Class 8 Civics Chapter 3 Important Question Answers - Why Do We Need Parliament

Q1. Define the following: 

Ans:

(i) UAF: This stands for Universal Adult Franchise, which means that all adult citizens have the right to vote.

(ii) Coalition Government: This is an alliance of political parties formed after elections when no single party secures enough seats for a majority.

(iii) Executive: This is a small group responsible for implementing laws and managing the government. It includes the Chief Minister (CM), Prime Minister (PM), and the Council of Ministers.

(iv) Constituency: A state is divided into several areas, with each area electing a Member of the District (MD) to oversee it.

(v) Opposition: The political party that loses the election is known as the opposition.

Q2. What role does the parliament play in the functioning of the government? 

Ans: The Parliament, which includes all elected representatives, plays a vital role in guiding and controlling the government. Its key functions include:

• Scrutiny: Members of Parliament (MPs) use mechanisms like the question hour to gather information about government operations.
• Law-making: Parliament is essential for creating laws, with both houses involved in the legislative process.
• Representation: The Rajya Sabha acts as the voice of the states in Parliament.
• Legislation Initiation: The Rajya Sabha can initiate bills, and all proposed legislation must pass through it to become law.
• Review: It plays a crucial role in reviewing and amending laws proposed by the Lok Sabha.

Q3. How are the members of the Rajya Sabha elected? 

Ans: The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected through the following process:

• They are chosen by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of different states.
• There are a total of 233 elected members.
• Additionally, 12 members are nominated by the President.

Q4. Why do you think reservation of Dalits and women is important in India?

Ans: Reservation of Dalits and women in India is important for several reasons:

• Representative democracy often fails to reflect the true diversity of society.
• Communities that have been historically marginalised need adequate representation to voice their interests and experiences.
• There is a growing call for reservation of seats for women to ensure their participation in governance.
• In response, some parliamentary seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), allowing elected MPs to better represent the interests of Dalits and Adivasis.

Q5. What role does the opposition party play in the healthy functioning of a democracy?

Ans:

• The opposition party questions the ruling government, holding them accountable to the public.
• They ensure that the government does not take actions that are against the interests of the public.
• Their duty is to monitor the ruling party's actions to confirm they benefit the masses, while also supporting the government when appropriate.

Q6. Give at least 2 arguments against representative democracy.

Ans:

• Representative democracy fails to accurately reflect society because different communities often have varied interests and experiences, leading to inadequate representation.

• There is a lack of reserved seats in Parliament; despite over sixty years since independence, the one-third reservation for women remains unfulfilled, with only nine percent of Parliament members being women, even though they make up half of the population.

Q7. Explain the basic idea behind the representative democracy?

Ans: A representative democracy is a type of government where eligible citizens elect representatives. These representatives are responsible for:

• Making and passing laws on behalf of the people.
• Listening to the views and needs of their constituents.
• Working for the overall benefit of the nation, state, or local area.

This system aims to ensure that the voice of the populace is reflected in the decisions made by elected officials.

Q8. Why do you think the nationalist movement supported the idea that all the adults have a right to vote?

Ans: Our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote for several reasons:

• People from all walks of life participated in our struggle for independence.
• Participants came from various backgrounds, united in their desire for a free, equal, and independent nation.
• We believed that decision-making should be in the hands of the people.
• The only way to achieve this was through elections, allowing common people to choose their government.

This approach ensured that the government was chosen by those who had a stake in the nation's future.

Q9. Who is a Prime Minister and what role does he/she play in the functioning of the country?

Ans: The Prime Minister is the head of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha.

• The Prime Minister selects ministers from their party to assist in governance.
• These ministers are responsible for various departments, such as health and education.
• They work together to implement the government's decisions effectively.

Q10. How can you say that composition of Indian parliament has changed recently? 

Ans: The composition of the Indian Parliament has changed significantly in recent years:

• There is a growing number of members from diverse backgrounds, including more from rural areas and regional parties.
• Previously unrepresented groups are now beginning to gain representation in Parliament.
• Political participation from Dalits, minorities, and people from backward states has increased.
• There is an ongoing discussion about reserving seats for women in Parliament.
• Historically, only 4% of MPs were women 60 years ago, which has now risen to over 9%. Despite this progress, it remains a small proportion compared to the 50% female population.

Q11. Explain the procedure of elections. 

Ans:

1. People elect their representatives to parliament, and these representatives form the government.

2. The Parliament, consisting of all elected representatives, controls and guides the government. Thus, the people form the government through their chosen representatives.

3. The country is divided into various constituencies, with each constituency electing one representative to Parliament. The candidates typically belong to different political parties.