Why do we need a Parliament? Extra Questions Chapter 3 Class 8 Civics
Chapter 3 Why do we need a Parliament? Class 8 Civics Extra Questions will be useful in knowing how questions can be framed in the examinations and prepare accordingly. Extra Questions for Class 8 will increase concentration among students and guide students to act in a better way and frame better answers.
Chapter 3 Why do we need a Parliament? Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. How are the members of the Rajya Sabha elected?
Answer
The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative assemblies of various states.
2. What is the term or tenure of the Lok Sabha?
Answer
The tenure of the Lok Sabha is 5 years.
3. What is the advantage of the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)?
Answer
Cutting of trees has been stopped.
4. Who is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha?
Answer
The Prime Minister is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha.
5. What do you mean by the executive?
Answer
The executive is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.
6. How is the question hour an important mechanism?
Answer
Through this mechanism that MPs can elicit information about the working of the government.
7. What is Coalition Government?
Answer
It refers to the alliance formed by political parties after elections when no party has been able to get the adequate seats to form a clear majority.
8. Explain the basic idea behind the representative democracy?
Answer
A representative democracy is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. All of these elected officials supposedly listen to the populace and do what's best for the nation, state or jurisdiction as a whole.
9. Name the ministries which are housed in the North Block?
Answer
The Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
10. What has been done to give adequate representation to the communities that have been historically marginalised?
Answer
Some seats are reserved in the Parliament for people belonging to SC and ST category.
11. Who nominates the 12 members of the Rajya Sabha?
Answer
The President of India nominates the 12 members of the Rajya Sabha.
12. What is meant by the term 'idea of consent' in a democracy?
Answer
In a democracy, the idea of consent refers to the desire, approval and participation of people. It is the decision of people that creates a democratic government and decides about its functioning.
Chapter 3 Why do we need a Parliament? Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. How is the national government formed?
Answer
After the Lok Sabha elections are declared, 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. The total membership of the Lok Sabha is 545, in which 543 are elected members while 2 are nominated. Thus, a party should have at least half the number i.e., 272 members or more to have a majority. The opposition in Parliament is formed by all the political parties that oppose the majority party or coalition formed. The largest amongst these parties is known as the Opposition party.
2. What is meant by the Opposition parties? What role do they play in the government?
Answer
After election results are declared, the leader of the party with clear majority of elected members form a government. The other political parties form the opposition. The largest amongst these parties is known as the Opposition party.
The Opposition parties play a crucial role in the healthy functioning of a democracy. They keep a check on the government by highlighting its drawbacks in various policies and programmes. They also mobilise popular support for their own policies.
3. How do the individuals give approval to the government?
Answer
One way of giving approval to the government is through election’s. 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. Thus, people, through their chosen representatives form the government and also control it.
4. Why do we have a system where the representatives are elected for a fixed period and not for life?
Answer
We have a system where the representatives are elected for a fixed period & not for life. This is because:
• So that the elected representative may not become strong and try to misuse their powers.
• If we will choose a representative for lifetime, it will be against the democracy.
5. Who is a Prime Minister and what role does he/she play in the functioning of the country?
Answer
The Prime Minister is the leader of the ruling party in Lok Sabha. From the MPs who belong to his/her party, the Prime Minister selects ministers to work with him/her to implement the decisions. These ministers then take charge of different areas of govt. functioning like health, education etc.
6. Under what circumstances is the coalition government formed? Or Write a note on the coalition government.
Answer
The coalition government is a phenomenon of the recent past. At times it so happens that one political party does not get a clear majority that is required to form the government. In such circumstances a group of political parties come together to form a government. These political parties are usually interested in similar concerns. The government formed by these parties is popularly known as the coalition government.
7. How do the individuals give approval to the government?
Answer
One way of giving approval to the government is through election’s. 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. Thus, people, through their chosen representatives form the government and also control it.
8. Who are the people in the Parliament?
Answer
The Parliament 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 the Parliament. There has also been an increase in political participation from the Dalit and backward castes and the minorities. The communities that have been historically marginalised such as SCs and STs are given adequate representation in the Parliament.
Chapter 3 Why do we need a Parliament? Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. Discuss the role and functions of the Parliament?
Answer
The parliament is the most important institution in a democracry. It performs the following role and functions:
• The Lok Sabha selects the executive, which is a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.
• The Parliament controls, guides and informs the government. The question hour with which the Parliament in session begins, 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.
• The government gets valuable feedback and is kept on its toes by the questions asked by the MPs. In addition, in all matters dealing with finances, the Parliament’s approval is crucial for the government. This is one of the several ways in which the Parliament controls, guides and informs the government.
• The Parliament makes law for the entire country.
2. How the parliament is constituted? What is the role of the Prime Minister in it? Explain.
Answer
The Parliament performs the following functions:
• It selects the national government. After the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Parliament) elections are announced, a list is prepared showing how many MPs belong to each political party. The political party with a majority of elected MPs is eligible to form the government. Here, it is worth-mentioning that there are altogether 545 members in the Lok Sabha in which 543 members are elected and 2 members are nominated. To have a majority a party should have at least half the number i.e., 272 members or more.
• The other parties form the opposition. The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha. From the MPs who belong to his party, the Prime Minister selects ministers to work with him to implement decisions. These ministers then take charge of different areas of government functioning such as health, education, etc. When one party does not get clear majority, a group of parties forms a coalition and elects a leader who forms the government, popularly known as the coalition government.
• 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. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of various states. There are 233 elected members and 12 nominated by the President.