DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL BANGALORE - EAST

SOCIAL SCIENCE
HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS
NOTEBOOK QUESTION ANSWERS

I. Answer the following:

1.What is the difference between the work done by the MLAs in the Assembly and the work done by the
government departments?
Ans: The making of laws is done by the Legislature i.e., MLAs. Implementation of these laws is done
by the government departments.

2. Why should decisions taken by the Chief Minister and other ministers be debated in the Legislative
Assembly?

Ans:

• The Chief Minister and other Ministers have to take decisions and run the government.
• The decisions taken by the Chief Minister and other Ministers must be debated in the Legislative
Assembly because in a democracy, the MLAs can ask questions, express their opinions or give
suggestions, debate an important issue, decide where money should be spent etc.
• Whatever decisions are being taken have to be approved by the Members of the Legislative
Assembly as they have the final authority.

3. Use the terms ‘constituency’ and ‘represent’ to explain who an MLA is and how is the person
elected?

Ans:

• MLA is an elected representative of the people from a particular constituency.

• From each constituency, the people elect one representative who then becomes a Member of the
Legislative Assembly (MLA).
• MLA is elected directly by the people through the voting system.

4. How did some MLAs become Ministers or Chief Minister? Explain.

Ans:
• The political party that has the majority is called the ruling party and all other members are
called the opposition.
• After the elections, the MLAs belonging to the ruling party elect their leader who becomes the
Chief Minister.
• The Chief Minister then selects other members of the ruling party as Ministers.
• After the elections, it is the Governor of the state who appoints the Chief Minister and other
Ministers.
• Hence, some MLAs have dual responsibilities: one as an MLA and the other as a Minister.

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5. How does a government function in a state?
Ans:
• A government is headed by the Chief Minister.
• In the Legislative Assembly all MLAs, whether from the ruling party or from the opposition,
meet to discuss various issues.
• They can express their opinions and ask questions related to the issue or give suggestions about
what should be done by the government.
• There are Ministers who are in charge of various departments of the government such as the
Health Department, the Public Works Department, the Agriculture Department, the Education
Department and so on.
• Whatever work is done by these departments, it has to be approved by the members of the
Legislative Assembly.
• The various government departments then implement the plans which are approved by the
MLAs.

II. Practice question:

6. Why is the Governor appointed by the Central Government? (refer textbook page number 33)

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