CLASS: VIII Subject: Social Science

Political Science Ch3: Why do we need a Parliament?

Graded worksheet (Answer Key)

Level 1
Q.1 EVM was used throughout India, for the first time in ________.
A. 2004
B. 2007
C. 2006
D. None of these
Q.2 _______ functions primarily as the representative of the states of India in
Parliament.
A. Lok Sabha
B. Parliament
C. Vidhan Sabha
D. Rajya Sabha
Q.3 What kind of role citizens of India play in electing representatives?
A. Indirect
B. No Role
C. Direct
D. Submissive
Q.4 The ___________ is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha.
A. President
B. Prime Minister
C. MLA
D. Chief Minister
Q.5 EVM stands for______.
A. Electronic Voting Machine
B. Election Voting Machine
C. Equal Voting Machine
D. Electric Voting Machine
Q.6 The Government of India Act ______ allowed for some elected
representation.
A. 1920
B. 1936
C. 1909
D. 1947
Q.7 One of the major functions of the Parliament is to select the Executive.
Q.8 12 members are nominated by the President in the Rajya Sabha.
Q.9 The Opposition parties play an important role in the healthy functioning of
Democracy.

Level 2
Q.10 What is a Parliament? Explain the working of Parliament.
ANS – The Parliament of India consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha and the
Lok Sabha.
 The Parliament session begins with a question hour.
 The question hour is an important mechanism through which MP’s
(Executive) can elicit information about the working of the government.
 By asking questions, the government is alerted to its shortcomings and also
comes to know the opinion of the people.
 Similarly, MPs from the opposition party highlights the drawbacks in various
policies and programmes of the government. In this way they play a critical
role in the healthy functioning of democracy.
Q.11 Why do you think there are so few women candidate in parliament?
ANS - Absence of any system for proper representation of women in the
parliament such as, reservation of seats for women.
• Discrimination against women in a male dominated society.
Q.12 What is the role of opposition party play in the healthy functioning of a
democracy?
ANS - The Opposition party asks questions about the working of the government.
The government is alerted of its shortcomings, and also know the opinion of the
people through their representatives in the Parliament.
• They highlight drawbacks in various policies and programmes of the government
and mobilise popular support for their own policies.
• Thus, the Opposition parties play a critical role in the healthy functioning of a
democracy.
Q.13 Define the following terms.
a. Coalition Government
b. Question Hour
c. Constituency
Ans – a. Coalition Government - A temporary alliance of groups or parties. It refers
to the alliance formed by political parties after elections when no party has been
able to get adequate seats to form a clear majority.
b. Question Hour - The Parliament, while in session, begins with a question hour.
The question hour is an important mechanism through which MPs can elicit
information about the working of the government.
c. Constituency - The country is divided into many areas for election purposes.
Each area is called a constituency. A representative is elected from each
constituency to serve in the legislative body.

Level 3
Q.14 Explain the functions of the Parliament?
Ans - FUNCTIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT: -
A. To select the national government: -
 Members elected to Lok Sabha are known as MPs. The party which comes in
majority (at least 272 members at present) gets the chance to form the
government.
  The party /coalition that claim to form the government select a leader who
becomes the Prime Minister.
 The Prime Minister selects Council of Ministers to work and implement the
decisions of the legislature.
 These ministers take charge of various portfolios like finance, health,
defence etc.
The second largest political party other than the ruling party sits in opposition and
is called opposition party. The opposition plays a critical role in a democracy to
keep a check on the government.
B. To control, guide and inform the government: -
(a) To elicit information from the government, parliamentary session begins with a
question hour.
(b) Through questions the government is alerted to its short coming.
(c) Government comes to know the opinion of the people though representation in
the parliament.
(d) The opposition plays critical role in the healthy functioning of the democracy.
(e) The government gets valuable feedback from the opposition party &
people.
C. Law making: -
The Parliament makes rules and regulation for the whole country and possible
guidelines to the state government.
Q.15 Differentiate between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Ans -
S. no Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
1. It is known as the ‘House of It is known as the ‘Council of
People.’ States.’
2. Tenure of Lok Sabha is 5 yrs. After every two years, one third of
the members of the Rajya Sabha
retire.
3. Once this five-year term On the other hand, the Rajya
expires, the Lok Sabha Sabha is a permanent
dissolves. house.
4. Members of the Lok Sabha are Whereas, members of the Rajya
directly elected by the people. Sabha are indirectly elected by the
people.
5. The minimum age of eligibility While it is 30 yrs for the Rajya
to become a member of the Sabha.
Lok Sabha is 25 yrs.
6. Lok Sabha is presided over by Rajya Sabha is chaired by the Vice-
the Speaker. President of India.

7. Members – 543 Members – 245 (233 elected + 12

nominated by the President)

8. It is known as the lower Whereas, Rajya Sabha is the upper

house. house.

9. Lok Sabha carpet is green in Rajya Sabha carpet is red in colour.

colour.

Q16. Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults
have a right to vote?
 Ans: The freedom struggle was fought by people belonging to different
backgrounds and they were inspired by the ideas of freedom, equality and
participation in decision making.
 The reason to fight for the freedom of the nation was to live in a country
governed by the leaders who were sensitive to people’s needs and demands
and who could completely abolish the inequalities that existed under the
British rule.
 The dreams and aspirations of people to live a free and respectful life laid
down the principle of Universal Adult Franchise, i.e. the right to vote.
Q17. How are the marginalized group of people get an adequate
representation in Parliament and how does Parliament now have more and
more people from different backgrounds?

Ans - The Parliament now has more and more people from different
 backgrounds. For example- there are more rural members and also members
from many regional parties.
 Groups and people that were non-unrepresented are beginning to get
elected to the Parliament.
 There has also been an increase in political participation from the Dalit
and backward castes and the minorities.
 It has been observed that representative democracy cannot produce a
perfect reflection of society.
Q18. How can all the citizens participate in the decision–making process of the
government?

 ANS - In a democracy general elections are held and all adults have a right to
vote. The citizens elect a few people to represent them in the Parliament.

 The Parliament is made up of all these representatives.

 These representatives are known as Members of the Parliament. One group,

from among these elected representatives forms the government.

 It is through these representatives that the citizens take part in the decision-
making of the government.