Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Question Answers - Social and Political Life - III

Q1: Describe coalition government.
Ans: Often times in the recent past it has been difficult for a single political party to get the majority that is required to form the government. They then join together with different political parties who are interested in similar concerns to form what is known as a coalition government.

Q2: Who are the People in Parliament?
Ans: Parliament now has more and more people from different backgrounds. For example, there are more rural members as also members from many regional parties. Groups and peoples that were till now unrepresented are beginning to get elected to Parliament. There has also been an increase in political participation from the Dalits and backward classes.

Q3: How is a national government selected?
Ans: After the Lok Sabha elections, a list is prepared showing how many MPs belong to each political party. For a political party to form the government, they must have a majority of elected MPs. Since there are 543 elected (plus 2 Anglo-Indian nominated) members in Lok Sabha, to have a majority a party should have at least half the number i.e. 272 members or more.

Q4: What is ‘Question Hour’ in Parliament?
Ans: The Parliament, while in session, begins with a question hour. The question hour is an important mechanism through which MPs can elicit information about the working of the government. This is a very important way through which the Parliament controls the executive. By asking questions the government is alerted to its shortcomings, and also comes to know the opinion of the people through their representatives in the Parliament, i.e. the MPs.

Q5: “With the coming of Independence we are going to be citizens of a free country”. What did this mean for India?
Ans: With the coming of independence, we were going to be citizens of a free country. This did not mean that the government could do what it felt like, it meant that the government had to be sensitive to people’s needs and demands. The dreams and aspirations of the freedom struggle were made concrete in the Constitution of independent India that laid down the principle of universal adult franchise, i.e. that all adult citizens of the country have the right to vote.

Q6: Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote?
Ans: Our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote because in our struggle for independence people from all walks of life participated. They came from various backgrounds and were united in their aspirations for a free, equal and independent nation where decision-making would be in the hands of the people. The only way in which this would be possible would be through elections – allowing common people a vantage point from where they can consent to and approve of a government that “they” have a right to choose.

Q7: How can all the citizens participate in the decision making process of the government?
Ans: People would elect their representatives to the Parliament, then, one group from among these elected representatives forms the government. The Parliament, which is made up of all representatives together, controls and guides the government. In this sense people, through their chosen representatives, form the government and also control it.

Q8: Write one merit and one demerit of coalition government.
Ans: Merit: Greater policy scrutiny is prominent in coalition government which could prove beneficial for voters.
Demerit: Conflict within governance due to conflicting ideologies of the two parties can make the government weak.

Q9: Write a short note on Lok Sabha.
Ans: Lok Sabha One of the most important functions of the Lok Sabha is to select the executive. The executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament. The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha. Lok Sabha (House of the People), with a total membership of 545, is presided over by the Speaker.

Q10: Describe the three categories of ministers that assist the Prime minister.
Ans: The three categories of Council of Ministers are:

• The Cabinet Ministers: The Cabinet Ministers hold important portfolios like Home, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, Railways, etc.
• Ministers of State: They may or may not hold an independent charge of any portfolio.
• Deputy Ministers: They assist the Cabinet Ministers and the Council of Ministers.

Q11: How are the representatives elected to the Parliament in India?
Ans: The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of the people. Elections to the Parliament are held in a similar manner as they are for the state legislature. The Lok Sabha is usually elected once every five years. The country is divided into numerous constituencies. Each of these constituencies elects one person to the Parliament. The candidates who contest elections usually belong to different political parties. Once elected, these candidates become Members of Parliament or MPs. These MPs together make up the Parliament.

Q12: Write a short note on Rajya Sabha.
Ans: The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of India in the Parliament. It can also initiate legislation and a bill is required to pass through the Rajya Sabha in order to become a law. It, therefore, has an important role of reviewing and altering the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states. There are 233 elected members plus 12 members nominated by the President.