UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

Social Science (087) Democratic Politics (2020-21) Notes

CH.4 / Working of Institutions Date: _________
Name :______________________ Std IX / Sec:_________________ Roll No._______

1. What was Mandal Commission? Why was it appointed? State its recommendations.
a. The Commission appointed by the Government of India in 1979 named as the Second
Backward Classes Commission and headed by B.P. Mandal was called the Mandal
Commission.
b. It was appointed to determine the criteria to identify the socially and educationally backward
classes in India and to recommend steps to be taken for their advancement.
c. The major recommendation was that 27% of government jobs be reserved for the socially
and educationally backward classes.
2. ‘The Government decision to implement the recommendations of Mandal Commission
was the most hotly debated issue in the country.’ Elaborate.
A. Implementation of the recommendations of Mandal Commission took a long time because
a. Newspapers and magazines were full of different views and opinions on this issue.
b. It led to widespread protests and counter protests, some of which were violent. People
reacted strongly because this decision affected thousands of job opportunities.
c. Some felt that existence of inequalities among people of different castes in India necessitated
job reservations.
d. Others felt that this was unfair as it would deny equality of opportunity to those who did not
belong to backward communities. They would be denied jobs even though they could be
more qualified.
e. Some felt that this would perpetuate caste feelings among people and hamper national unity.

3. Give any three functions or responsibilities of the government in India.

A. The functions or responsibilities of the government in India are:
a. Government collects taxes and uses it for administration, defence, and development
programmes.
b. It ensures security to the citizens and provides facilities for education and health.
c. It formulates and implements several welfare schemes.
4. Explain the role of various Government institutions working in India.
A. There are three main institutions of the government. They are -
a. Legislative: The Prime Minister and the cabinet are institutions that take all important
policy decisions.
b. Executive: The Civil Servants, working together, are responsible for taking steps to
implement the ministers’ decisions.
c. Judiciary: Supreme Court is an institution where disputes between citizens and the
government are finally settled.

5. What is a Parliament? Explain the functions of the Parliament.

A. In all democracies, an assembly of elected representatives exercises supreme political
authority on behalf of the people. In India such a National Assembly of elected
representatives is called Parliament.
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Class IX_SS_Notes_Democratic Politics Ch-4 (2020-21)
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 The functions or the Parliament are:
a. Parliament is the final authority for making laws, changing existing laws or abolished existing
laws and make new ones in their place.
b. Parliaments exercise some control over those who run the government.
c. Parliaments control all the money that governments have as the public money can be spent
only when the Parliament sanctions it.
d. Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national policy.

6. Name the two houses of the parliament in India. Which of the two houses is more
important? Justify your answer.
A. The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are the two houses of the parliament in India.
The Lok Sabha is more powerful due to the following reasons:
a. In case of an ordinary bill, if there is a difference of opinion between the two houses, the
final decision is taken in a joint session. Due to the strength of the Lok Sabha, the will of the
lower house will prevail.
b. Lok Sabha enjoys more powers in money matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes the budget
of the government or any other money related law, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. Within
14 days, if the Rajya Sabha does not suggest changes, then the bill will be deemed to be
passed by both the houses. The Rajya Sabha has no power to reject or amend a money
bill.
c. Lok Sabha controls the council of ministers. Only a person who enjoys the support of the
majority of members of the Lok Sabha is appointed as the Prime Minister.
d. Only Lok Sabha can pass the no confidence motion against the Council of Ministers.

7. Why are the political executives more powerful than the non-political executives?
A. The political executives have more power than the non-political executives because:
a. In a democracy, the will of the people is supreme, and the political executive is elected by
the people.
b. All the political executives are answerable to the people.
c. The people can change them if they do not work according to the wishes of the people.
d. The non-political executives (civil servants) are the experts in their field, but political
executives are empowered to exercise the will of the people on their behalf.
e. The experts can tell the route, but the political executives have a larger view, so they decide
the destination.

8. Explain any three differences between permanent and political executives in India.
Permanent executives Political executives
a. Permanent executives are appointed by a. Political executives are elected by the
the government for a long term. people for a specific period
b. They work as civil servants under Political b. They take all the decisions on their own
executives and assist them in day - to- day and can formulate laws.
administration.
c. They are more educated and have more c. They may have very little knowledge of
expert knowledge of the subject. their ministry but are empowered to be
answerable and accountable to the
people.

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9. How does the Prime Minister exercise control over his Council of Ministers?
A. The Prime Minister is the most important political institution in the country. Being the real
head of the government, he has wide ranging powers. They are:
a. He chairs cabinet meetings. He coordinates the work of different departments.
b. His decisions are final in case disagreements arise between departments.
c. He exercises general supervision of different ministries. All ministers work under his
leadership.
d. The Prime Minister distributes and redistributes work (portfolios) to the ministers. He also
has the power to dismiss them.
e. When the Prime Minister quits, the entire ministry quits.
10. What is the ‘Collective Responsibility’? Describe its significance.
a. Collective Responsibility means the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the
Parliament for all its acts.
b. In case the Lok Sabha rejects any bill or policy, or decision taken by a minister or the
Council of Ministers, it is taken as the vote of no confidence and the entire council needs to
resign.
c. The Principle of Collective Responsibility means the entire Council of Ministers sink or swim
together.
Significance:
a. The whole Cabinet or Council of Ministers work as a team.
b. All the ministers remain responsible to the Parliament and the Parliament remains supreme.

11. What is coalition government? Why the Prime Minister of a coalition government
cannot take decisions as he likes?
A. After the declaration of election results, when there is no single party, which enjoys the
majority support of the members in the legislature, two or more parties come together to
form and run the government. Such a government is called coalition government.
The limitations of a coalition government are:
a. The Prime Minister has to accommodate different groups and factions in his party as well
as among alliance partners.
b. He also has to pay heed to the views and positions of coalition partners and other parties
on whose support the survival of the government depends.
c. The agenda and the policies of the government are usually decided as common minimum
programmes.
d. This includes only those policies which are common to all coalition partners.

12. Explain the major powers of the President.

A. The major powers of the President are s follows:
a. He is the head of the state. The administration of the country runs in his name.
b. He appoints the Prime Minister, and on his advice, he appoints other ministers in the
Council of Ministers.
c. The President has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha on the advice of the Prime Minister
before the expiry of its full term.
d. All international treaties and agreements are made in the name of the President.
e. His executive powers include the major appointments of the country. He appoints
Governors of States, the Chief Justice of India, Judges of the Supreme Court and High
Courts, the Election Commissioners, Auditor and Solicitor General of India, Cabinet ,
Secretary, Ambassadors to other countries etc.
f. The President is the supreme commander of the defence forces in India.

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 g. A bill passed by the Parliament becomes a law only after the President gives assent to it. If
the President wants, he/she can delay this for some time, send the bill back to the Parliament
for reconsideration or even reject it.
h. The President nominates twelve members to the Rajya Sabha for their contributions in arts,
literature, sciences, or social services.

13. Explain the limitations of the powers of the President.

A. In India, there are certain limitations to the powers of the President. They are as follows:
a. He exercises all these powers only on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
b. He can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider its advice. But if the same advice is given
again, he/she is bound to act according to it.
c. When the bill is passed by the Parliament it is sent to the President for his approval
sometimes, he sends it back for reconsideration. But if the Parliament passes the bill again,
he/she has to sign it.

14. Indian Judiciary enjoys a high level of confidence among the people. Explain.
a. Indian Judiciary acts as the guardian of the Fundamental Rights. Citizens have the right to
approach the courts to seek remedy in case of any violation of their rights.
b. In recent years, the Indian courts have given historical judgements and directives to protect
public interest and human rights.
c. The court has played very important role in checking malpractices on the part of public
officials.
d. The courts intervene to prevent the misuse of the government’s power to make decisions.
e. The Supreme Court and the High Court have the power to interpret the constitution of the
country.
Hence, the Indian Judiciary enjoys a high level of confidence among the people.

15. How is the judicial system organised in India?

a. The Indian judiciary consists of a Supreme Court for the entire nation, High Courts in the
states, District Courts, and courts at local level.
b. India has an integrated judiciary. It means the Supreme Court controls the judicial
administration in the country.
c. The decisions of Supreme Court are binding on all other courts of the country.
d. It can take up any dispute -
• between citizens of the country,
• between citizens and government,
• between two or more state governments and
• between governments at the union and state level.
e. It is the highest Court of Appeal in civil and criminal cases. It can hear appeals against the
decisions of the High Courts.
16. What is Independence of Judiciary? How can we say that India has achieved it?
A. Independence of the judiciary means that it is not under the control of the legislature or the
executive. The judges do not act on the direction of the government or according to the
wishes of the party in power.
India has achieved this because:
a. The judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts are appointed by the President on
the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court.

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 b. There is very little scope for interference by the political executive. Once a person is
appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court, it is nearly impossible to
remove him or her from that position.
c. A judge can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately by 2/3
members of the two houses of the Parliament.

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Class IX_SS_Notes_Democratic Politics Ch-4 (2020-21)
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