Social Science - Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislative & Executive

What foundational principle of the Indian Constitution guarantees all adult citizens the right to vote?

Universal Adult Franchise.

Who directly elects the members of the Lok Sabha?

The people of India.

What is the supreme legislative body of the Indian government called?

The Parliament.

The Indian Parliament is composed of the President and which two houses?

The Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

What is the term for a legislative structure with two houses, like the Indian Parliament?

A 'bicameral' system.

The members of the Lok Sabha are chosen through a ____ election.

direct

According to the Constitution, what is the maximum number of members envisaged for the Lok Sabha?

550 members.

How are the Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Rajya Sabha elected?

They are elected indirectly by an electoral college.

The number of seats in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for each state is based on what factor?

The population of each state.

Which country's system of Parliamentary democracy inspired India's system?

Britain's system.

What is the form of government in India where power is distributed between the centre, states, and local governments?

Federalism.

Who presides over the sessions of the Lok Sabha?

The Speaker, who is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha.

Who is the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha?

The Vice President of India, who acts as its chairperson.

What is the name of the gold-plated silver sceptre, a symbol of righteous rule, placed in the new Lok Sabha?

The Sengol.

The Sengol, dating back to the Chola period, was handed to new rulers as a reminder that power must be guided by what?

Dharma and righteousness.

What animal sits at the top of the Sengol, symbolising justice?

Nandi.

The Union Executive consists of the President, the Vice President, and which other body?

The Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

The Council of Ministers, chosen from MPs of both houses, is collectively responsible to which house of Parliament?

The Lok Sabha.

What are the four broad classifications of the key functions of the Parliament?

Constitutional functions, Lawmaking, Executive accountability, and Financial accountability.

Name two vital constitutional functions performed by the Parliament.

The election of the President and Vice President, and making amendments to the Constitution.

What is the primary responsibility of the legislature in the Indian Parliament?

To make laws for the country.

A draft of a proposed law introduced in Parliament is known as a _.

bill

A bill becomes an _ after it is passed by Parliament and receives the President's assent.

act

The Right to Education (RTE) was enacted through which Constitutional Amendment Act?

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.

What does Article 21A of the Constitution mandate?

The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.

Term: Standing Committee

Definition: A permanent committee of MPs that scrutinises government activities and makes recommendations.

What is the final step for a bill to become an act after being passed by both houses?

Receiving Presidential assent.

What is a Gazette?

An official government publication that announces legal documents and official information.

A 'Money Bill', concerned with financial matters like taxation, can only be introduced in which house of Parliament?

The Lok Sabha.

The introduction of a Money Bill in the Lok Sabha requires the prior recommendation of whom?

The President.

What is the primary responsibility of the Union Executive?

Implementing and enforcing laws and overseeing the effective running of the government.

What is the 'Question Hour' in the Lok Sabha?

A period where MPs can ask ministers questions about government policies, holding the Executive accountable.

Through what mechanism does the Parliament approve and monitor government expenditure?

Through the annual budget and by examining the distribution of funds.

Who is the Head of State and the nominal head of the Executive in India?

The President.

Who is the de facto executive authority in India's Parliamentary system?

The Prime Minister.

The President appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha as the _.

Prime Minister

Besides leading the Council of Ministers, name one key function of the Prime Minister.

Advising the President, coordinating ministries, or shaping national policies.

Who are the permanent group of officials that help in implementing laws and policies under ministerial direction?

Civil servants (also called administrators or bureaucrats).

Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting and applying the laws of the land?

The Judiciary.

The Judiciary acts as the custodian of the _.

Constitution

How does the system of 'checks and balances' work among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary?

It ensures that no one organ becomes too powerful by allowing each to check the actions of the others.

Similar to the Parliament at the Union level, each state has its own legislature and executive, called its _.

State Assembly

Members of a State Assembly, who formulate state-level laws, are known as _.

Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

On which list of subjects can both the Union and State governments legislate?

The Concurrent List.

If the Union government legislates on a subject in the Concurrent List, what is the obligation of the state government?

The state government is bound to follow the Union law.

Who is the constitutional head of a State Government in India?

The Governor, appointed by the President.

Who is the de facto executive authority at the state level?

The Chief Minister.

The Council of Ministers at the state level is collectively responsible to which body?

The Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

What is the term for a state legislature that has only one house?

Unicameral.

What is the lower house of a state legislature called?

The Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

What is the upper house in a bicameral state legislature called?

The Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).

The Parliament typically meets three times a year in gatherings known as _.

sessions

Name the three typical sessions of the Indian Parliament.

Budget Session, Monsoon Session, and Winter Session.

In the Parliamentary context, how is 'productivity' measured?

By the number of hours a house actually functioned against the time it was scheduled to.

What body has the critical responsibility of checking that laws passed by Parliament have not violated the Constitutional framework?

The Judiciary.

The old Parliament building, constructed in the 1920s, is now called what?

Samvidhan Sadan.

How are MPs in the Lok Sabha different from MPs in the Rajya Sabha in terms of their election?

Lok Sabha MPs are directly elected by the people, while Rajya Sabha MPs are elected indirectly.

The main role of the is making laws, while the main role of the is enforcing laws.

Legislature; Executive

Who holds the power to summon the Parliament and give assent to bills?

The President.

The system where power is divided between the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary is known as the _.

separation of powers

On which list of subjects can only the Union Government make laws?

The Union List.

On which list of subjects can only the State Governments make laws?

The State List.

Money bills at the state level must originate in which house?

The Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

What is a major challenge to the effective functioning of legislatures mentioned in the text?

Regular absenteeism, non-cooperative conduct, or disruptions of the Question Hour.

The story of the RTE Act illustrates the long journey a _ takes to become an Act.

bill

Why was the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) created in the spirit of 'federalism'?

To ensure that the interests of the states are represented in the Parliament.

What is the purpose of providing translation services in multiple Indian languages in Parliament?

To help make Parliamentary discussions accessible to all members.