Created after 1947, 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. 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 as shown in the map on page 41. Each of these
constituencies elects one person to the Parliament. The candidates who contest
elections usually belong to different political parties.

1 When was the Indian Parliament created?

Ans. The Indian Parliament was created after 1947.

2 What does the Indian Parliament represent?

Ans. Created after 1947, the Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that
the people of India have in principles of democracy.

3 The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is

the________________.

Ans. The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the
representative of the people.

4 The Lok Sabha is usually elected once every ten years. True/False?

Ans. False. The Lok Sabha is usually elected once every five years.

5 Give some features of the Indian Parliament.

Ans. Created after 1947, 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. 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.Each of these constituencies
elects one person to the Parliament.

C. Parliament of India consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok
Sabha.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. 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.

1 What does the Parliament of India consist of?

Ans. Parliament of India consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok
Sabha.

2 What is the first thing that happens after the Lok Sabha elections?

Ans. After the Lok Sabha elections, a list is prepared showing how many MPs belong
to each political party.

3 For a political party to form the government, they must have a majority of
elected MPs. True/False?
Ans. True. For a political party to form the government, they must have a majority
of elected MPs.

4 How many members are there in Lok Sabha?

Ans. The Lok Sabha consists of 543 elected (plus 2 Anglo-Indian nominated) members.

5 Explain in brief about opposition in Lok Sabha elections?

Ans. 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.

D. The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of India
in the Parliament. The Rajya Sabha 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 (if alterations are needed) 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.

1 The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the _____________in the Parliament.

Ans. The Rajya Sabha functions primarily as the representative of the states of
India in the Parliament.

2 Does a bill need to pass through Rajya Sabha to become a law?

Ans. Yes, a bill needs to pass through Rajya Sabha to become a law. The Rajya Sabha
can also initiate legislation and a bill is required to pass through the Rajya
Sabha in order to become a law.

3 What is one of the most important roles of Rajya Sabha?

Ans. Rajya Sabha has an important role of reviewing and altering (if alterations
are needed) the laws initiated by the Lok Sabha.

4 How are the members of Rajya Sabha elected?

Ans. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the
Legislative Assemblies of various states.

5 How many members are there in Rajya Sabha?

Ans. There are 233 elected members plus 12 members nominated by the President.

E. 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 criticize 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.

1 Why can a law be unpopular?

Ans. 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.

2 How do people express their discontent towards a law?

Ans. People express their discontent towards a law by criticizing this law, hold
public meetings, write about it in newspapers, report to TV news channels etc.

3 Citizens cannot express their unwillingness to accept repressive laws in India.

True/False?

Ans. False. In a democracy like India’s citizens can express their unwillingness to
accept repressive laws framed by the Parliament.

4 Does the Parliament ever change laws due to public discontent?

Ans. Yes, 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 law.

5 Give an example of controversial law.

Ans. 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 favors 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

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (1 Mark)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a
person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available
options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.

Q1 Which is the highest law making body in our country?

A) Rajya Sabha
B) Lok Sabha
C) Court
D) None of these
Ans. B) Lok Sabha

Q2. Which are the main types of Bills?

A) Money Bills
B) Financial Bills
C) Ordinary Bills
D) All of the above
Ans. D) All of the above

Q3 How many members are there in the Rajya sabha?

A) 240 elected members

B) 233 elected members
C) 230 elected members
D) None of these
Ans. B) 233 elected members

Q4 How Many members are nominated by the president in Rajya sabha?

A) 15
B) 14
C) 12
D) None of these
Ans. C) 12

Q5 Who demanded the elected members in the legislature?

A) British
B) Non ruling party
C) Indian National Congress
D) None of these
Ans. C) Indian National Congress

Q6 The Government of India Act came out in _____.

A) 1910
B) 1909
C) 1911
D) 1905
Ans. B) 1909

Q7 For General elections, electronic voting machines were used for the first time
in ____.

A) 2001
B) 2005
C) 2004
D) 2009
Ans. C) 2004

Q8 _____ demanded from the British government in 1985 to allow elected members in
the legislature.

A) Indian National Congress

B) Swatantra Party
C) Republican Party
D) Hindu Mahasabha
Ans. A) Indian National Congress

Q9 The idea of _____ is the take off point for a democracy.

A) Republic
B) consent
C) freedom
D) monarchy
Ans. B) consent

Q10 An individual gives her consent to the government with the help of _____.

A) movements
B) elections
C) opposition
D) Parliament
Ans. B) elections

Q11 _____ is made up of all the representatives elected by the Indian people.

A) Rashtrapati Bhavan
B) White House
C) House of Commons
D) Lok Sabha
Ans. D) Lok Sabha

Q12 MLAs are the elected representatives of _______

A) State Legislature
B) Rajya Sabha
C) Vidhan Sabha
D) Jila Parishad
Ans. A) State Legislature

Q13 The Lok Sabha was formed in ____.

A) 1947
B) 1948
C) 1950
D) 1941
Ans. A) 1947

Q14 In the 2014 elections, ____ was the leading party of the country.

A) Indian National Congress

B) Bharatiya Janata Party
C) Communist Party
D) Swatantra Party
Ans. B) Bharatiya Janata Party

Q15 The President appoints ____ members of Rajya Sabha.

A) 12
B) 15
C) 14
D) 20
Ans. A) 12

Q16 Every ____ years, the elections are held in India to elect the representatives
of Lok Sabha.

A) five
B) seven
C) one
D) three
Ans. A) five
Q17 _____ is a party based in Maharashtra.

A) Telugu Desam Party

B) Janata Dal (Secular)
C) Shiv Sena
D) Samajwadi Party
Ans. C) Shiv Sena

Q18 The leader of Ruling Party in the Lok Sabha is ____

A) Defence Minister
B) Prime Minister
C) Chief Minister
D) President
Ans. B) Prime Minister

Q19 ____ functions based on representation of states.

A) Lok Sabha
B) President
C) Vidhan Sabha
D) Rajya Sabha
Ans. D) Rajya Sabha

Q20 There are _____ elected members in the Lok Sabha.

A) 2
B) 5
C) 3
D) 4
Ans. A) 2

Q21 _____ heads the Rajya Sabha.

A) President
B) Speaker
C) Cabinet Minister
D) Vice President
Ans. D) Vice President

Q22 The members of ____ make laws to run the country.

A) Lok Sabha
B) Legislative Assembly
C) house of Commons
D) Vidhan Parishad
Ans. A) Lok Sabha

Q23 To form a government, a party must win at least ____ seats in Lok Sabha.

A) 272
B) 255
C) 280
D) 270
Ans. A) 272

Q24 Rajya Sabha has ____ elected members.

A) 233
B) 213
C) 245
D) 243
Ans. A) 233

Q25 There are _____ elected members in the Lok Sabha.

A) 543
B) 540
C) 545
D) 455
Ans. A) 543

Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. What are the two Houses of Parliament?

Ans. . The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are the two houses of the Parliament.

Q2. What does EVM mean?

Ans. . EVM means Electronic Voting Machine.

Q3. How does the Parliament session begin?

Ans. The Parliament, while in session, begins with a question hour.

Q4. When were EVMs used for the first time?

Ans. EVMs were used throughout the country for the first time in the 2004 general
elections.

Q5. What is a constituency?

Ans. . Constituency is an area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative

body.

Q6. Who presides over Lok Sabha?

Ans. The Lok Sabha (House of the People), with a total membership of 545, is
presided over by the Speaker.

Q7. What is the principle of universal adult franchise?

Ans. The principle of universal adult franchise means that all adult citizens of
the country have the right to vote.

Q8. Who makes the opposition party?

Ans. The Opposition in Parliament is formed by all the political parties that
oppose the majority party/coalition formed. The largest amongst these parties is
called the Opposition party.

Q9. What is the main function of the parliament?

Ans. Parliament enables citizens of India to participate in decision making and

control the government.
Q10. How many members does the President nominate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

Ans. The President nominates 2 members to the Lok Sabha and 12 members to the
Rajya Sabha.

Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)

Q1. Parliament is the most important symbol of Indian Democracy. Explain.

Ans. Parliament allows Indian citizens to participate in decision-making and

exercise control over the government, making it the most important emblem of Indian
democracy and a crucial aspect of the Constitution.

Q2.Which house of parliament is more powerful with regard to financial matters and
how?

Ans. Because money bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, the Lok Sabha has
more clout on financial matters. As a result, it has complete control over the
government’s finances.

Q3.Why do you think the nationalist movement supported the idea that all adults
have a right to vote?

Ans. The national movement advocated for all adults to have the right to vote for
the following reasons:

Every responsible citizen should be involved in government.

Lawmaking and decision-making should also be shared by the country’s grownups.
Q4. Give reasons for the reservation of seats in Parliament for SCs, STs and OBCs.

Ans.. Some seats in Parliament are designated for SCs and STs. This has been done
in order for the MPs elected from these seats to be conversant with and capable of
representing Dalit and Adivasi issues in Parliament.

Q5. What is the role of opposition in democracy?

Ans. Opposition parties are essential to the healthy operation of a democracy. They
identify flaws in various government policies and activities while mobilizing
popular support for their own proposals.

Q6. What are the basic ideals of democracy?

Ans. The basic ideals of democracy are:

The ideas of participation in decision-making.

The need for all democratic governments to have the consent of their citizens.
Q7. Enlist the components of Indian Parliament.

Ans. The Parliament of India is the Republic of India’s top legislative body. It is
a bicameral legislature made up of the President of India and two houses: the Rajya
Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of People).

Q8. State the demands of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Ans. Nationalists began to publicly critique and demand the British administration
for more power to be given to Indians in the Legislative councils. The Indian
National Congress asked in 1885 that elected members of the legislature be allowed
to debate the budget and raise questions.
Q9. What are reserved constituencies? What is the purpose behind such
constituencies?

Ans. Reserved constituencies are ones where seats are reserved for SCs and STs on
the basis of population. This has been done in order for the MPs elected from these
seats to be conversant with and capable of representing Dalit and Adivasi issues in
Parliament.

Q10. How many seats should a political party acquire in Lok Sabha to have a
majority?

Ans. A political party must have a majority of elected MPs in order to create the
government. Since there are 543 elected (plus 2 Anglo-Indian nominated) members in
Lok Sabha, a party must have at least half of that number, or 272 MPs, to have a
majority.

Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

Q1. How is the national government formed?

Ans. Following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, a list of MPs from each
political party is compiled. A political party must have a majority of elected MPs
in order to create the government. The Lok Sabha has 545 members, 543 of whom are
elected and 2 of whom are nominated. To have a majority, a party must have at least
half the number of members, or 272 or more. All political parties in Parliament
that oppose the dominant party or coalition comprise the opposition. The largest of
these parties is referred to as the Opposition party.

Q2. What is meant by the Opposition parties? What role do they play in the
government?

Ans. Following the announcement of election results, the leader of the party with
the clear majority of elected members forms a government. The opposition is made up
of the other political parties. The largest of these parties is referred to as the
Opposition party.

Opposition parties are critical to the healthy operation of a democracy. They keep
the government in check by revealing flaws in various programmes and activities.
They also rally public support for their own policies.

Q3. How do the individuals give approval to the government?

Ans. Elections are one method of providing consent to the government. People would
vote for their representatives in Parliament. Then, from among these elected
delegates, one group becomes the government. The Parliament, composed of all MPs,
controls and guides the government. Thus, the people construct and control the
government through their elected representatives.

Q4. Describe the three categories of ministers that assist the Prime minister.

Ans. The Council of Ministers is divided into three categories:

Cabinet members include: Cabinet Ministers are responsible for crucial ministries
such as Home, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, Railways, and so on.
Ministers of State: They may or may not be in charge of a portfolio on their own.
Deputy Ministers: These individuals provide assistance to Cabinet Ministers and the
Council of Ministers.
Q5. “With the coming of Independence we are going to be citizens of a free
country”. What did this mean for India?

Ans. We were going to be citizens of a free country with the arrival of

independence. This did not mean that the government could do whatever it wanted;
rather, it meant that the government had to be sensitive to the interests and
desires of the people. The ambitions and objectives of the freedom struggle were
realized in independent India. The Constitution established the principle of
universal adult franchise, i.e. that all adult citizens of the country have the
right to vote.

Q6. How are the representatives elected to the Parliament in India?

Ans. Because it is the people’s representative, the Parliament under our system
wields enormous authority. Elections to the Parliament are conducted in the same
manner as elections to the state legislature. The Lok Sabha is elected every five
years on average. There are various constituencies in the country. Each of these
constituencies sends one representative to Parliament. Candidates for elections
typically come from several political parties. These candidates are elected as
Members of Parliament, or MPs. The Parliament is made up of these MPs.

Q7. Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults have
a right to vote?

Ans. Since people from all areas of life joined in our war for independence, our
national movement backed the principle that all adults had the right to vote. They
came from a variety of backgrounds, but they were united in their desire for a
free, equal, and independent nation where the people would make the decisions. The
only way this might happen is through elections, which give ordinary people a
vantage point from which they may consent to and approve of a government that
“they” have the right to pick.

Q8.Write a short note on Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

Ans. The Rajya Sabha serves largely as the Parliament’s representation for India’s
states. It can also begin legislation, and in order to become law, a bill must pass
through the Rajya Sabha. As a result, it plays an essential role in evaluating and
amending laws proposed by the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is composed of members
elected by the Legislative Assemblies of various states. There are 233 elected
members and 12 nominees by the President.

The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha, often known as the House of the People,
which has 543 members. There are 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country. During a Lok
Sabha election, candidates from several political parties run for office. These
candidates are elected as Members of Parliament, or MPs. The Parliament is made up
of these MPs.

Q9.What is ‘Question hour’ in Parliament?

Ans. Question Hour is the first hour of every session of a Parliament Session.
During ‘Question hour,’ members pose questions to certain government ministries.
The relevant Ministries must respond to these Questions within a specific deadline.

The questions addressed during ‘Question Hour’ expose the Government’s flaws while
also bringing to light the citizens’ opinions through their representatives,
particularly the MPs.

This Question Hour assists Parliament in exercising control over the Executive
(Government).
Q10. Why are laws required?

Ans. Laws are essential to:

Prevent people from engaging in a variety of unjust social practices.

Prohibit the practise of untouchability, which has caused millions of people to
suffer.
Ensure equality among Indian citizens.
Provide methods to govern activities in order to get the most out of all types of
resources.
The parliament is very crucial in the legislative process. It must be responsive to
the demands of the people in order to do this.

As an example: To protect women from domestic injury and violence by husbands,

Parliament passed the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 in 2006

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