Why Do We Need a Parliament?

Q18. State the demands of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Ans. The nationalists began to openly criticise the British government and make demands. In 1885, the Indian National Congress demanded that there be elected members in the legislature with a right to discuss the budget and ask questions.

Q19. What are reserved constituencies? What is the purpose behind such constituencies?

Ans. Reserved constituencies are those constituencies in which seats are reserved for SCs and STs on the basis of their population. This has been done so that the MPs elected from these constituencies will be familiar with and can represent Dalit and Adivasi interests in Parliament.

Q20. How many seats should a political party acquire in Lok Sabha to have a majority?

Ans. 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.

Q21. Describe coalition government.
Or
What is coalition government?

Ans. Often times in the recent past it has been difficult for a single political party to get the majority that is required to form the government. They then join together with different political parties who are interested in similar concerns to form what is known as a coalition government.

Q22. How can all the citizens participate in the decision making process of the government?
Or
How do people participate in decision making in a Parliamentary government?
Or
How does the individual give approval to the government?

Ans. 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.

Q23. Who are the People in Parliament?

Ans. Parliament now has more and more people from different backgrounds. For example, there are more rural members as also members from many regional parties. Groups and peoples that were till now unrepresented are beginning to get elected to Parliament. There has also been an increase in political participation from the Dalits and backward classes.

Q24. Write one merit and one demerit of coalition government.

Ans. Merit

Greater policy scrutiny is prominent in coalition government which could prove beneficial for voters.

Demerit

Conflict within governance due to conflicting ideologies of the two parties can make the government weak.

Q25. How is a national government selected?
Or
Explain the ways in which political party forms the government.

Ans. 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.

Q26. Write a short note on Lok Sabha.

Ans. Lok Sabha

                        i.        One of the most important functions of the Lok Sabha is to select the executive. The executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.

                       ii.        The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha.

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

Q27. What is ‘Question Hour’ in Parliament?
Or
How does the Parliament control the executive?

Ans. 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.