CBSE Textbook: Forms and Organs of Government | Legal Studies for Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
Forms and Organs of Government
Contents
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
II. Forms of Government
 A. Monarchy
 B. Aristocracy
 C. Dictatorship
 D. Democracy
III. Main Organs of Government and its Functions
 A. General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
 B. General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
 C. General Functions of Judiciary as Organ of Government
IV. Exercises 
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Construct the political system which forms the foundation of our legal system
• Describe all forms of government seen globally with relevant examples
• Differentiate between all forms of government
• Recall organisation of legislature globally and their advantages
• Identify the organs of government
• Explain the functions of legislature
• Enumerate the functions of executive and link it to modern welfare state
• Explain the functions of judiciary
• Evaluate the overlap in functions of all organs
CHAPTER
2
Page 2


UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
Forms and Organs of Government
Contents
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
II. Forms of Government
 A. Monarchy
 B. Aristocracy
 C. Dictatorship
 D. Democracy
III. Main Organs of Government and its Functions
 A. General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
 B. General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
 C. General Functions of Judiciary as Organ of Government
IV. Exercises 
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Construct the political system which forms the foundation of our legal system
• Describe all forms of government seen globally with relevant examples
• Differentiate between all forms of government
• Recall organisation of legislature globally and their advantages
• Identify the organs of government
• Explain the functions of legislature
• Enumerate the functions of executive and link it to modern welfare state
• Explain the functions of judiciary
• Evaluate the overlap in functions of all organs
CHAPTER
2
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
In the preceding chapter, we discussed ‘Government’ as an essential element of the ‘State’. Government 
can be said to be a set of institutions that exercises control through legal devices and imposes penalties 
on those who break the law. A government normally functions by distributing its functions between 
its organs with each organ performing some specific functions. It primarily performs three functions: 
making the laws, enforcing the laws and adjudicating disputes. These three essential functions are 
termed legislative, executive and judicial functions.
A government achieves the purpose of a state through the performance of the above functions. These 
functions constitute the minimal requirements of any form of government. The legislature makes laws, 
the executive implements them and the judiciary interprets laws and adjudicates disputes. This system 
of distribution of powers among the three organs of a government is called ‘Separation of Powers’.
II. Forms of Government
A. Monarchy
 Monarchy is the oldest form of government. The state machinery worked according to the 
commands and rule of the monarch. Monarchy is thus a form of political regime in which the 
supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single person wearing a crown, irrespective of 
whether his office is hereditary or elective. It is the will of one person which ultimately prevails in 
all matters of governance.
 J.W. Garner (1871-1938) stated “In its widest sense, any government in which the supreme and 
final authority is in the hands of a single person is a monarchy, without regard to the source of 
his election or the nature and duration of his tenure. In this sense, it is immaterial whether his 
office is conferred by election (by parliament or people) or is derived by hereditary succession, 
or whether he bears the title of emperor, king, czar, president or dictator. It is the fact that the 
will of one man ultimately prevails in all matters of government which gives it the character of 
monarchy.”
 With the development of Republican and Democratic forms of government, monarchial form of 
government declined. In some cases, as in the United Kingdom, monarchs are merely retained as 
the ‘ceremonial’ or ‘nominal’ heads of government, devoid of key political powers. As observed 
by C.C Rodee, “Constitutional monarchs are loved and respected by their people as the symbols 
of unity of the nation or empire, but are devoid of political power.”
Page 3


UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
Forms and Organs of Government
Contents
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
II. Forms of Government
 A. Monarchy
 B. Aristocracy
 C. Dictatorship
 D. Democracy
III. Main Organs of Government and its Functions
 A. General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
 B. General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
 C. General Functions of Judiciary as Organ of Government
IV. Exercises 
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Construct the political system which forms the foundation of our legal system
• Describe all forms of government seen globally with relevant examples
• Differentiate between all forms of government
• Recall organisation of legislature globally and their advantages
• Identify the organs of government
• Explain the functions of legislature
• Enumerate the functions of executive and link it to modern welfare state
• Explain the functions of judiciary
• Evaluate the overlap in functions of all organs
CHAPTER
2
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
In the preceding chapter, we discussed ‘Government’ as an essential element of the ‘State’. Government 
can be said to be a set of institutions that exercises control through legal devices and imposes penalties 
on those who break the law. A government normally functions by distributing its functions between 
its organs with each organ performing some specific functions. It primarily performs three functions: 
making the laws, enforcing the laws and adjudicating disputes. These three essential functions are 
termed legislative, executive and judicial functions.
A government achieves the purpose of a state through the performance of the above functions. These 
functions constitute the minimal requirements of any form of government. The legislature makes laws, 
the executive implements them and the judiciary interprets laws and adjudicates disputes. This system 
of distribution of powers among the three organs of a government is called ‘Separation of Powers’.
II. Forms of Government
A. Monarchy
 Monarchy is the oldest form of government. The state machinery worked according to the 
commands and rule of the monarch. Monarchy is thus a form of political regime in which the 
supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single person wearing a crown, irrespective of 
whether his office is hereditary or elective. It is the will of one person which ultimately prevails in 
all matters of governance.
 J.W. Garner (1871-1938) stated “In its widest sense, any government in which the supreme and 
final authority is in the hands of a single person is a monarchy, without regard to the source of 
his election or the nature and duration of his tenure. In this sense, it is immaterial whether his 
office is conferred by election (by parliament or people) or is derived by hereditary succession, 
or whether he bears the title of emperor, king, czar, president or dictator. It is the fact that the 
will of one man ultimately prevails in all matters of government which gives it the character of 
monarchy.”
 With the development of Republican and Democratic forms of government, monarchial form of 
government declined. In some cases, as in the United Kingdom, monarchs are merely retained as 
the ‘ceremonial’ or ‘nominal’ heads of government, devoid of key political powers. As observed 
by C.C Rodee, “Constitutional monarchs are loved and respected by their people as the symbols 
of unity of the nation or empire, but are devoid of political power.”
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
15
B. Aristocracy
 The word ‘Aristocracy’ originates from the greek word ‘aristo’ which means ‘the best’ and another 
greek word, ‘kratein’, which means ‘to rule’. In aristocratic form of government, political power 
of the state is vested in the hands of a few people. It is a form of government in which relatively 
small proportion of people determine the policies of the government. It can be a combination of 
priests, soldiers, professionals, landowners or men of wealth.
 As defined by Garner, Aristocracy is the form of Government “in which relatively a small portion 
of citizens have a voice in choosing public officials and in determining public policies.” Those 
few people are chosen from among the people of the state on varied basis, such as wealth (land 
owning class), education (nobles), religious positions (priestly class), family, succession, physical 
force etc. The ruler is considered as a class separate and superior from the ruled.
C. Dictatorship
 In the words of Alfred Cobban (1901-1968), “It is the government of one man who has not 
obtained the position by inheritance, but either by force or consent or a combination of both. 
He possesses absolute sovereignty, that is all the political power emanates from his will and it is 
unlimited in scope. It is also exercised in an arbitrary manner by decree rather than by law. The 
authority of the dictator is not limited in duration, is not subject to any other authority, for such 
a restriction would be inconsistent with his absolute rule”.
 Dictatorial form of Government is the rule by a single person or a determined set of individuals. 
He controls and exercises the political powers of the state. He occupies the position by force, 
invasion, intervention and militarism, in contrast to a monarch. His dictates are law of the 
country. He implements them and adjudges according to his will. He holds the absolute power. 
He is not accountable or answerable to the citizens of the state. Modern Dictatorship plays the 
role of totalitarian states.
D. Democracy
 Pericles (495-429 B.C.) the Greek leader defined democracy as a form of Government in which 
people are powerful. Bryce defined democratic form of government as one where the ruling 
power of the state was vested not in a particular class or classes but in the community as a 
whole. Democratic form of Government is the most popular form in the modern civilized states. 
The word, ‘democratic’ originated from the Greek word ‘Demos’ meaning people and ‘Kratia’ 
meaning rule, i.e. rule by a popular vote.
 Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), a former President of the U.S., in his speech at Gettysburg 
defined democracy as a ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’. 
Page 4


UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
Forms and Organs of Government
Contents
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
II. Forms of Government
 A. Monarchy
 B. Aristocracy
 C. Dictatorship
 D. Democracy
III. Main Organs of Government and its Functions
 A. General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
 B. General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
 C. General Functions of Judiciary as Organ of Government
IV. Exercises 
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Construct the political system which forms the foundation of our legal system
• Describe all forms of government seen globally with relevant examples
• Differentiate between all forms of government
• Recall organisation of legislature globally and their advantages
• Identify the organs of government
• Explain the functions of legislature
• Enumerate the functions of executive and link it to modern welfare state
• Explain the functions of judiciary
• Evaluate the overlap in functions of all organs
CHAPTER
2
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
In the preceding chapter, we discussed ‘Government’ as an essential element of the ‘State’. Government 
can be said to be a set of institutions that exercises control through legal devices and imposes penalties 
on those who break the law. A government normally functions by distributing its functions between 
its organs with each organ performing some specific functions. It primarily performs three functions: 
making the laws, enforcing the laws and adjudicating disputes. These three essential functions are 
termed legislative, executive and judicial functions.
A government achieves the purpose of a state through the performance of the above functions. These 
functions constitute the minimal requirements of any form of government. The legislature makes laws, 
the executive implements them and the judiciary interprets laws and adjudicates disputes. This system 
of distribution of powers among the three organs of a government is called ‘Separation of Powers’.
II. Forms of Government
A. Monarchy
 Monarchy is the oldest form of government. The state machinery worked according to the 
commands and rule of the monarch. Monarchy is thus a form of political regime in which the 
supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single person wearing a crown, irrespective of 
whether his office is hereditary or elective. It is the will of one person which ultimately prevails in 
all matters of governance.
 J.W. Garner (1871-1938) stated “In its widest sense, any government in which the supreme and 
final authority is in the hands of a single person is a monarchy, without regard to the source of 
his election or the nature and duration of his tenure. In this sense, it is immaterial whether his 
office is conferred by election (by parliament or people) or is derived by hereditary succession, 
or whether he bears the title of emperor, king, czar, president or dictator. It is the fact that the 
will of one man ultimately prevails in all matters of government which gives it the character of 
monarchy.”
 With the development of Republican and Democratic forms of government, monarchial form of 
government declined. In some cases, as in the United Kingdom, monarchs are merely retained as 
the ‘ceremonial’ or ‘nominal’ heads of government, devoid of key political powers. As observed 
by C.C Rodee, “Constitutional monarchs are loved and respected by their people as the symbols 
of unity of the nation or empire, but are devoid of political power.”
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
15
B. Aristocracy
 The word ‘Aristocracy’ originates from the greek word ‘aristo’ which means ‘the best’ and another 
greek word, ‘kratein’, which means ‘to rule’. In aristocratic form of government, political power 
of the state is vested in the hands of a few people. It is a form of government in which relatively 
small proportion of people determine the policies of the government. It can be a combination of 
priests, soldiers, professionals, landowners or men of wealth.
 As defined by Garner, Aristocracy is the form of Government “in which relatively a small portion 
of citizens have a voice in choosing public officials and in determining public policies.” Those 
few people are chosen from among the people of the state on varied basis, such as wealth (land 
owning class), education (nobles), religious positions (priestly class), family, succession, physical 
force etc. The ruler is considered as a class separate and superior from the ruled.
C. Dictatorship
 In the words of Alfred Cobban (1901-1968), “It is the government of one man who has not 
obtained the position by inheritance, but either by force or consent or a combination of both. 
He possesses absolute sovereignty, that is all the political power emanates from his will and it is 
unlimited in scope. It is also exercised in an arbitrary manner by decree rather than by law. The 
authority of the dictator is not limited in duration, is not subject to any other authority, for such 
a restriction would be inconsistent with his absolute rule”.
 Dictatorial form of Government is the rule by a single person or a determined set of individuals. 
He controls and exercises the political powers of the state. He occupies the position by force, 
invasion, intervention and militarism, in contrast to a monarch. His dictates are law of the 
country. He implements them and adjudges according to his will. He holds the absolute power. 
He is not accountable or answerable to the citizens of the state. Modern Dictatorship plays the 
role of totalitarian states.
D. Democracy
 Pericles (495-429 B.C.) the Greek leader defined democracy as a form of Government in which 
people are powerful. Bryce defined democratic form of government as one where the ruling 
power of the state was vested not in a particular class or classes but in the community as a 
whole. Democratic form of Government is the most popular form in the modern civilized states. 
The word, ‘democratic’ originated from the Greek word ‘Demos’ meaning people and ‘Kratia’ 
meaning rule, i.e. rule by a popular vote.
 Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), a former President of the U.S., in his speech at Gettysburg 
defined democracy as a ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’. 
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
16
 ‘Government of the people’ implies equal distribution of political powers and influence among 
the citizens of the state, ‘government by the people’ implies participation of all citizens in forming 
a government, ‘government for the people’ implies the rule of government for the promotion of 
public welfare.
 Democracy exists in two major forms: Direct or pure democracy and indirect or 
representative democracy. As defined by Garner, ‘A pure democracy so called is one in which 
will of the state is formulated or expressed directly and immediately through the people in mass 
meeting or primary assembly, rather than through the medium of delegates or representatives 
chosen to act for them’. The political power is in the hand of the citizens of the state as a whole to 
enact legislations, to administer regulations and the citizens, by common vote, elect their public 
officers. This is referred to as initiative, plebiscite or referendum.
 This form of democracy operated in Greek city state, Athens during 4
th
 and 5
th
 century BC and 
in Rome during the early stages of the Roman polity, as an ideal system of popular participation. 
This form of democracy is not possible in the states having large population and territory. In 
contemporary times, this form of democracy is prevalent in the provinces of Switzerland. The 
voters meet in open air Parliament known as Federal Assembly, to deliberate upon and decide 
public affairs by way of Initiative, where a specified number of voters prepare a bill for acceptance 
or approval by legislature or general public. If approved it becomes law. Referendum is where the 
bill passed by the legislature is forwarded to the voters for final ratification. The term plebiscite is 
used where an important issue could not be decided by the government, and is decided by the 
votes of people. Voters recall their elected representatives when they are not satisfied by their 
conduct.
 The other form is Representative or Indirect Democracy, on the basis of universal suffrage. In 
this form, citizens of the country elect their representatives on the basis of popular votes. The will 
of the state is formulated and expressed through the representatives. The representatives form 
a law making and law-executing agency for a fixed term. On the matters of governance, the 
representatives are accountable and answerable to the public in general. As observed by Garner, 
‘this kind of democracy resembles its pure form in the sense that political power remains vested 
in the people, but the two differ in respect to their exercise’. Thus all the citizens of the state have 
equal opportunity of participation in the political affairs of the state in contrast to monarchy or 
dictatorial form of Government. The political power remains in the hands of people.
Page 5


UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
Forms and Organs of Government
Contents
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
II. Forms of Government
 A. Monarchy
 B. Aristocracy
 C. Dictatorship
 D. Democracy
III. Main Organs of Government and its Functions
 A. General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
 B. General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
 C. General Functions of Judiciary as Organ of Government
IV. Exercises 
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Construct the political system which forms the foundation of our legal system
• Describe all forms of government seen globally with relevant examples
• Differentiate between all forms of government
• Recall organisation of legislature globally and their advantages
• Identify the organs of government
• Explain the functions of legislature
• Enumerate the functions of executive and link it to modern welfare state
• Explain the functions of judiciary
• Evaluate the overlap in functions of all organs
CHAPTER
2
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
I. Introduction to the Organs of Government
In the preceding chapter, we discussed ‘Government’ as an essential element of the ‘State’. Government 
can be said to be a set of institutions that exercises control through legal devices and imposes penalties 
on those who break the law. A government normally functions by distributing its functions between 
its organs with each organ performing some specific functions. It primarily performs three functions: 
making the laws, enforcing the laws and adjudicating disputes. These three essential functions are 
termed legislative, executive and judicial functions.
A government achieves the purpose of a state through the performance of the above functions. These 
functions constitute the minimal requirements of any form of government. The legislature makes laws, 
the executive implements them and the judiciary interprets laws and adjudicates disputes. This system 
of distribution of powers among the three organs of a government is called ‘Separation of Powers’.
II. Forms of Government
A. Monarchy
 Monarchy is the oldest form of government. The state machinery worked according to the 
commands and rule of the monarch. Monarchy is thus a form of political regime in which the 
supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single person wearing a crown, irrespective of 
whether his office is hereditary or elective. It is the will of one person which ultimately prevails in 
all matters of governance.
 J.W. Garner (1871-1938) stated “In its widest sense, any government in which the supreme and 
final authority is in the hands of a single person is a monarchy, without regard to the source of 
his election or the nature and duration of his tenure. In this sense, it is immaterial whether his 
office is conferred by election (by parliament or people) or is derived by hereditary succession, 
or whether he bears the title of emperor, king, czar, president or dictator. It is the fact that the 
will of one man ultimately prevails in all matters of government which gives it the character of 
monarchy.”
 With the development of Republican and Democratic forms of government, monarchial form of 
government declined. In some cases, as in the United Kingdom, monarchs are merely retained as 
the ‘ceremonial’ or ‘nominal’ heads of government, devoid of key political powers. As observed 
by C.C Rodee, “Constitutional monarchs are loved and respected by their people as the symbols 
of unity of the nation or empire, but are devoid of political power.”
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
15
B. Aristocracy
 The word ‘Aristocracy’ originates from the greek word ‘aristo’ which means ‘the best’ and another 
greek word, ‘kratein’, which means ‘to rule’. In aristocratic form of government, political power 
of the state is vested in the hands of a few people. It is a form of government in which relatively 
small proportion of people determine the policies of the government. It can be a combination of 
priests, soldiers, professionals, landowners or men of wealth.
 As defined by Garner, Aristocracy is the form of Government “in which relatively a small portion 
of citizens have a voice in choosing public officials and in determining public policies.” Those 
few people are chosen from among the people of the state on varied basis, such as wealth (land 
owning class), education (nobles), religious positions (priestly class), family, succession, physical 
force etc. The ruler is considered as a class separate and superior from the ruled.
C. Dictatorship
 In the words of Alfred Cobban (1901-1968), “It is the government of one man who has not 
obtained the position by inheritance, but either by force or consent or a combination of both. 
He possesses absolute sovereignty, that is all the political power emanates from his will and it is 
unlimited in scope. It is also exercised in an arbitrary manner by decree rather than by law. The 
authority of the dictator is not limited in duration, is not subject to any other authority, for such 
a restriction would be inconsistent with his absolute rule”.
 Dictatorial form of Government is the rule by a single person or a determined set of individuals. 
He controls and exercises the political powers of the state. He occupies the position by force, 
invasion, intervention and militarism, in contrast to a monarch. His dictates are law of the 
country. He implements them and adjudges according to his will. He holds the absolute power. 
He is not accountable or answerable to the citizens of the state. Modern Dictatorship plays the 
role of totalitarian states.
D. Democracy
 Pericles (495-429 B.C.) the Greek leader defined democracy as a form of Government in which 
people are powerful. Bryce defined democratic form of government as one where the ruling 
power of the state was vested not in a particular class or classes but in the community as a 
whole. Democratic form of Government is the most popular form in the modern civilized states. 
The word, ‘democratic’ originated from the Greek word ‘Demos’ meaning people and ‘Kratia’ 
meaning rule, i.e. rule by a popular vote.
 Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), a former President of the U.S., in his speech at Gettysburg 
defined democracy as a ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’. 
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
16
 ‘Government of the people’ implies equal distribution of political powers and influence among 
the citizens of the state, ‘government by the people’ implies participation of all citizens in forming 
a government, ‘government for the people’ implies the rule of government for the promotion of 
public welfare.
 Democracy exists in two major forms: Direct or pure democracy and indirect or 
representative democracy. As defined by Garner, ‘A pure democracy so called is one in which 
will of the state is formulated or expressed directly and immediately through the people in mass 
meeting or primary assembly, rather than through the medium of delegates or representatives 
chosen to act for them’. The political power is in the hand of the citizens of the state as a whole to 
enact legislations, to administer regulations and the citizens, by common vote, elect their public 
officers. This is referred to as initiative, plebiscite or referendum.
 This form of democracy operated in Greek city state, Athens during 4
th
 and 5
th
 century BC and 
in Rome during the early stages of the Roman polity, as an ideal system of popular participation. 
This form of democracy is not possible in the states having large population and territory. In 
contemporary times, this form of democracy is prevalent in the provinces of Switzerland. The 
voters meet in open air Parliament known as Federal Assembly, to deliberate upon and decide 
public affairs by way of Initiative, where a specified number of voters prepare a bill for acceptance 
or approval by legislature or general public. If approved it becomes law. Referendum is where the 
bill passed by the legislature is forwarded to the voters for final ratification. The term plebiscite is 
used where an important issue could not be decided by the government, and is decided by the 
votes of people. Voters recall their elected representatives when they are not satisfied by their 
conduct.
 The other form is Representative or Indirect Democracy, on the basis of universal suffrage. In 
this form, citizens of the country elect their representatives on the basis of popular votes. The will 
of the state is formulated and expressed through the representatives. The representatives form 
a law making and law-executing agency for a fixed term. On the matters of governance, the 
representatives are accountable and answerable to the public in general. As observed by Garner, 
‘this kind of democracy resembles its pure form in the sense that political power remains vested 
in the people, but the two differ in respect to their exercise’. Thus all the citizens of the state have 
equal opportunity of participation in the political affairs of the state in contrast to monarchy or 
dictatorial form of Government. The political power remains in the hands of people.
UNIT I
UNIT II UNIT III UNIT IV UNIT V
17
Presidential and Parliamentary form of Government
In Parliamentary system the legislature and the executive are related to each other, by way of 
membership in the two bodies and their accountability. This form of government is well prevalent 
in India and United Kingdom. The executive body, while implementing laws and discharging its 
responsibilities like health, education, food and public distribution, defence, police services etc., is 
responsible to the legislature. 
As stated by Professor M.P. Jain, “A notable principle underlying the working of parliamentary 
government is the principle of collective responsibility which represents  ministerial accountability to 
the legislature. The principle of collective responsibility means that the Council of Ministers works as a 
team, as a unit and is responsible as a body for the general conduct of the affairs of the government. 
All the Ministers stand or fall together in Parliament, and the government is carried on as a unity.”
This form of Government is also termed as Cabinet Government by Sir Ivor Jennings (1903-1965), 
an English lawyer and academician, and Prime Ministerial Government by Richard Crossman (1907-
1974), an English author and politician.
In the Presidential system, executive branch of the government is independent of the legislature for its 
tenure and actions. In the words of Garner, “Presidential government is that form in which the chief 
executive is independent of the legislature as to his tenure and, to a large extent, as to his policies and 
acts. In this system the nominal head of the state is also the real executive.”
This form of government is prevalent in United States of America and Argentina. The President is 
elected by the people, whether directly or indirectly, for a fixed period unless removed on impeachment 
by the legislature on the grounds stated in the Constitution of the country. This system works on the 
principle of ‘separation of powers’ and ‘checks and balances’. 
Unitary and Federal form of Government
The Unitary form of Government is one where the whole state with all its units and provinces is 
organized under a single central Government. The local/provincial Governments are created by the 
central Government as its subordinates for better administration. The central Government delegates 
powers and authority to the local/ provincial Government. As remarked by Garner, “Where the 
whole power of Government is conferred by the constitution upon a single central organ or organs 
from which the local governments derive whatever authority or autonomy they may possess, and 
indeed their very existence, we have a system of unitary government. It is the characteristic of this 
form of government that there is no constitutional division or distribution of powers between central 
government of the state and subordinate local governments.”
As remarked by Garner, “Federal Government as distinguished from a unitary government is a 
system in which a totality of governmental power is divided or distributed by the national Constitution 
or the organic act of Parliament creating it, between a central Government and the governments 
of individual states or other territorial sub divisions of which the federation is composed. Local/ 
provincial Government is considered as part of central Government with full autonomy.” As listed in 
the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the matters concerning national importance like 
international relations, war and peace, atomic energy, etc. are dealt with by the Central Government.
The matters of regional and local importance listed in the state list can be legislated by the state 
governments. There are matters on which both the Central and State governments are authorized to 
make laws which are included in the Concurrent list. Constitution of India despite having adopted 
federal features does not claim to establish India into a federation of states. In the words of K.C. 
Wheare, India’s system of Government is federal in character and unitary in spirit.
During recent periods, the governments of most States have combined different forms stated above.