NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 6 The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

India has a bicameral (two-house) Parliament consisting of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), along with the President.

The members of the Lok Sabha elect a Speaker from among themselves to conduct proceedings, maintain discipline, and ensure rules are followed during sessions.

The Vice President of India has the role of presiding over the Rajya Sabha as its ex-officio chairperson, guiding its debates and discussions.

Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha members are not elected directly by the public. They are elected by the MLAs of each state, a process known as indirect election.

The Question Hour is a critical tool for legislative oversight. It allows MPs to question ministers directly, forcing the government to justify its decisions and remain answerable to the Parliament.

The Union Executive comprises the President, the Vice President, and the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at its head, who collectively run the government.

A bill is the draft of a proposed law. It must go through several stages of discussion, debate, and voting in both Houses of Parliament before it can be enacted into law.

A standing committee is a permanent committee of MPs that closely examines bills and government functions. It provides detailed analysis and suggestions, playing a key role in refining legislation.

After a bill is passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it is sent to the President. The bill becomes an Act only after it receives the President’s signature, known as assent.

The Constitution specifies that all bills dealing with government finances must originate in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha can suggest changes but cannot reject a Money Bill.

The President is the Head of State and the nominal, or ceremonial, head of the Executive. The actual executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

While the President is the head of state, the Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds the real executive power, leading the Council of Ministers to run the country.

Civil servants are the non-political, permanent administrative staff of the government.
They work under ministers to ensure the smooth functioning of government departments and the implementation of laws.

Shastri’s resignation, despite not being personally blamed for the accident, set a powerful precedent for ministerial accountability and the principle of taking moral responsibility for the functioning of one’s department.

The Judiciary acts as the guardian of the Constitution. It has the power of judicial review to check if laws and government actions follow the constitutional framework, preventing any organ from becoming too powerful.

Federalism is a system where governmental power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, like states. This helps balance national unity with local autonomy.

The Concurrent List contains subjects like education where both the central and state governments can legislate. This allows for collaboration on matters of mutual interest.

In case of a conflict between the central and state governments on a subject in the Concurrent List, the law made by the Union government is binding on the state.

A unicameral legislature has only one legislative chamber or house. In India, most states have this system, with only a Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly).

The Vidhan Sabha, or Legislative Assembly, is the lower house at the state level, equivalent to the Lok Sabha at the national level. Its members (MLAs) are directly elected by the people.

Similar to the President at the Union level, the Governor is the constitutional and nominal head of a state. They are appointed by the President of India.

Following the parliamentary system, the Governor appoints the leader of the party or alliance that has secured a majority of seats in the state’s legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha).

The Sengol, dating back to the Chola period, was traditionally handed to new rulers as a reminder that power must be guided by dharma (righteousness). Its placement in Parliament serves as a symbol of just governance.

The journey of the RTE culminated in the 86th Amendment, which inserted Article 21A into the Constitution.
This made free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 a fundamental right.

Parliamentary productivity is a measure of efficiency. It compares the number of hours the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha actually conducted business with the number of hours they were officially scheduled to meet.

The table shows a clear decline in the number of sittings over the decades, from 677 in the first Lok Sabha to 356 in the thirteenth, indicating that Parliament has been meeting for fewer days over time.

The principle of collective responsibility means that the entire Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is answerable to the Lok Sabha. They can remain in power only as long as they command the confidence of the house.

The Parliament usually convenes for three sessions in a year: the Budget session early in the year, the Monsoon session mid-year, and the Winter session at the end of the year.

This constitutional principle divides governmental authority among three branches to create a system of checks and balances. It prevents the concentration of power in one branch, thereby protecting citizens’ rights.

This quote highlights that while political leaders and parties are transient, the core democratic values and the well-being of the nation are permanent and must be protected above all else.