Answer the Following Questions

1.​ What is meant by the Council of Ministers?

Answer:
The Council of Ministers is a body that assists and advises the Prime Minister in running the
government. It consists of:

Cabinet Ministers – senior ministers who head important departments such as defence,
finance, and home affairs.

Ministers of State with Independent Charge – ministers who are in charge of smaller
ministries and report directly to the Prime Minister.

Ministers of State – who assist cabinet ministers in their work.

Deputy Ministers – who help in day-to-day administration.

The real power of the executive lies with the Prime Minister and his/her Council of Ministers.
They are collectively responsible to the parliament and must resign if they lose its
confidence.

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2. Explain the term ‘collective responsibility’.

Answer:
Collective responsibility means that all the ministers in the Council of Ministers are jointly
responsible for the decisions taken by them. If one minister makes a mistake or loses the
confidence of the parliament, the entire council is held responsible. This ensures unity and
accountability in the government. For example, if the parliament passes a no-confidence
motion, the whole Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign.

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[Link] is the difference between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?

Answer:

Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament and represents the people. Its members are
directly elected by the citizens of India.

Notes by Priyojit
Rajya Sabha is the upper house of Parliament and represents the states and union
territories. Its members are not directly elected by the people; most are elected by state
legislatures and some are nominated by the President.

The Lok Sabha has 552 members, while the Rajya Sabha has 250 members.

The Lok Sabha has a term of five years, whereas the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body,
with one-third of its members retiring every two years.
Together, both houses make laws and keep a check on the government.

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[Link] are the qualifications required to become a member of the Lok Sabha?

Answer:
To contest elections for the Lok Sabha, a candidate must fulfill certain conditions:

He/She must be a citizen of India.

He/She must be at least 25 years of age.

The candidate should not be of unsound mind or declared bankrupt.

He/She must not hold any office of profit under the government.

These qualifications ensure that the members of the Lok Sabha are responsible and capable
of representing the people.

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5. How are the members of the Lok Sabha elected?

Answer:
The country is divided into constituencies for Lok Sabha elections. From each constituency,
one representative is elected.

Candidates belonging to different political parties, or even independent candidates, contest

the elections.

Citizens who are 18 years and above have the right to vote on the basis of universal adult
franchise.

The candidate who secures the maximum number of votes is declared elected and becomes
a Member of Parliament (MP).

Notes by Priyojit
The party or alliance securing the majority forms the government, while others form the
opposition.

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6. Write a short note on the composition of the Rajya Sabha.

Answer:
The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is the upper house of Parliament. Its
total strength is 250 members:

238 members are elected by the legislatures of states and union territories.

12 members are nominated by the President from among persons with special knowledge or
practical experience in the fields of literature, science, art, and social service.
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is never dissolved. Its members serve for six
years, with one-third retiring every two years. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio
Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

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[Link] is meant by power sharing between the Centre and the States?

Answer:
India has a federal form of government in which power is divided between the Centre and
the State governments.

The Union List includes subjects of national importance like defence, foreign affairs,
railways, and currency, on which only the central government can make laws.

The State List contains subjects of local importance like police, trade, agriculture, and
irrigation, on which only state governments can make laws.

The Concurrent List includes subjects like education, forests, trade unions, and marriage
laws, on which both the Centre and the States can make laws. However, in case of conflict,
the law made by the Centre prevails.
This system ensures a balance of power and smooth functioning of the government at both
levels.

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Notes by Priyojit
8. What are the functions of the Parliament?

Answer:
Parliament is the supreme law-making body of India. Its major functions include:

Law-making: Parliament makes new laws, amends existing ones, and repeals outdated
laws.

Control over the Executive: The government is answerable to the Parliament. Through
debates, questions, and no-confidence motions, Parliament keeps a check on the
government.

Financial Control: Parliament passes the budget and approves government expenditure.

Amending the Constitution: Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution when
necessary.

Representation: Lok Sabha represents the people, while the Rajya Sabha represents the
states.
Thus, Parliament acts as the backbone of Indian democracy.

11. What are the two houses of the Parliament of India?

Answer: Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
12. How are members of the Lok Sabha elected?
Answer: Members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly by the people.

13. What is the tenure of the Lok Sabha?

Answer: The Lok Sabha serves a term of five years.

14. Is the Rajya Sabha a permanent body?

Answer: Yes, The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. It is never dissolved.

15. How are some members of the Rajya Sabha chosen?

Answer: 12 members are nominated by the president. Rest of the members are elected by
the members of state legislatures and an electoral college of the union territories.

Notes by Priyojit