Civics Chapter - 3 Why do we need a Parliament?

Grade – VIII Subject – Social Science

1. Parliament enables Indian citizens to participate in
(a) Decision making (b) Control the government (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
2.During British rule which Government of India Act allowed some elected representation
(a) Government of India Act 1919 (b) Government of India Act 1909
(c) Government of India Act 1916 (d) Government of India Act 1947
3. Representatives to the Parliament are chosen by the
(a) People (b) Rulers (c) Government (d) None of these
4. Who is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha?
(a) Prime Minister of India (b) President of India
(c) Vice-President of India (d) None of these
5. How many seats were won by BJP in Lok Sabha Election 2019?
(a) 285 (b) 14 (c) 303 (d) 141
6. The combined strength of all political parties in the Parliament with less than 50%
of representatives is
(a) ruling party (b) opposition (c) coalition (d) none of these
7. What does PMO refer to?
(a) Prime Minister’s Office (b) Post Master Office (c) Primary Municipal Office (d) None of
these
8.The upper house of Parliament, representing the states, is termed as
(a) Lok Sabha (b) Rajya Sabha (c) Parliament House (d) none of these

9,.Which is an important way to control the executive in Parliament?

(a) Assembly (b) Zero hour (c) Question hour (d) none of these

10. The parliament begins with _______

a. Question hour b. Zero hour
c. Both (a) & (b)
d. Only (b)

11. 'EVM' means

a. Electronic voting machine
b. Election voting machine
c. Equal vote measure
d. Electrical Voting Machine
Subjective Type Questions
1. How can all the citizens participate in the government's decision–making process?
2. What is a constituency?
3. What are the three major duties of the Parliament?
4. How is a national government selected? Or How is the government formed in a democracy?

5. Write a brief note on the Members of Parliament.

6. Write a brief note on the following terms
1.Opposition Party 2.Question Hour 3.Coalition government 4. Executive
5.Domestic Violence Act
7.What is the basic premise of democracy?
8. “In a democracy citizens can express their unwillingness to accept repressive laws framed by
the Parliament”.Explain this statement with an example.

9. Compare Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha (refer textbook/notebook)

1.Citizens participate in the government decision by electing their representatives .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.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.

2. A constituency is a particular area from where voters elect their representatives. A country is
divided into many territories for the purpose of conducting elections.

3. The Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that the people of India have in principles
of democracy. These are participation by people in the decision-making process and government
by consent. The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of
the people.

Once elections to the Parliament have taken place, the Parliament needs to perform the following
functions:
A. To Select the National Government (see answer 4 )
B. To Control, Guide and Inform the Government: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. Asking questions of the government is a crucial task for every MP.
The Opposition parties play a critical role in the healthy functioning of a democracy. They
highlight drawbacks in various policies and programmes of the government and mobilise popular
support for their own policies.
C. In addition, in all matters dealing with finances, the Parliament’s approval is crucial for the
government. D. To
make laws: Parliament is the highest law making body of India.

4. In a democracy, the government is formed after elections. After the elections, a list is prepared
which indicates the winner of each Lok Sabha seat. These winners become the Members of
Parliament (MPs). The political party with the majority of these MPs forms the government.
Since there are 543 seats in Lok Sabha, a party must secure at least half i.e. 272 seats in
Parliament to form a government. Sometimes, no single political party is able to win 272 seats on
its own and get the majority to form the government. In that situation, two or more political
parties with similar concerns join together to get the majority and form a Coalition Government.

5. 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.The MPs as representatives of the people have a central role in controlling,
guiding and informing Parliament and this is a key aspect of the functioning of Indian
democracy.
 6. Opposition Party:The Opposition in Parliament is formed by all the political parties that are
not part of the majority party/coalition formed. The largest amongst these parties is called the
Opposition party.

Question Hour 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. Asking
questions of the government is a crucial task for every MP.

Coalition: A temporary alliance of groups or parties. In this chapter, it refers to the alliance
formed by political parties after elections when no party has been able to get adequate seats to
form a clear majority.

Executive; The executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made
by the Parliament. This executive is often what we have in mind when we use the term
government.

Domestic Violence Act:Domestic violence generally refers to the injury or harm or threat of
injury or harm caused by an adult male, usually the husband, against his wife. Injury may be
caused by physically beating up the woman or by emotionally abusing her. Abuse of the woman
can also include verbal, sexual and economic abuse. The Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act 2005 extends the understanding of the term ‘domestic’ to include all women who
‘live or have lived together in a shared household’ with the male member who is perpetrating the
violence.

7. The basic premise of democracy is the idea of consent, i.e. the desire, approval, and
participation of the people of the country in the formation of the government and its functioning.
The individual or the citizen is the most important person and all government institutions need to
have the trust of the citizens.
8.Sometimes a law can be constitutionally valid and hence legal, but it can continue to be
unpopular and unacceptable to people because they feel that the intention behind it is unfair and
harmful.

● Hence, people might criticise this law, hold public meetings, write about it in
newspapers, report to TV news channels etc.
● In a democracy like ours, citizens can express their unwillingness to accept repressive
laws framed by the Parliament. When a large number of people begin to feel that a wrong
law has been passed, then there is pressure on the Parliament to change this.
● For example, various municipal laws on the use of space within municipal limits often
make hawking and street vending illegal.
● No one will dispute the necessity for some rules to keep the public space open so that
people can walk on the pavements easily.
● However, one also cannot deny that hawkers and vendors provide essential services
cheaply and efficiently to the millions living in a large city. This is their means of
livelihood. Hence, if the law favours one group and disregards the other it will be
controversial and lead to conflict.
● People who think that the law is not fair can approach the court to decide on the issue.
The court has the power to modify or cancel laws if it finds that they don’t adhere to the
Constitution.

12.Case Based Question :Sometimes a law can be constitutionally valid and hence legal,
but it can continue to be unpopular and unacceptable to people because they feel that the
intention behind it is unfair and harmful. Hence, people might criticise this law, hold public
meetings, write about it in newspapers, report to TV news channels etc. In a democracy like
ours, citizens can express their unwillingness to accept repressive laws framed by the
Parliament. When a large number of people begin to feel that a wrong law has been
passed, then there is pressure on the Parliament to change this. For example, various
municipal laws on the use of space within municipal limits often make hawking and street
vending illegal. No one will dispute the necessity for some rules to keep the public space
open so that people can walk on the pavements easily. However, one also cannot deny that
hawkers and vendors provide essential services cheaply and efficiently to the millions living
in a large city. This is their means of livelihood. Hence, if the law favours one group and
disregards the other it will be controversial and lead to conflict. People who think that the
law is not fair can approach the court to decide on the issue. The court has the power to
modify or cancel laws if it finds that they don’t adhere to the Constitution. We need to
remember that our role as citizens does not end with electing our representatives. Rather, it
is then that we begin to use newspapers and the media to carefully chart the work that is
being done by our MPs and criticise their actions when we feel it is required. Thus, what we
should bear in mind is that it is the extent, involvement and enthusiasm of the people that
helps Parliament perform its representative functions properly.

1.) Can a law be legally valid but still face criticism from the public? How does public
discontent influence the legislative process?

Answer: Yes, a law can be constitutionally valid and legally acceptable but still be criticized
by the public if they perceive its intentions as unfair or harmful. Public discontent can exert
pressure on the Parliament to reconsider or amend such laws. When a significant number
of people express dissatisfaction, it may lead to discussions, public meetings, media
coverage, and even court interventions. Such citizen activism can prompt lawmakers to
reevaluate the law’s implications and address the concerns raised by the public.

2.) How do municipal laws on hawking and street vending exemplify a situation
where a law can be controversial and lead to conflict?

Answer: Municipal laws on hawking and street vending often create controversy and conflict
because they impact both vendors’ livelihoods and the convenience of pedestrians. While
some regulations are necessary for public safety and access to pavements, these laws can
be perceived as biased when they favor one group over the other. Hawkers and vendors
provide essential services to urban populations, and strict laws against them may be seen
as unfair.

3.) What remedycan the citizens availif their fundamental rights are infringed?

Answer:If they believe a legislation is unfair or violates the Constitution, people have the
right to contest its validity in a democratic system. The judiciary is given the authority to
examine and invalidate laws that conflict with the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
People turn to the judiciary for fair adjudication. They seek appropriate justice when they
believe their rights have been infringed or if they experience injustice as a result of
legislative actions.

4.) How does citizen involvement beyond voting contribute to effective parliamentary
functioning?

Answer: Citizen involvement beyond voting, such as expressing opinions through

newspapers and media, plays a crucial role in holding elected representatives accountable.
By closely monitoring the work of MPs and critiquing their actions when necessary, citizens
ensure transparency and responsiveness in the legislative process. Public scrutiny also
keeps MPs aware of the concerns and interests of their constituents, enhancing the
representative nature of parliamentary functioning.
Judiciary

1.What is the system consisting of courts which interpret the constitution and award judgement?
(a) Judiciary (b) Parliament (c) Police (d) Legislative
2.What is the term used for money given to make amends for an injury or a loss?
(a) Donation (b) Compensation (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
3. What is the act of breaking a law as well as the breach or infringement of Fundamental
Rights?
(a) Violation (b) Acquit (c) Dispute (d) All of these
4.Judiciary in India resolves the disputes between
(a) State and State (b) State and Citizen (c) Citizen and Citizen (d) All the above
5. Who is the final interpreter of our Constitution?
(a) Judiciary (b) Government (c) Executive (b) Legislative
6. Once appointed, a judge can be removed by:
(a) District judge (b) Chief Minister (c) Prime Minister (d) Impeachment
7. When was High Court under British Rule first established?
(a) In 1862 (b) In 1966 (c) In 1866 (d) In 1986
8. How many High Courts are there in India currently?
(a) 21 (b) 25 (c) 24 (d) 27
9.What type of cases are decided under Civil Law?
(a) Divorce (b) Rent matters (c) Sale of land (d) All the above
10.The removal of persons from land or homes that they are currently living in, is called
(a) violation (b) eviction (c) separation of power (d) judiciary
11.How many judges are there in the Supreme Court?
(a) 26 judges (b) 36 judges (c) 46 judges (d) 16 judges
12. Match the following:

Column A Column B

(a) Dispute resolution (i) Solving of disputes

(b) Violation (ii) Judgment late

(c) Supreme Court (iii) Breaking of law

 (d) Justice delayed (iv) Set up on 26 Jan, 1950

(e) High Court of Delhi (v) 1966

a-i,b-iii,iv,d-ii,e-v

13.The courts through which most people interact with are called:
a.National courts b. Subordinate courts c. High courts d.Supreme courts
14.The subordinate court is more commonly known by many different names except which of
the following:
a. Apexcourt b.Additional Sessions Judge
c. Trial Court or the Court of the District Judge d. Chief Judicial Magistrate
15. Which of the following is false regarding criminal law?
a. If found guilty, the accused can be sent to jail and also fined
b. Deals with conduct or acts that the law defines as offenses
c. A petition has to be filed before the relevant court by the affected party only
d. For example theft, harassing a woman to bring more dowry and murder.
16. State true or false and rewrite the incorrect statement.
1. The seven north-eastern states have a common High Court. True
2. There are currently 27 High Courts in India. False 25
3. There is only one Supreme Court in India. True
4. The Supreme Court is presided over by the Chief Judicial Officer of India. False Chief Justice
of India

Subjective Question
1. What does judiciary mean?
2. How is the work of the judiciary categorized?
3. Write a brief note on the independence of the judiciary.
4.What is the structure of the judicial system of India?
5. What is the ‘appellate system’?
6. Discuss in detail the branches of the Legal system.
7.What is “Public interest Litigation”?

Please refer textbook to elaborate the answers

Question 1
What does judiciary mean?
Solution:
In law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administers justice in the
name of the state. It is the mechanism for the resolution of disputes and pronouncement of
punishment. As an organ of the State, the judiciary plays a crucial role in the functioning of
India’s democracy.

Question 2
How is the work of the judiciary categorised?
Solution:
The Judiciary comprises of courts that take decisions on a very large number of issues. The work
of the judiciary can be divided into 3 categories, namely Dispute Resolution, Judicial Review
and upholding the Law and Enforcing Fundamental Rights.

Question 3
Write a brief note on the independence of the judiciary.
Solution:
The Judiciary of India is an independent body. It is separate from the Executive and Legislative
bodies of the Indian Government. The Executive and Legislature, that is the Central and State
Governments, cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.
The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf.
Judges in the High Court as well as the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with very
little interference from the other branches of the government. It is also very difficult to remove a
judge from his post.

Question 4
What is the structure of the judicial system of India?
Solution:
The judicial system of India is stratified into various levels. At the apex is the Supreme Court,
which is followed by High Courts at the state level, District Courts at the district level and Lok
Adalats at the Village and Panchayat Level.
The structure of the courts from the lower to the highest level resembles a pyramid.

Question 5
What is the ‘appellate system’?
Solution:
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of second instance is any court of
law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In most
jurisdictions, the court system is divided into at least three levels: the trial court, which initially
hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case; at least one
intermediate appellate court; and a supreme court which primarily reviews the decisions of the
intermediate courts. A jurisdiction’s supreme court is that jurisdiction’s highest appellate
court.Appellate courts nationwide can operate by varying rules.
The authority of appellate courts to review decisions of lower courts varies widely from one
jurisdiction to another. In some places, the appellate court has limited powers of review.
“Generally speaking, an appellate court’s judgment provides ‘the final directive of the appeals
courts as to the matter appealed, setting out with specificity the court’s determination that the
action appealed from should be affirmed, reversed, remanded or modified'”.

Question 6
Mention the branches of the Legal system.
Solution:
The Legal system can be divided into 2 branches, criminal law and civil law.
Question-7
What is “Public interest Litigation”?
Solution:
“Public interest Litigation” or PIL is a litigation filed in a court of law, for the protection of
“Public Interest”, such as pollution, terrorism, road safety, constructional hazards etc.
PIL can be filed for the following reasons:

1. Violation of basic human rights of the poor

2. Content or conduct of government policy
3. Compel municipal authorities to perform a public duty
4. Violation of religious rights or other basic fundamental rights
5. Any individual or organisation can file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme
6. Court on behalf of those whose rights are being violated. It is not necessary, that
the person filing a case should have a direct interest in the case.

8. Case Based Question

Courts take decisions on a very large number of issues. They can decide that no teacher
can beat a student, or about the sharing of river waters between states, or they can punish
people for particular crimes. Broadly speaking, the work that the judiciary does can be
divided into the following: Dispute Resolution: The judicial system provides a mechanism for
resolving disputes between citizens, between citizens and the government, between two
state governments and between the centre and state governments. Judicial Review: As the
final interpreter of the Constitution, the judiciary also has the power to strike down particular
laws passed by the Parliament if it believes that these are a violation of the basic structure
of the Constitution. This is called judicial review. Upholding the Law and Enforcing
Fundamental Rights: Every citizen of India can approach the Supreme Court or the High
Court if they believe that their Fundamental Rights have been violated.
1.) Explain why judicial review is an integral part of the Indian constitution.

Answer: The Judiciary possesses the authority to conduct Judicial review, a process of
significant importance. Judicial review empowers the Judiciary to evaluate whether laws
created by the legislative body align with the basic principles given within the Constitution.
Furthermore, the Judiciary is vested with the power to declare any law as unconstitutional,
thus assuming the crucial role of the ultimate guardian of the Constitution’s integrity..

2.) How does the judiciary safeguard citizens’ Fundamental Rights?

Answer: The respected judiciary of the country highly values the importance of citizens’
Fundamental Rights. It provides them with a way to seek solutions either through the
revered Supreme Court or the esteemed High Court. This smart mechanism makes sure
that every citizen can easily get justice and that their basic rights are carefully protected
within our well-regarded legal system.
Objective Type Questions PUBLIC FACILITIES
Q1. Which areas in Chennai faces severe water shortages?S
(a) Madipakkam (b) Mylapore (c) Slums near Saidapet (d) All these areas
Q2. Which of the following is a water related disease?
(a) Plague (b) Eye flu (c) Cholera (d) All of these
Q3. What are Public facilities?
(a) Essential facilities (b) Non Essential facilities (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
Q4. Who carries the responsibility of providing public facilities to the people?
(a) Government (b) Public (c) Private organisation (d) None of these
Q5. Where does the government get funds for providing Public facilities?
(a) Income Tax collected from the people
(b) Fines collected from the people
(c) Other taxes collected from the people
(d) All of these
Q6. Assertion s.The Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the
Right to Life under Article 21.
Reason: Water is essential for life and for good health.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true and R is a correct explanation of A.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true and R is not a correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true ,but R is false.
(d) A is false and R is true.
Q7. Which facility, besides safe drinking water, is necessary to prevent water-borne disease?
(a) Sanitation (b) Transport (c) Road (d) All of these
Q8. Picture Study
The government needs to play an active role in providing adequate access to proper health
facilities for the entire population. This includes the eradication of preventable diseases like
_______.
(a) Cholera (b) diarrhea (c) Polio (d) None of the above
Q9. The burden of shortfalls in water supply falls mostly on the
(a) Poor (b) Rich (c) Social Workers (d) Government
Q10. Right to ______ is a Fundamental Right.
(a) unhygienic drinking water (b) safe drinking water
(c) contaminated drinking water (d) drinking water
Q11. How can we prevent water related diseases?
(a) By using pond water (b) By using clean and safe water
(c) By using boring water (d) All of these
Q12. Which of the following is not the essential goods
(a) Sugar (b) Car (c) Kerosene (d) Food grains
Q13. The Indian Constitution has recognized the ______ as a Part of Right to Life.
a) Water b) Education c) Caste d) Untouchability
Q14. What are the important characteristics of public facilities?
a) It benefits privileged section of the society
(b) Its benefits can be shared by many people
(c) It benefits underprivileged sections of the society
(d) None of these
Q15. Under which Article of our Constitution, the Right to Water gets recognition?
(a) Article 20 (b) Article 21 (c) Article 22 (d) Article 23

Subjective Questions:
Public Facilities:
1.How is the sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai affecting the local people? Do
you think local people can object to such exploitation of groundwater? Can the government do
anything in this regard?
Answer: The shortage of water has opened up opportunities for private companies in a big way.
Many private companies are providing water to cities by buying it from places around the city. In
Chennai, water is taken from nearby towns like Mamandur, Palur, Karungizhi and from villages
to the north of the city using a fleet of over 13,000 water tankers. Every month the water dealers
pay farmers an advance for the rights to exploit water sources on their land. This is water taken
away not just from agriculture but also from the drinking water supplies of the villagers. Ground
water levels have dropped drastically in all these towns and villages as a result. Hence, the local
people can object to this trade of water.

2. Discuss the case study of Bolivia and Porto Alegre.

● Porto Alegre is a city in Brazil.

it has a far lower number of infant deaths as compared to most other cities of the world.
The city’s water department has achieved universal access to safe water and this is the
main reason behind the lower number of infant deaths. The average price of water is kept
low, and the poor are charged half the basic rate. Whatever profit the department makes
is used to improve the water supply. The working of the water department is transparent
and people can have a direct say in deciding which projects the department should take
up. Through a process of public meetings, people hear what the managers
have to say and also vote on their priorities
● Bolivia (South America)
In Bolivia, the responsibility for water supply was handed over to private companies,
there was a steep rise in the price of water, making it unaffordable for many.
Cities saw huge protests, with riots breaking out
People forced the government to take back the service from private hands.

3. Why it is the responsibility of the government only to provide public facilities?

Answer:

The responsibility to provide public facilities must be that of the government only because the
government can provide them to the people in an affordable and equitable manner.

4. Explain the need for water as a Right to Life.

Answer:
Water is essential for life and for good health. Not only is it necessary for us too. be able to meet
our daily needs but safe drinking water can prevent many water-related diseases. The
Constitution of India recognises the right to water as being a part of the Right to Life under
Article 21. This means that it is the right of every person, whether rich or poor, to have sufficient
amounts of water to fulfil his/her daily needs at a price that he/she can afford. The Supreme
Court has held that the right to safe drinking water is a Fundamental Right.

5. Mention the important means of public transport in big cities.

Answer:
uses are the most important forms of public transport over short distances. It is the main link to
the workplace for the majority of the working people. With rapid urbanisation, the public bus
system even in the major cities has not been able to keep up with the demand. As an alternative,
the government has planned metro rail projects in metropolitan cities.

6. Explain the cleanliness campaign of ‘Sulabh International’.

Answer:

‘Sulabh International’, a non-government organisation has been working for nearly three decades
to address the problems of sanitation facing low-caste, low-income people in India. It has
constructed more than 75,000 community toilet blocks and 12,00,000 household toilets, giving
access to sanitation to one crore people. The majority of the users of Sulabh facilities are from
die poor and working labour class. One rupee is charged for the use of these toilets in cities.
Local authorities provide land and funds for setting up the services, whereas maintenance costs
are sometimes financed through user charges

7. Where does the government get money for public facilities? Explain by giving an example of
water.

Answer:

The government arranges the money for the public facilities through the budget. The budget
contains the details of the profit and losses of the government. The amount received from the
public from taxes and fees for convenience is spent on the public facility. For example, to supply
water, the government has to incur costs in pumping water, carrying it over long distances,
laying down pipes for distribution, treating dead water for impurities, and finally, collecting and
treating wastewater. It meets these expenses partly from the various taxes that it collects and
partly by chaining a price for water. This price is set so that most people can afford a certain
minimum amount of water for daily use.
8. The government is not able to provide water as per the requirement and many water
departments are running at a loss, so should the water supply be handed over to private
companies? Can private companies do a better job? Answer logically.
Answer:
Although the government is not able to provide water as per the requirement and many water
departments are running at a loss, only the government can make cheap and equitable water
supply, not private companies. Private companies work for a profit. If water supply work is done
by private companies, then water supply will become expensive and it will not be easy for the
poor and lower-class people to pay the price.

This will increase discrimination in the water supply. Therefore, water supply, should not be
entrusted to private companies. It can also be said from the following facts that water supply
should be done by the government itself:
(1) The responsibility for water supply has been on the government all over the world. In a few
cases, where the steep rise in the price of water, making it unaffordable for many cities saw huge
protests, with riots breaking out in places like Bolivia, forcing the government to take back the
service from private hands.

(2) There are many areas in the world which have achieved universal access to safe water. Like
Porto Alegre, a city in Brazil.

9.Enlist successful ventures of water departments across India.

Ans:There are many examples of the success of water departments in India too. Such as:water
supply department in Mumbai, water supply department in Hyderabad, contracting of tankers by
Chennai water department, etc. Water supply departments of other cities can also solve this
problem by improving their system, bringing transparency to their systems and taking public
participation along.