Federalism 2024 2025

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OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL, AL WARQA’A


FEDERALISM
Grade 10
2024-2025

Q1. What is federalism?


Federalism is a system of government under which power is divided
between a central authority and its various constituents.

Q2. Explain the differences between a federal form of government and a


unitary one.

Federal government:
1. Power is divided between central authority and its various constituent
units.
2. The central government cannot order the state government to do
something.

3. The state government has its own powers it is not answerable to


the central govt.
4. Example. India, USA, Australia, Canada etc.

Unitary government:
1. Under this there is only a single government controlling all the
powers.
.
2. Central government can pass orders to the provincial government.
3. Local governments don’t enjoy any freedom or powers.
4. Example. England, Japan, France, Italy etc.

Q3. Features of federalism.


1. The power is divided between a central authority and its various
constituents.

2. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has
its own jurisdiction in specific matters of,( LAT) Legislation
Administrative and Taxation matters.

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3. The fundamental provisions of the government cannot be unilaterally
changed by one level of government. Consent of both levels of
government are required.

4. It has a dual objective to safeguard and promote unity of the country


and also to accommodate regional diversity.

5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the power
of different levels of government. It acts as an umpire if a dispute
arises.

Q4 Different kinds of federation (the exact balance of power between


the central and the state government varies from one federation to
another.)

Coming-together federations:

1. When many independent states come together on their own to form a


bigger unit.
2. They pool in their sovereignty but retain their identity and can
increase their security.
3. All the constituents’ states usually have equal powers and are strong
relation to the federal government.
4. Examples USA, Australia, Switzerland etc.

Holding-together federation:

1. In a large country powers are divided between the constituent states


and the national government.
2. The Central government is more powerful than the state.
3. Different constituents units of the federation have unequal powers.
4. Examples India, Spain, Belgium etc.

Q5. What makes India a federal country? Explain by giving examples.

1. Division of power:
The constitution demarcates the power of the central and the state
government into different lists of subjects.
There are three lists
Union list - Includes subjects of national importance. Example -
communication and currency foreign affairs banking defense etc.
They are included in this list so that we have a uniform policy on these
matters throughout the country.
The union govt. makes laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the union
list.

State list- includes subjects of state importance Example police


agriculture, trade commerce Irrigation etc.(PATCI)
The state govt. can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the state
list.

Concurrent list- includes the subjects of common interest both in union


and state govt. Example forest, adoption, trade, Union education.( FATE)
In case of conflict the laws made by the union government prevail.

Residuary Powers: The Union government has the power to make laws
for the subjects that are not included in any of the three lists. These are
termed residuary subjects. The central government can make laws on these
subjects. Eg Computer software

Power sharing arrangements in our country

- All states in the Indian Union do not have identical powers: Jammu
Kashmir enjoys a Special status according to Article 370 of the
constitution.

-Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution

-Many provisions of the Indian constitution are not applicable to this state
without the approval of the state assembly.

-Indians who aren’t permanent residents of this state cannot buy land or
house here.

Q6. There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little
power Explain.

1. These are areas which are too small to become an independent


State but which could not be merged with any of the existing
States.
2. These areas, like Chandigarh, or Lakshadweep or the capital
city of Delhi, are called Union territories.

3. These territories do not have the power of a State.

4. The central government has special power in administrating them.

This sharing of power between the union government and state


government is basic to the structure of the constitution.

1. It is not easy to makes changes to the power sharing arrangements.

2. Change in the power sharing arrangements cannot be made by the


Parliament, it needs to be passed by two thirds majority of both the
houses of Parliament and notified by the legislatures of at least half of
the total states.

Judiciary plays an important role in the implementation of constitutional


provisions and procedures and settling disputes between the
governments. In case of any dispute arises about the division of powers,
the High Courts and the Supreme Court take a decision

2. Three tier system:


Under a federal government different tiers of government govern the
same citizens. In India we have three tiers of government:
1. Union government
2. State government
3. Local self-government

Q7. How is federalism practiced in India?

1. Linguistic states:
After independence several old states were changed in order to create
new states.
This was done to ensure that the people who spoke the same language,
share common culture, ethnicity or geography could live in the same
state.
Initially the Central government resisted linguistic states for the fear of
disintegration but experience has shown that it made the country more united
and made administration easier.

2. Language policy:
Indian constitution didn’t give the status of national language to any
one of the languages.
Besides Hindi, there are twenty one other languages recognized
as schedule languages by the Indian constitution.

The Central government has shown caution in the spread of Hindi due
to opposition from many non-Hindi speaking states.

States too have their own official language much of their work is done
in their official language.

3. Centre state relation:

1. Before 1990, when the same party ruled both at the centre and
in most of the states
2. The central government in India has the power to dissolve the
state government on grounds of inefficiency and impose President
Rule in the state.
3. Spirit of Federalism undermined by the Central government as
they often dismissed State governments controlled by rival parties.
4. After 1990, led the emergence of many regional parties in the
states of the country.
5. It was the beginning of era of coalition government at the
centre, this led to a new culture of power sharing and respect
for the independence of state government.
6. This trend was supported by the Supreme Court making it
difficult for the Centre government to dismiss the state in an
arbitrary manner.
7. Though Indian constitution has demarcated the power of the
union and the state government but still the union government
can have influence over the state in many ways.
Q8. What is decentralization?

When power is taken away from Central and state governments, and given
to local government it is called decentralization.

Q9. Importance or need for decentralization


Or
What is the basic idea of decentralization?

1. Local level has better knowledge:


A large number of problems and issues are best settled at the local level.

People have better knowledge of problems in their locality and have ideas
how to spend money and manage things more efficiently.

2. Direct participation of the people:


Decentralization makes it possible for the people to directly participate in
decision making.
This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. (Spirit of
Democracy)

3. Foundation of democracy:
Local governments are most important in a democratic system.
These are a training school for local citizen and local leadership.

4. Reduction of burden of the Central Government:


It reduces the burden of the central or the state governments.
Local self-government ensures efficiency everywhere at all the three levels of
government.

Q10. NATURE OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT BEFORE


AND AFTER

Before 1992: Though panchayats in villages and municipalities and urban


areas were set up in all the states, these were directly under the control of state
governments.
-Elections to these governments were not held regularly.
-Local governments did not have any power or resources of their own.
Q11. Name The Three Tier Government System In India. What Steps
Have Been Taken By The Government In 1992 To Make The Third Tier
Powerful And Effective?

Steps: After 1992


1. Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local
government bodies.
2. Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these
institutions for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward
Classes.
3. At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.

4. An independent institution called the State Election Commission has


been created in each State to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
5. The state government is required to share some powers and revenue
with local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from state to
state.

Q13. Panchayat Raj-Rural Local Government

Village level-Gram Panchayat- The panchayat unit was composed of


members from 7to 15 with adequate representation to women Head –
Sarpanch – elected by the gram Sabha (all adult members) decision
making body for the entire body.

Block level – panchyathi Samiti – middle level composed of few gram


panchayats with the Sarpanches of all the villages and all the members of the
Lok and Rajya sabha legislative assembly and legislative council elected from
the block concerned
Elected head – block chairmen – Pramukh and vice chairman
appointed head – block development officer

District level - Zila parishad – highest institution

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Composition Block Samitis are grouped together into a ZP with the
chairmen of the block Samitis, members of the parliament + state legislatures
from the districts, SC, ST representation and women members elected head
– chairman and vice chairman
Appointed head – district collector and district magistrate

Q14. Urban Local Government

Municipalities and Municipal Corporation are a part of urban local self


government. Municipalities are set up in towns, The head of Municipality
is a called chairperson.
Municipal Corporation are constituted in big cities.
The head Municipal Corporation is called ‘Mayor’

Q15. How is Gram Panchayats formed?

Rural local government is popularly known as Panchayati Raj Gram


Panchayat is the smallest unit at a village level.

1. Each village or a group of villages in some states has a gram


panchayat.
2. This is a council consisted of several ward members often called
punch, and a president or Sarpanch.
3. They are directly elected by all the adult population living in the
village.
4. It is a decision making body for the entire village.
5. The Panchayats work under the overall supervision of gram sabha,
all the votes in the village are its members.
6. It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual
budget of the gram panchayat.

Q16. Achievements and Difficulties of local self-government in


India
Achievements

i ) At the local level, it is possible for the people to directly participate in


decision making. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation.

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ii) Constitutional states for local government has also increased women’s
representation and voice in our country.
Difficulty
i) While elections are held regularly and enthusiastically. Gram Sabha are
not held regularly.

ii) Most states governments have not transferred significant powers to the
local governments. They do not give adequate resources also to them.
Q17.How is Zila Parishad formed?

1. All the Panchayat Samitis or mandals in a district together constitute


the Zila parishad.
2. Most members of Zila Parishad are elected.

3. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some of the
officials of other district level bodies are also its members.

4. Zila Parishad chairperson id the political head of the Zila Parishad.

MR GERARD GOMES

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