Government Chapter Notes | Civics Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

Need for the Government

• A government is essential to maintain order and prevent chaos in society.
• Without a government, there would be no justice, and powerful individuals could dominate the weak through force or deceit.
• In the past, kings believed they ruled by divine right, but over time, people demanded the right to choose their leaders.
• This shift led to the replacement of monarchies with democracies, giving people the power to select and remove their government.

Welfare Work of the Government in Kerala

• The Hunger-Free City project, launched by the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM), provides subsidized meals daily to ensure no one goes hungry.
• It was first implemented in Kozhikode, targeting 3,500 people, including the destitute at Kozhikode railway station.
• A modern kitchen operates at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, serving 2,000 people daily.
• The project has expanded to Government General Hospital (Beach Hospital) and Women and Children's Hospital, Kottapparamba.
• Support is sought from Student Police Cadets and Non-Governmental Organizations.
• The state government allocated ₹1.6 crores for the project, with additional contributions from other sources.

Functions of the Government

• Maintains law and order to ensure safety and security for citizens.
• Protects the country's borders and maintains peaceful relations with other nations.
• Defends the country during attacks or conflicts.
• Ensures citizens' welfare by providing food, medical facilities, education, and job opportunities.
• Provides relief during natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, droughts, or famines.
• Works to eliminate poverty, diseases, and unemployment.
• Develops infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, schools, dams, wells, and transport and postal services.
• Creates and enforces laws, punishing those who break them to maintain order.

Levels of the Government

• Government operates at three levels: local, state, and national, based on a country's size, structure, and population.
• Local self-government addresses the welfare and issues of people in villages, towns, and cities.
• State government manages the welfare and administration of a state.
• Union or Central government, the highest level, makes decisions for the entire country.

Organs of the Government

• The law-making body of the government.
• At the national level, the Parliament consists of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, making laws for the country.
• Each state has its own legislature to create state-specific laws.

The Executive

• Ensures laws are implemented and violators are punished.
• At the national level, it is officially led by the President, but the Prime Minister and council of ministers handle the real work.
• At the state level, the Governor is the head, with the Chief Minister and council of ministers managing operations.

The Judiciary

• Holds judicial power and operates through a system of courts.
• Ensures the government follows laws, resolves disputes, and protects citizens from unjust rule.
• Consists of the Supreme Court (highest court in the country), High Courts (highest in each state), and lower courts.
• Functions independently of the legislature and executive.

Types of Government

• A system where a king or queen rules and makes all decisions, often with a small advisory group.
• Monarchies are hereditary, passing the throne to the monarch’s son or daughter.
• Examples include King Philippe (Belgium, 2013) and King Willem-Alexander (The Netherlands, 2013).
• Nepal transitioned from a monarchy to a federal parliamentary republic after citizens demanded democracy.

Democracy

• People hold power by electing representatives through elections to form the government.
• Representatives serve for a fixed term (five years in India).
• The government must explain and justify its actions to the people, who can vote them out if dissatisfied.
• India follows a representative democracy, where elected representatives make decisions for the people.
• In direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making, suitable for countries with small populations.

Dictatorship

• One person holds all power, often gained through force, and rules without considering people’s wishes.
• People have no say in governance.
• Example: Adolf Hitler, a dictator who ruled Germany using military force.

Universal Adult Franchise

• In a democracy, all adult citizens (above 18 in India) have the right to vote, known as Universal Adult Franchise.
• Voting allows citizens to choose representatives and replace an unsatisfactory government in future elections.
• Historically, women, the poor, property-less, and uneducated were denied voting rights; only educated, property-owning men could vote.
• The Suffragette Movement (started in 1848 in America) fought for women’s voting rights through hunger strikes and public protests.
• Emmeline Pankhurst led the Suffragette Movement in Britain, helping women gain voting rights.
• During World War I, women took up men’s jobs, proving their capability and supporting their case for voting rights.
• In India, women gained equal voting rights with men during the first elections in 1951-1952 after independence in 1947.

Anti-apartheid Struggle

• Apartheid in South Africa was a system of racial discrimination, separating white and black populations and denying blacks voting rights.
• Blacks faced segregation in living areas, transport, schools, and hospitals.
• The African National Congress (ANC), led by Nelson Mandela, fought against apartheid.
• Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years and released in 1990.
• In 1994, apartheid ended with elections granting voting rights to all, and Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.
• South Africa became a democracy, treating all citizens equally.

Significance of Democracy

• Democracy is the most suitable form of government as it allows people to choose their leaders and influence governance.
• It ensures the government works for the welfare of citizens and runs the country smoothly.
• India’s freedom fighters struggled to establish democracy, making it essential to exercise voting rights to elect efficient leaders.