Previous year question - Working of Institutions - Social Studies (SST) Class 9

Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. What kind of judiciary do we have in India?    [CBSE 2016]
Ans. In India, we have integrated judiciary where the decision of the supreme court is binding on all the subordinate courts.’

Q.2. Why do we need political institutions?
Or
Describe the need for political institutions in India.    [CBSE 2016]
Ans. (a) The government is responsible for ensuring security to the citizens and providing education and health facilities to all.
(b) It collects taxes and spends money on administration, defence and developmental programmes.
(c) It formulates and implements several welfare schemes.
Political institutions are needed to attend to all these tasks.

Q.3. Explain the role of the Prime Minister in a coalition government.
Or
Write any three constraints on the power of the Prime Minister of a coalition government.    [CBSE 2016]
Ans. The role of the Prime Minister in a coalition government has many constraints. They are:
(a) He cannot take decisions as he likes.
(b) He has to accommodate different groups and factions in his party as well as the coalition partners.
(c) He also has to heed to the views and positions of the coalition partners and other parties on whose support the survival of the government depends.

Q.4. Who has the final authority for making laws in any country?
Or
Which institution can make changes to an existing law of the country.    [CBSE 2015]
Ans. Parliament has the final authority for making laws in any country. It can make new laws, change or abolish the existing laws and make new ones in their place.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q.1. Describe the powers and functions of the Indian Parliament.    [CBSE 2016]
Ans. In India, a national assembly of elected representatives is called Parliament. The following are the major powers and functions of Parliament:
(a) The Parliament is die final authority for making laws in any country.
(b) It can pass a no-confidence resolution against the government and ask it to resign.
(c) It controls the money matters of the nation. The government budget has to be evolved and passed by parliament.
(d) It is the highest forum of discussion, debates and deliberations on public and national policies and issues.
(e) It can seek information or question the government on any matter which it has to answer.
(f) It performs the electoral function of electing President, Vice-President, speaker, deputy-speaker.
(g) It has the power to remove the president judges of supreme court, and High Court through impeachment.

Q.2. “Prime Minister is the head of the government.” Justify the statement.    [CBSE 2016]
Ans. Prime Minister is the head of the government. The statement can be justified in the following ways:
(a) He leads the majority party in the Parliament.
(b) He summons and presides over the meetings of the cabinet.
(c) All the decisions by his cabinet are taken under his leadership, consent and authority.
(d) He acts as an adviser to the president over the appointment of his ministers, judges of Supreme Court and high courts.
(e) He is free to choose his ministers and can change their portfolios.