CIVICS CHAPTER WORKING

OF INSTITUTIONS
BY KAPIL LAVANIA
FOR CLASS 9TH
Glossary:
•Office Memorandum: A communication issued by an
appropriate authority stating the policy or decision of the
government.
•Parliament: The Parliament may be understood as the
lawmaking body in a system of parliamentary democracy. It
is the supreme sovereign legislative organ of the
government.
•Legislature: An assembly of people's representatives with
the power to enact laws for a country. In addition to
enacting laws, legislatures have authority to raise taxes and
adopt the budget and other money bills.
•Coalition Government: A government formed by an
alliance of two or more political parties. Usually when no
single party enjoys the majority support of the members in
the legislature.
•Impeachment: A procedure through which the President,
Vice President or the Chief Justice of the India can be
removed.
•Judiciary: An institution empowered to administer justice,
and provide a mechanism for the resolution of legal
disputes. All the courts in the country are collectively
referred to as judiciary.
• Name the three organs of the government.
The three organs of the government:
(i) Executive
(ii) Legislative
(iii) Judiciary
• When does a bill become a law?
A bill becomes a law when it is passed by both the houses
and assent given by the president.
• Which house has more powers in money matters?
The Lower house or the Lok Sabha has more powers in the
money matters.
• Which house is known as the lower chamber?
House of People or the Lok Sabha.
•Name the institutions that take all the important
decisions.
The Prime Minister and the cabinet.
•Which institution can make changes to an existing law
of the country?
The Parliament through constitutional amendment can
make changes to the existing laws of the country.
State any two powers of the Supreme Court of India.
Powers of the Supreme Court:
(i) The Supreme Court acts as the guardian of fundamental
rights.
(ii) It acts as a guardian of the constitution.
• How is the President of India elected?
The President of India is elected by an electoral college
consisted of members of parliament (MPs) and the elected
members of legislative assemblies (MLAs) elect him/her.
• Who appoints the Judges of the Supreme Court and
High Court?
These are appointed by the President on the advice of the
PM and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court.
• Explain No-Confidence motion.
Only a person who enjoys the support of the majority of the
members of the Lok Sabha is appointed as the PM. If a no-
confidence motion is moved in the Lok Sabha, and passed
then. The government has to resign.
Explain the major powers of the Prime Minister.
Major Powers of the Prime Minister:
(i) Link: The Prime Minister is the link b/w the cabinet and
the President. The decisions of the cabinet are conveyed to
President through PM.
(ii) Formation of the cabinet: The PM prepares the list of his
council of ministers and sends it to the President. He can
reshuffle his council of ministers whenever he likes.
(iii) Leader of the Lok Sabha: The PM presides the over the
meetings of the cabinet. He maintains co-ordination b/w
different department of the government.
(iv) Leader of the Party: The PM has the main say in
framing the policy of his party.
(v) Leader of the Nation: the PM is the most important
leader of the nation. People always eagerly hear his views.
(vi) Foreign Affairs: The PM plays an important role in the
management of foreign affairs. He formulates the internal &
external policies of the country.
• Explain the major powers of the President.
Major Powers of the President:
(i) Administrative head: He is the head of the state.
Administration of the country runs in his name. All orders
are issued in his name.
(ii) Appoint and dismisses the Prime Minister and the
council of ministers: He appoints the PM and on his advice,
he appoints other ministers in the council of ministers. He
administers the oath of office to them. The PM and
ministers submit their resignation to him, if Required.
(iii) Assent to the Legislative: The President assent on a bill
is necessary to make it a bill.
(iv) To dissolve the Lok Sabha: The President has the
power to dissolve Lok Sabha on the advice of PM, before
the expiry of its full term.
(v) Nomination of the member of the Parliament or the
MPs: The President nominates 12 MPs. to the Rajya Sabha
from amongst outstanding contributions Literature,
Science, or Art.
• What was the Mandal Commission? Why was it
appointed? State its major Recommendations.
The Mandal Commission was appointed by the Indian govt.
for following reasons:
(i) The Government of India has appointed the Second
Backward classes Commission in 1979. It was headed by BP.
Mandal. Hence, it is popularly called Mandal Commission.
(ii) This commission was asked to find out a criteria to
identify the socially and educationally backward classes in
India and recommended steps to be taken for their
advancement.
(iii) The commission gave a report in 1980 with many
recommendations.
(iv) One of these was that 27% of the govt. jobs should be
reserved for the socially and economically backward
classes.
What is the council of ministers? How it is appointed?
The council of ministers is a large body, it consists all the
three ranks of ministers. The council of ministers comprises
three categories of ministers:
(i) Cabinet Ministers: They are the top-level leaders of the
ruling party. Usually the cabinet ministers meet to take
decisions in the name of Council of Ministers.
(ii) Ministers of the State with Independent Charge: They
are in charge of smaller ministries. They participate in
cabinet meetings only when they are required.
(iii) Ministers of State: these ministers are attached to and
are required to assist the Cabinet Ministers.
• Explain the limitation of the powers of the President.
Limitations for the powers of the President:
(i) The President exercises all these powers only on the
advice of Council of Ministers.
(ii) The President can ask the council of ministers to
reconsider its advice. But if the same advice is given again,
he is bound to act according to it.
(iii) Similarly, a bill passed by parliament becomes a law only
if the President gives assent to it.
(iv) But if the Parliament passes the law again, he/she has to
sign it.
• Explain the major powers and functions of the
Parliament,
The following are the major powers and functions of the
Parliament:
(i) Legislative powers: The Parliament can make laws on all
those subjects who have been given in the union list and the
concurrent list.
(ii) Amendment or new law: No amendment can be made in
the constitution without the approval of the Parliament.
(iii) Functions related to elections: The Parliament elects
the President, the Vice-President, Speaker of Lok Sabha,
Deputy Speaker.
(iv) Declaration of emergency: The proclamation of
emergency of the President is to be approved by the
Parliament.
(v) Judicial Functions: The Parliament can remove
the President, the Vice-president, and Judges of the
Supreme Courts & High Courts through
impeachment.
• Distinguish b/w Political and Permanent Executive.
The differences are stated below
Political Executive Permanent Executive
(i) These executive are elected by the (i) These are the civil servants appointed
people for a specific period of time. for a longer period of time.

(ii) These include Prime Minister, (ii) Person working in civil services such
Cabinet Minister and Council of as IAS, IPS, IFS etc.
Ministers.

(iii) They remain in office only for a fixed (iii) They remain in office even when the
tenure. ruling party changes. Their tenure in
office is fixed.

(iv) They are answerable to the people (iv)They are not answerable to the
for their actions. people.
(v) They take all the final decisions and (v) They are less powerful. They Don’t
are more powerful take decisions. They assist the political
executives in day to day administration.
Differentiate between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha
(i) The Lok Sabha consists of 545 (i) The Rajya Sabha consists of 245
members which are elected members which are elected by the
representatives of the people. elected representatives of states and
union Territories.

(ii) The Lok Sabha operates for 5 years (ii) The Rajya Sabha is a permanent
from the date it is appointed and is body and doesn’t have dissolution.
dissolved after 5 years.
(iii) The Lok Sabha is having supreme (iii) The Rajya Sabha is having a role in
powers in money and financial discussing only after the bill is passed
matters related to the budget. in Lok Sabha.

(iv) The Maximum tenure of members (iv) The Maximum tenure of members
of the Lok Sabha in 5 years only of the Rajya Sabha in 6 years.

(v) The Lok Sabha is more powerful (v) The Rajya Sabha is relatively less
than the Rajya Sabha powerful.
Why is the Lok Sabha more powerful than the Rajya Sabha?
Because of the following reasons:
(i) Ordinary Bill: Any ordinary law needs to be passed by both the
houses. But if there are a difference b/w the two houses, the final
decision is taken in a joint session. Since the number of members of
the Lok Sabha is more than that of the Rajya Sabha, the views of the
Lok Sabha are more likely to prevail.
(ii) Money Bill: The Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money
matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes the law concerning money
matters, the Rajya Sabha can't reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay
it by 14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok Sabha may or may not
accept the changes.
(iii) No-confidence motion: Most importantly, the Lok Sabha controls
the council of ministers. If majority of the Lok Sabha members say they
have no confidence in the council of ministers, all the ministers
including the Prime minister have to quit.
• What are the major functions of Judiciary?
Major functions of the Judiciary:
(i) Solve disputes b/w citizens of the country.
(ii) Solve disputes b/w citizens and the government.
(iii) Solve disputes b/w two or more state governments.
(iv) Solve disputes b/w government at the union at the state
level.
• What does the 'Independence of Judiciary' mean?
Independence of Judiciary refers to following things:
(1) The judiciary is not under the control of the
Legislature or the Executive.
(2)The Judges don’t act on the direction of the
government or according to the wishes of the party in
power.
Explain briefly the powers and the function of the
supreme Court.
Powers and the function of the government:
(i) The Supreme Courts acts as the guardian of
fundamental rights.
(ii) The Supreme Courts acts as the guardian and find
interpreter of the constitution.
(iii) Supreme Courts gives legal advice to the President of
India on any legal or constitutional matter.
(iv) It is the high court of appeal in civil and criminal
cases. It can hear appeals against the decision of the
high court.