“Happiness is a matter of choice”

.
CLASS: IX
SECTION: ALL
SUBJECT: SOCIAL SCIENCE
SESSION: 2023-24
CHAPTER-5: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS
NOTES

Q1 What do you mean by the term institution? Why is it required?

A1 Several arrangements are made in all modern democracies to perform various tasks such
arrangements are called institutions. Some of the tasks performed by these institutions are-
1. To ensure security to the citizens and provide facilities for education and health to all.
2. To collect taxes and spend the money thus raised on administration, defence and
development programmes.
3. To solve the disputes if they arise on various decisions or on their implementation.
4. To formulate and implement various welfare schemes.

Q2 Why is working with institutions not easy?

A2
1. Institutions involve rules and regulations. This can bind the hands of leaders.
2. Institutions involve meetings, committees and routines. This often leads to delays and
complications.
3. Therefore, dealing with institutions can be frustrating.
4. One might feel that it is much better to have one person take all decisions without any rules,
procedures and meetings.
5. Institutions make it difficult to have a good decision taken very quickly.

Q3 Write a short note on Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979.

A3
a) The Government of India had appointed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979 headed
by B.P. Mandal was also known as Mandal Commission to identify socially and educationally
backward classes in India.
b) The Commission gave its report in 1980 and made many recommendations. Example: Reservation
of 27% government jobs for socially and economically backward classes.
i. Views of people towards this recommendation by Mandal Commission
ii. It would affect thousands of job opportunities.
iii. Existence of inequalities among people of different castes in India necessitated job reservations.
iv. 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.

Q4 Why do we need a Parliament?

OR
How does the parliament exercise political authority on behalf of the people?
A4 Functions of Parliament
1. Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country.
2. Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the government.
3. It controls all the money that governments have.
4. Parliament is the highest forum of debate and discussion on public issues and national policies of
any country.

www.queensvalleyschool.in Sector-8, Phase-I, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077

 “Happiness is a matter of choice”
.
Q5 Distinguish between the two houses of the Parliament.
Basis Lok Sabha (Lower House) Rajya Sabha (Upper House)

Other name House of the People Council of States

Prescribed 552 members 250 members

strength
Head Presided over by speaker. Chaired by Vice President of India. Mr.
Mr. Om Birla is the present Lok Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar is the present Vice
Speaker.
President of India.

Tenure It is a temporary house. Elections It is a permanent house. 1/3rd of its members

take place usually every five year.
It can be dissolved before the
expiry of full term.
Elections Members are directly elected by the
people.
retires every two years. Members are elected
for a period of 6 years.
Members are elected by the elected
members of the state legislative assembly.

Eligibility A person must be a citizen of India A person must be a citizen of India and at
and at least 25 years of age. least 30 years of age.

Q6) Distinguish between political executive and permanent executive.

A6)
Basis Political Executive Permanent Executive
Definition 1) Political executive includes 1) Permanent executive includes the
the representatives who are salaried people (civil servants) who are
elected by the people for a appointed on a long-term basis.
specific period.
Laws and Policies 2) They make laws and policies and 2) They are in charge of execution of
make the government’s policies and political
final decisions. executives in carrying out day- to- day
administration.
Term 3) They can be changed in the next 3) They are permanent and remain
elections. in office even when the ruling party
changes.
Answerability 4) They are answerable to the people 4) They are not answerable to the people.
for all the consequences of their
decisions.

Example 5) Political leaders. 5) Civil servants.

www.queensvalleyschool.in Sector-8, Phase-I, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077

 “Happiness is a matter of choice”
.
Q7 Distinguish between Cabinet and Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers Cabinet Ministers
1) It is a wider body. 1) It is the innermost part of the Council of Ministers.

2) It has about 60 to 80 Ministers 2) It has about 25 ministers.

3) Prime Minister may not consult all the
ministers.
4) Council of Ministers includes Cabinet
Minister, Ministers of State, and Ministers of
State with independent charge.
3) Prime Minister always consults them. The decision of the
Cabinet is binding on all the members whether they are a
party to the decision or not.
4) All Cabinet Ministers are part of the Council of Ministers.

Q8 Can the President appoint anyone as the Prime Minster? Explain your stance
A8) The President cannot appoint anyone as the Prime Minister. The President appoints the leader of
the majority party or a coalition of parties that commands a majority in Lok Sabha, as the Prime
Minister. In case no single party or alliance gets a majority, the President appoints the person most
likely to secure a majority support.

Q9) How is the President of India elected and removed?

A9)
1) President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses
of the Parliament and elected members of legislative assemblies of states by means of a single
transferable vote system.
2) President can be removed by a special procedure conducted by Parliament called
impeachment only on grounds of violating the Constitution. Such a resolution has to be
passed by both the houses of the Parliament by special majority.

Q10) ‘The President of India enjoys very little powers’. Explain.

A10) The President of India exercises vast powers but on the advice of Council of Ministers.
a. The President can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider their advice. But if the same
advice is given again he is bound to act according to it.
b. The President can only delay the bill for some time by sending it back to the
Parliament for reconsideration. But if the Parliament passes the bill again, he has to
sign it.
Q11) Describe the powers of the President of India.
A11) The President of India enjoys vast powers. The President is the Constitutional head.
a) All governmental activities, major policy decisions of the government take place in the name of the
President.
b) All laws and major appointments are made in the name of the President. For e.g. Chief
Justice of India,the Judges of High Courts of state, Prime Minister etc.
c) A Bill passed by the Parliament becomes a law only after the President’s assent.
d) All international treaties and agreements are made in the name of the President.
e) The President is the Supreme commander of the Defence Forces of India and is
empowered to declare National Emergency (in case of external or internal aggression),
State Emergency (in case of Constitutional Breakdown) and Financial Emergency (in case of
financial deadlock).

www.queensvalleyschool.in Sector-8, Phase-I, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077

 “Happiness is a matter of choice”
.
Q12) “Lok Sabha is more powerful than Rajya Sabha.” Justify.
A12) Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha because its members are directly elected by the
people.
a) Ordinary Bill- Any ordinary Bill needs to be passed by both the Houses. But in case of a
difference between the two Houses, the final decision is taken in a joint session.
b) Money Bill- Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes
the passes the budget of the government or any other money related law, the Rajya Sabha can
not reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok
Sabha may or may not accept these changes.
c) No Confidence Motion- The Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. Only a person who
enjoys the support of the majority of the members in Lok Sabha is appointed as the Prime
Minister. If the majority of the Lok Sabha members say that they have No Confidence in the
Council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime Minister have to quit.

Q13) Write a short note on Council of Ministers.

A13) Council of Ministers is the official name for the body that includes all the ministers. It is headed by the
Prime Minister. It usually has 60 to 80 Ministers of different ranks. It has three categories of
ministers:-

Cabinet Ministers- These are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party who are in
charge of major ministries. It comprises about 20 ministers. The decision of the Cabinet is
taken as decision of the entire Council.
Ministers of State with independent charge- These are usually in charge of smaller
Ministries. They participate in Cabinet meetings only when specially invited.
Ministers of State- These are attached to assist Cabinet Ministers.

Q14) The Prime Minister of a coalition government cannot take decisions as he likes. Explain.

A14) The Prime Minister of a coalition government cannot take decisions as he likes because:-

a) He 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 of the coalition partners and other parties, on
whose survival the government depends.

Q15) What is independence of judiciary? How has Indian Constitution ensured independence of
judiciary?
Ans 15) Independence of judiciary means that it is not under the control of the legislature or executive.
The Indian Constitution ensured independence of judiciary in the following ways: -
a) Control- Judiciary is not under the control of legislature or the executive.
b) Appointment- The judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court are appointed by
the President on advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice
of High Court.
c) Removal- Once appointed, it is very difficult to remove a judge. They can be removed only
by an impeachment passed by 2/3rd members of the Two Houses of the Parliament.

www.queensvalleyschool.in Sector-8, Phase-I, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077

 “Happiness is a matter of choice”
.
IMPORTANT POINTS-
1) Three institutions of parliamentary democracy responsible to run democratic
government in India -Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
2) Houses or Chamber of Parliament- Lok Sabha or Lower House and Rajya Sabha or Upper House.
3) The Congress Party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan – Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty) in the
Lok Sabha election of 1971.
4) A judge can be removed only by an impeachment motion passed separately by 2/3rd members of
both the houses of the Parliament.
5)President appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers on advice of Prime Minister.
6)Parliamentary democracy is also known as cabinet form of government.
7) The Prime Minister of a coalition government cannot take decision as he likes. He has to
accommodate different groups and factions in his party as well as his alliance partners, on whose
support the survival of the government depends.
8) Parliament- It includes- Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and President
a) Lok Sabha (House of the People) –This House is directly elected by people and exercises
real power on behalf of people.
b) Rajya Sabha (Council of States)- This house is elected indirectly and performs some
special functions.It mainly looks after the interests of various states, regions or federal
units.
c) President- Not a member of any house. That is why all laws made in the Houses came
into force only after the assent of the President.
9) Coalition government- A government formed by an alliance of two or more political parties,
usually when no single party enjoys majority support of the members in a legislature.

www.queensvalleyschool.in Sector-8, Phase-I, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077