1.Introduction to the Parliamentary System / Class 8/ EXERCISE

Std. 8th CIVICS
1. Introduction to the Parliamentary System
EXERCISE
1. Choose the correct option and rewrite
the statements.
1. Parliamentary System of government
developed in ............. .
(a) England (b) France
(c) United States of America (d) Nepal
Ans: England
2. In the Presidential system ............ is the
executive head.
(a) The Prime Minister
(b) The Lok Sabha Speaker
(c) The President (d) The Governor
Ans: The President
2. Complete the information in the following
table.

Ans:

3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.
1. India adopted the parliamentary system
of government.
• Ans:
•  India adopted the parliamentary system
of government for several reasons.
• The development of parliamentary institutions
started during the British rule.
• The British rulers governed in accordance with this system.
• The parliamentary system of government in India is also in a way a product of the freedom movement.
• Indians were familiar to this system of government.
• Many discussions took place in the Constituent Assembly over the system of government. The framers of the Constitution made few changes in the parliamentary system to suit the Indian situation.

2. Discussion and deliberations are important in a parliamentary system of government.
Ans:
• Discussions and deliberations are an integral part of the parliamentary form of government.
• Questions related to public welfare are discussed in the legislature.
• Members from the opposition party also take part in these discussions.
•  Opposition parties may support the government wherever appropriate, point out shortcomings in policies and laws, put up studied arguments and questions etc.
• This helps the legislature to make proper laws

4. Answer the following in 25 to 30 words.
1. What is a responsible government?
• Ans: The government system in which the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Legislature for all their actions and policies, is called a Responsible Government.

• In this system, the Council of Ministers has to take the Legislature into confidence during governance.

• Every decision taken by any ministry/ department is considered as the decision of the government.

• The decisions or policies of every ministry is the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers.

• Thus, the principle of collective responsibility adopted by the Council of Ministers makes it a responsible government.

2. Enumerate the characteristics of the Presidential system of government.
Ans: Following are some features of The Presidential system of government.
• In a Presidential form of government, the legislature and the executive are not directly dependent on each other.
• The Houses of the Legislature and the President are directly elected by the people.
•  The President is the executive head and has lot of powers including power to implement laws.
• In spite of such a structure, the legislature and the executive keep a check on each other.
• This mutual control over each other can lead to a responsible government.

5. Why is the role of opposition parties important? Write your opinion.
Ans: The role of opposition parties is important in Parliamentary as well as Presidential System of government.

• The opposition parties participate in the discussions and point out the shortcomings in the policies of the government.

• The opposition parties control the Executive through their arguments based on deep study of the topics discussed in the Parliament.

• The alertness of the opposition parties help in avoiding wrong practices like corruption, ignoring public welfare, passing faulty laws, etc.