PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

POWAI (CBSE)

Name: ___________________ Class: VII ____

Subject: SST (CIVICS) NOTES Roll No: ___

CHAP: THE STATE GOVERNMENT

Q.1) Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.

a) What do you understand by the term ‘federal government’?
ANS: The term federal government means all the states have their own
government and are independent to conduct their own affairs but are united
under the Central Government.

b) Who appoints the Governor and the Chief Minister of a State?

ANS: President of India appoints the Governor and Governor appoints the Chief
minister of a State.

c) Who is eligible to be an Advocate General?

ANS: An individual qualified to be a High Court judge is eligible to be an Advocate
General.

d) Who is responsible for recruiting the civil servants?

ANS: The responsibility of recruiting the civil servants has been given to the Union
Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Q.2) Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.
a) What are the prerequisites to be a Member of Legislative Assembly?
ANS: The prerequisites to be a Member of Legislative Assembly are as follows:
1. He/she must be a citizen of India.
2. He/she must be twenty-five years of age.
3. He/she must be a registered voter in any of the constituencies in India.
4. He/she should not hold any office of profit, under the Central or the State
government.
5. He/she must be mentally sound and must not be an insolvent.

b) Discuss the powers of the Governor.

ANS: The Governor has many important powers, the execution of which is
supported by the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers. They are as follows:
1. Executive powers –

a. The Governor appoints the leader of the ruling party of the State as
the Chief Minister.
b. Other ministers are also appointed by the Governor on the advice of the
Chief Minister.
c. The Governor also appoints other important officials such as the
Advocate General and members of the State Public Service Commission.

2. Legislative powers –
a. The Governor convenes the first session of the Legislative Assembly
each year and also after the general elections.
b. The Governor reserves the right to withhold the passing of a bill
passed by the Legislature. He/she can reserve it for consideration by
the President or return it to the Legislature for reconsideration.
c. In case the Assembly is not in session and an urgent law is required,
the Governor can pass an ordinance which is equivalent to law. An
ordinance becomes a law only if it is passed by the Legislative
Assembly, whenever it reconvenes.
 3. Financial powers –
a. A Money Bill can be introduced in the State Legislature with the
approval or recommendation of the Governor.
b. The Governor also has a State Contingency Fund which helps him cover
any unforeseen expenditure in case of an emergency, natural calamity,
etc.

4. Judicial powers –
a. The Governor has the power to grant pardons and reduce the term of
punishment of people convicted under the laws of that particular state.
However, he cannot change the death sentence given to a convict.

5. Discretionary powers –
a. The Governor also has some special powers which he/she can exercise
in special situations; for example, the Governor can report to the
President that the State cannot be run according to the provisions of the
Constitution and President’s Rule is required in the State.
b. The Governor can use his power to select a Chief Minister, in the
absence of an absolute majority.
c. The Governor can announce fresh elections and dismiss the Council of
Ministers that have lost the confidence of the State Legislature.

c) What are the differences between the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative
Council?
ANS:
Legislative Assembly Legislative Council
1. The Legislative Assembly is also The Legislative Council is also known
known as the Vidhan Sabha. It is as Vidhan Parishad. It is the upper
the lower house of state house of the state legislature.
legislature.
 2. The number of members of the
Legislative Assembly should not
be more than 500 or less than
60.
3. The members of the Legislative
Assembly are elected for tenure
of five years.
The number of members of the
Legislative Council is not to exceed
one-third of the total members of the
Legislative Assembly of the state.
However, the number should
not be less than forty either.
The members of the Legislative Council
are elected for tenure of Six years.

d) What are the functions of the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers?
ANS: The functions of the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers are as
follows:
1. The actual powers of the administration of the state reside with the Chief
Minister and his Council of Ministers, though they are answerable to the
State Legislature.
2. The Chief Minister of the state is equivalent of the Prime Minister at the
Centre.
3. The Chief Minister appoints the Council of Ministers and allocates the
different portfolios to them. He can reshuffle portfolios and also remove
ministers, if they are found to be inefficient.
4. The Chief Minister conducts the affairs of the state. He/she is responsible
for co-ordination of the various departments of the state.
5. The Council of Ministers are responsible for departments like roads,
education, health and sanitation, law and order, etc.

e) Why is bureaucracy important for the government?

ANS: The administrative machinery or the bureaucracy is one of the important
branches of the government. It is called as the civil service.
1. Civil servants are trained and skilled officers. They do not represent any
political party.
 2. The tenure of the officers does not depend on the fate of the government
as well.
3. It is their responsibility to assist the ministers in drafting the policies and
also executing them.

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