on any issue then a joint session of members of both Houses is held. Since the Lok Sabha has more members than the Rajya Sabha, the view of the Lok Sabha prevails.
In financial matters, the Lok Sabha has more powers. Once the Lok Sabha passes a budget, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can delay the passing of the budget for 14 days only or offer some changes. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept them.
The most important power of the Lok Sabha is that it controls the executive or the government or the Council of Ministers. The government remains in power as long as it enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha. The moment Lok Sabha passes the “No Confidence Motion” all ministers including the Prime Minister have to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not have this power.
78. Trace the complete journey of an Ordinary Bill from its introduction to becoming a law.
Answer: The Parliament is the supreme legislative body. The journey of an Ordinary Bill becoming a law is performed through a series of processes.
All legislative proposals are initiated in the Parliament in the form of Bills. An Ordinary Bill is one that asks for a change in a law or the passing of a new law on any subject except finance.
As soon as a proposal is conceived, the ministry concerned works out its administrative, financial and other implications. Its legal and constitutional implications are examined by the Ministry of Law and Attorney General of India. The Bill is then given a final shape.
The Bill is then presented in either of the two Houses. It has to undergo Three Readings in each House before it becomes an act.
(i) First Reading: The Bill is introduced when the Minister in charge of the Bill rises in the Question Hour and says, “Sir, I introduce the Bill.”
(ii) Second Reading: This is the most elaborate and important stage. It is given a detailed examination and studied clause by clause. Amendments can be moved at this stage.
(iii) Third Reading: Now the Bill is to be voted upon. The whole Bill is either supported or rejected without any details being referred to. In passing an Ordinary Bill, a simple majority of members present is required.
Then the Bill is sent to the other house. Here again it goes through the three stages and then passed. If there is a deadlock, then a joint session of both the Houses is held, presided over by the Speaker. The decision of the majority is taken as final.
When the Bill is passed, it is sent to the President for his assent. If the President gives his assent, the Bill becomes an Act. If the President returns the Bill to the Houses, and if they pass it again, the President has to sign the Bill.
79. Describe the role, powers, and functions of the President of India. Why is the President considered a nominal executive?
Answer: The President is the Head of the State, the First Citizen of the country, and the highest political executive. The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions in the country so that they operate in harmony to achieve the objective of the state. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who then, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints the Council of Ministers. The ministers hold office at the pleasure of the President. When the Parliament is not in session, the President issues ordinances on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The President is considered a nominal executive for several reasons. As India is a parliamentary democracy, the head of the state has only nominal powers. While the Prime Minister is the head of the government, the President is the head of the state, and in our political system, the head of the state exercises only nominal powers. The President of India is not as powerful as the President of the USA because the latter is directly elected by the people, whereas the President of India is indirectly elected. The President can never claim the kind of direct popular mandate that the Prime Minister can, which ensures that he remains only a nominal executive. Furthermore, the President can act only in accordance with the advice rendered by the Prime Minister.
80. Discuss the role of the Prime Minister in the Indian parliamentary system.
Answer: In the Parliamentary System followed by India, the head of the government, called the Prime Minister, exercises most of the real powers. The Prime Minister’s is the most important political office in the country. If the cabinet is the most powerful institution in India, within the cabinet, it is the Prime Minister who is the most powerful. The President appoints the leader of the majority party or a coalition of parties as the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister continues in power as long as he remains the leader.
The powers of the Indian Prime Minister may be summed up as follows:
(i) The Prime Minister is the real executive of the government of India. He chooses his Ministers. The ministers hold office at the pleasure of the President but in effect can be dismissed if so desired by the Prime Minister.
(ii) The allocation of portfolios is done by the Prime Minister.
(iii) The Prime Minister acts as a bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers. The President is periodically kept informed about Cabinet decisions. When the Parliament is not in session, the President issues ordinances on the advice of the Prime Minister.
(iv) The Prime Minister acts as the chief spokesperson of the government on the floor of the House.
(v) The Prime Minister also functions as the ex-officio chairperson of the NITI Aayog.
The Prime Minister is also responsible for ensuring that all ministers perform in tune with the policies drafted and approved by the cabinet and presides over cabinet discussions under his chairmanship.
Rahis is very good