Selina Textbook Solutions: The Union Legislature | Civics Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Union Legislature 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot. 
2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member 
of Lok Sabha. 
3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament. 
5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B. 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones. 
1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India. ? 
2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha. ? 
3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year. ? 
4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years. ? 
Page 2


The Union Legislature 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot. 
2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member 
of Lok Sabha. 
3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament. 
5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B. 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones. 
1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India. ? 
2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha. ? 
3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year. ? 
4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years. ? 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. Name the two Houses of the Union Parliament| 
Answer: The two houses of Parliament are 
1. Lok Sabha 
2. Rajya Sabha. 
Question 2. How are the members to the Lok Sabha elected? 
Answer: The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly through a secret ballot by 
adult citizens for five years. 
Question 3. What is a bicameral legislature? 
Answer: Bicameral Legislature means a parliament has two houses-the Upper House 
and the Lower House. Our parliament consists of two Houses, therefore ours is a 
bicameral Legislature. 
Question 4. Mention the essential qualifications for a person to be a member of the Lok 
Sabha. 
Answer: Qualifications for Membership to the Lok Sabha: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should not be less than 25 years of age. 
3. He should be mentally sound. 
4. He should not be an insolvent, i.e., he should not be in debt and should have the 
ability to meet his financial commitments. 
5. He should not hold an office of profit under the government. 
6. He should not be a proclaimed offender. 
7. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country. 
Question 5. What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha ? 
Answer: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It is also called council of states. The 
maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. Of these 238 are elected 
by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 
members are nominated by the President of India from among men of repute in various 
spheres of life e.g. science, technology literature and social work.However, at present, 
the Rajya Sabha consists of 245 members, out of which 233 are elected and 12 
members are nominated by the President. 
 
 
Page 3


The Union Legislature 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot. 
2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member 
of Lok Sabha. 
3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament. 
5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B. 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones. 
1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India. ? 
2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha. ? 
3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year. ? 
4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years. ? 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. Name the two Houses of the Union Parliament| 
Answer: The two houses of Parliament are 
1. Lok Sabha 
2. Rajya Sabha. 
Question 2. How are the members to the Lok Sabha elected? 
Answer: The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly through a secret ballot by 
adult citizens for five years. 
Question 3. What is a bicameral legislature? 
Answer: Bicameral Legislature means a parliament has two houses-the Upper House 
and the Lower House. Our parliament consists of two Houses, therefore ours is a 
bicameral Legislature. 
Question 4. Mention the essential qualifications for a person to be a member of the Lok 
Sabha. 
Answer: Qualifications for Membership to the Lok Sabha: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should not be less than 25 years of age. 
3. He should be mentally sound. 
4. He should not be an insolvent, i.e., he should not be in debt and should have the 
ability to meet his financial commitments. 
5. He should not hold an office of profit under the government. 
6. He should not be a proclaimed offender. 
7. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country. 
Question 5. What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha ? 
Answer: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It is also called council of states. The 
maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. Of these 238 are elected 
by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 
members are nominated by the President of India from among men of repute in various 
spheres of life e.g. science, technology literature and social work.However, at present, 
the Rajya Sabha consists of 245 members, out of which 233 are elected and 12 
members are nominated by the President. 
 
 
Question 6. What are the functions of the Lok Sabha? 
Answer: The Functions of the Lok Sabha 
1. Legislative Functions: They pass bills and make laws. Any bill regarding subjects 
in the Union or the Concurrent List of the Constitution may be moved in this 
House. 
2. Financial Powers: The House of People controls the treasury. No budget or 
government expenditure can be made without the permission of the House. A 
money bill has to be moved only in the Lok Sabha. 
3. Control over the Council of Ministers: The council of ministers is responsible to the 
Lok Sabha. It may remain in power only so long as it enjoys the confidence of the 
Lok Sabha. 
Question 7. Describe the law making functions of the Parliament. 
Answer: The Union Parliament is law-making organ of the Union Government. Besides, 
it has to perform many more functions. 
1. It frames new laws and amends or cancels them, if necessary, on all the 97 
subjects of the Union List and all the remainder subjects which have not found a 
place in any of the lists. 
2. In certain cases, it can make laws on the subjects of the State List also. 
3. The Parliament along with the State Legislature can pass laws regarding the 47 
subjects on the Concurrent List. 
4. The Union Parliament has the sole right to amend the Constitution, although in 
certain cases, these amendments need to be ratified by a majority of the states. 
Question 8. How does the Parliament exercise control over the Government? 
Answer: The most important function of the Parliament is to exercise control over the 
government. 
1. The government is directly responsible to the Parliament for its acts of omission 
and commission. The government can be voted out of office by passing a vote of 
no confidence against the Prime Minister or the Ministry or any of its members. 
2. The Members of Parliament can also move adjournment motions. An adjournment 
motion is tabled when there is an urgent matter that needs the immediate attention 
of the government. If admitted, a time a set aside from normal business of the 
house for discussing the matters of urgent public importance. 
3. The members can ask any question relating to the administration of the state and 
the ministers are obliged to answer them. In this way, they can keep a check on 
the functioning of the various departments under different ministers. 
4. The Parliament can also hold the strings of the government tight by voting a cut in 
the annual budget. 
 
Page 4


The Union Legislature 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot. 
2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member 
of Lok Sabha. 
3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament. 
5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B. 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones. 
1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India. ? 
2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha. ? 
3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year. ? 
4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years. ? 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. Name the two Houses of the Union Parliament| 
Answer: The two houses of Parliament are 
1. Lok Sabha 
2. Rajya Sabha. 
Question 2. How are the members to the Lok Sabha elected? 
Answer: The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly through a secret ballot by 
adult citizens for five years. 
Question 3. What is a bicameral legislature? 
Answer: Bicameral Legislature means a parliament has two houses-the Upper House 
and the Lower House. Our parliament consists of two Houses, therefore ours is a 
bicameral Legislature. 
Question 4. Mention the essential qualifications for a person to be a member of the Lok 
Sabha. 
Answer: Qualifications for Membership to the Lok Sabha: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should not be less than 25 years of age. 
3. He should be mentally sound. 
4. He should not be an insolvent, i.e., he should not be in debt and should have the 
ability to meet his financial commitments. 
5. He should not hold an office of profit under the government. 
6. He should not be a proclaimed offender. 
7. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country. 
Question 5. What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha ? 
Answer: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It is also called council of states. The 
maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. Of these 238 are elected 
by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 
members are nominated by the President of India from among men of repute in various 
spheres of life e.g. science, technology literature and social work.However, at present, 
the Rajya Sabha consists of 245 members, out of which 233 are elected and 12 
members are nominated by the President. 
 
 
Question 6. What are the functions of the Lok Sabha? 
Answer: The Functions of the Lok Sabha 
1. Legislative Functions: They pass bills and make laws. Any bill regarding subjects 
in the Union or the Concurrent List of the Constitution may be moved in this 
House. 
2. Financial Powers: The House of People controls the treasury. No budget or 
government expenditure can be made without the permission of the House. A 
money bill has to be moved only in the Lok Sabha. 
3. Control over the Council of Ministers: The council of ministers is responsible to the 
Lok Sabha. It may remain in power only so long as it enjoys the confidence of the 
Lok Sabha. 
Question 7. Describe the law making functions of the Parliament. 
Answer: The Union Parliament is law-making organ of the Union Government. Besides, 
it has to perform many more functions. 
1. It frames new laws and amends or cancels them, if necessary, on all the 97 
subjects of the Union List and all the remainder subjects which have not found a 
place in any of the lists. 
2. In certain cases, it can make laws on the subjects of the State List also. 
3. The Parliament along with the State Legislature can pass laws regarding the 47 
subjects on the Concurrent List. 
4. The Union Parliament has the sole right to amend the Constitution, although in 
certain cases, these amendments need to be ratified by a majority of the states. 
Question 8. How does the Parliament exercise control over the Government? 
Answer: The most important function of the Parliament is to exercise control over the 
government. 
1. The government is directly responsible to the Parliament for its acts of omission 
and commission. The government can be voted out of office by passing a vote of 
no confidence against the Prime Minister or the Ministry or any of its members. 
2. The Members of Parliament can also move adjournment motions. An adjournment 
motion is tabled when there is an urgent matter that needs the immediate attention 
of the government. If admitted, a time a set aside from normal business of the 
house for discussing the matters of urgent public importance. 
3. The members can ask any question relating to the administration of the state and 
the ministers are obliged to answer them. In this way, they can keep a check on 
the functioning of the various departments under different ministers. 
4. The Parliament can also hold the strings of the government tight by voting a cut in 
the annual budget. 
 
V. Write short notes on the following: 
Question 1. Adjournment motion 
Answer: Daily business of the House is programmed well in advance and is considered 
accordingly. But if a question of immense public importance crops up, the members can 
demand adjournment of the discussion on slated business and discuss that matter 
immediately. 
Question 2. Universal Adult Franchise 
Answer: Adult Franchise means that the right to vote should be given to all adult 
without discrimination on the basis of caste, class, colour, religion or sex. It is based on 
equality which is the basic principle of democracy. 
Question 3. Secret Ballot 
Answer: Secret Ballot is a voting method in which a voter’s choice in an election or 
referendum is anonymous forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation, 
blackmailing and potential vote buying. Printed ballot papers are provided with names of 
the candidates. Provisions are made at the polling place for the voter to record their 
preferences in secret and the ballots are designed to eliminate bias and to prevent any 
one from influencing a voter. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The functions of the government are divided into three branches, namely, 
the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. 
2. Subjects for legislation are divide into three lists-the Union List, the State 
List and the Concurrent List. 
3. The Union Parliament has two Houses-the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house. It cannot be dissolved. 
5. The Parliament is answerable to the legislature. 
B. Match the following: 
 
Page 5


The Union Legislature 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot. 
2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member 
of Lok Sabha. 
3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament. 
5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B. 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones. 
1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India. ? 
2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha. ? 
3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year. ? 
4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years. ? 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. Name the two Houses of the Union Parliament| 
Answer: The two houses of Parliament are 
1. Lok Sabha 
2. Rajya Sabha. 
Question 2. How are the members to the Lok Sabha elected? 
Answer: The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly through a secret ballot by 
adult citizens for five years. 
Question 3. What is a bicameral legislature? 
Answer: Bicameral Legislature means a parliament has two houses-the Upper House 
and the Lower House. Our parliament consists of two Houses, therefore ours is a 
bicameral Legislature. 
Question 4. Mention the essential qualifications for a person to be a member of the Lok 
Sabha. 
Answer: Qualifications for Membership to the Lok Sabha: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should not be less than 25 years of age. 
3. He should be mentally sound. 
4. He should not be an insolvent, i.e., he should not be in debt and should have the 
ability to meet his financial commitments. 
5. He should not hold an office of profit under the government. 
6. He should not be a proclaimed offender. 
7. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country. 
Question 5. What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha ? 
Answer: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It is also called council of states. The 
maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. Of these 238 are elected 
by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 
members are nominated by the President of India from among men of repute in various 
spheres of life e.g. science, technology literature and social work.However, at present, 
the Rajya Sabha consists of 245 members, out of which 233 are elected and 12 
members are nominated by the President. 
 
 
Question 6. What are the functions of the Lok Sabha? 
Answer: The Functions of the Lok Sabha 
1. Legislative Functions: They pass bills and make laws. Any bill regarding subjects 
in the Union or the Concurrent List of the Constitution may be moved in this 
House. 
2. Financial Powers: The House of People controls the treasury. No budget or 
government expenditure can be made without the permission of the House. A 
money bill has to be moved only in the Lok Sabha. 
3. Control over the Council of Ministers: The council of ministers is responsible to the 
Lok Sabha. It may remain in power only so long as it enjoys the confidence of the 
Lok Sabha. 
Question 7. Describe the law making functions of the Parliament. 
Answer: The Union Parliament is law-making organ of the Union Government. Besides, 
it has to perform many more functions. 
1. It frames new laws and amends or cancels them, if necessary, on all the 97 
subjects of the Union List and all the remainder subjects which have not found a 
place in any of the lists. 
2. In certain cases, it can make laws on the subjects of the State List also. 
3. The Parliament along with the State Legislature can pass laws regarding the 47 
subjects on the Concurrent List. 
4. The Union Parliament has the sole right to amend the Constitution, although in 
certain cases, these amendments need to be ratified by a majority of the states. 
Question 8. How does the Parliament exercise control over the Government? 
Answer: The most important function of the Parliament is to exercise control over the 
government. 
1. The government is directly responsible to the Parliament for its acts of omission 
and commission. The government can be voted out of office by passing a vote of 
no confidence against the Prime Minister or the Ministry or any of its members. 
2. The Members of Parliament can also move adjournment motions. An adjournment 
motion is tabled when there is an urgent matter that needs the immediate attention 
of the government. If admitted, a time a set aside from normal business of the 
house for discussing the matters of urgent public importance. 
3. The members can ask any question relating to the administration of the state and 
the ministers are obliged to answer them. In this way, they can keep a check on 
the functioning of the various departments under different ministers. 
4. The Parliament can also hold the strings of the government tight by voting a cut in 
the annual budget. 
 
V. Write short notes on the following: 
Question 1. Adjournment motion 
Answer: Daily business of the House is programmed well in advance and is considered 
accordingly. But if a question of immense public importance crops up, the members can 
demand adjournment of the discussion on slated business and discuss that matter 
immediately. 
Question 2. Universal Adult Franchise 
Answer: Adult Franchise means that the right to vote should be given to all adult 
without discrimination on the basis of caste, class, colour, religion or sex. It is based on 
equality which is the basic principle of democracy. 
Question 3. Secret Ballot 
Answer: Secret Ballot is a voting method in which a voter’s choice in an election or 
referendum is anonymous forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation, 
blackmailing and potential vote buying. Printed ballot papers are provided with names of 
the candidates. Provisions are made at the polling place for the voter to record their 
preferences in secret and the ballots are designed to eliminate bias and to prevent any 
one from influencing a voter. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The functions of the government are divided into three branches, namely, 
the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. 
2. Subjects for legislation are divide into three lists-the Union List, the State 
List and the Concurrent List. 
3. The Union Parliament has two Houses-the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 
4. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house. It cannot be dissolved. 
5. The Parliament is answerable to the legislature. 
B. Match the following: 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
C. Choose the correct answer: 
1. The President carries out his/her functions on the advice of the Prime Minister and 
the Lok Sabha/the Council of Ministers/the Rajya Sabha. 
Ans. The President carries out his/her functions on the advice of the Prime 
Minister and the Council of Ministers. 
2. Both the central and the state governments can make laws on the subjects in the 
Union List/State List/Concurrent List 
Ans. Both the central and the state governments can make laws on the subjects 
in the Concurrent List. 
3. The Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Vidhan Sabha is also known as the Council of States 
Ans. The Rajya Sabha is also known as the Council of States. 
4. The President can nominates 2/10/12 members from the Anglo-Indian community 
to the Lok Sabha. 
Ans. The President can nominates 2 members from the Anglo-Indian community 
to the Lok Sabha. 
5. At present the Lok Sabha consists of 454/645/525 
Ans. At present the Lok Sabha consists of 545 members.