ANSWER KEY
Chapter: Working of Institutions
Section A – MCQs
1. b) Executive
2. d) An electoral college
3. b) Rajya Sabha
4. c) Lok Sabha
5. c) Prime Minister
6. c) Judiciary
7. c) A resolution passed by Parliament
8. c) Government formed by two or more parties
Section B – Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks each)
9. What is meant by political institutions?
Political institutions are organizations that help people take collective
decisions in a democracy. They perform important functions such as law-
making, implementation of laws and dispute resolution. Examples of political
institutions include the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
10. State any two functions of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers and leads the
government. He or she appoints ministers and allocates portfolios to them.
The Prime Minister also coordinates the work of different ministries and
departments.
11. Why the Rajya Sabha is called a permanent House?
The Rajya Sabha is called a permanent House because it is never fully
dissolved. One-third of its members retire every two years. This ensures
continuity in the functioning of Parliament.
12. Mention any two judicial powers of the Supreme Court of India.
The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in the country. It has the
power of judicial review to declare laws unconstitutional. It also protects the
Fundamental Rights of citizens.
13. What is meant by collective responsibility?
Collective responsibility means that all ministers are jointly responsible for
the decisions of the government. Every minister must support cabinet
decisions publicly. If the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion, the
entire Council of Ministers must resign.
14. Define an ordinance.
An ordinance is a law issued by the President when Parliament is not in
session. It has the same force as a law passed by Parliament. However, it is
temporary and must be approved by Parliament within a specified period.
Section C – Short Answer Questions (3 Marks each)
15. Explain any three powers of the Indian Parliament.
The Indian Parliament has the power to make laws for the entire country. It
controls the executive through debates, questions, and no-confidence
motions. Parliament has financial powers such as passing the annual budget.
It also approves government expenditure and taxation. Through these
powers, Parliament ensures accountability of the government.
16. Describe any three important roles played by the Prime Minister in the
working of the government.
The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers and the real
executive authority. He or she appoints ministers and distributes portfolios.
The Prime Minister presides over cabinet meetings and coordinates policy
decisions. He represents India at international forums. Thus, the Prime
Minister plays a central role in governance.
17. Explain any three reasons why independence of the judiciary is essential
in a democracy.
An independent judiciary protects the Fundamental Rights of citizens. It
ensures equality before the law and fair justice. Independence prevents
interference from the executive and legislature. Judges can take impartial
decisions without pressure. This strengthens democracy and rule of law.
18. Differentiate between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on any three points.
The Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament, while the Rajya Sabha is
the upper house. Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the
people, whereas Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected. The Lok
Sabha has a fixed tenure of five years, but the Rajya Sabha is a permanent
house. The Lok Sabha has greater powers in financial matters. This shows
the difference in their roles.
Section D – Long Answer Questions (5 Marks each)
19. Explain the powers and functions of the Indian Parliament in the working
of a democratic government.
The Indian Parliament is the highest law-making body in the country. Its
primary function is to make laws for the welfare of the people. Parliament
controls the executive by asking questions, holding debates and passing
motions. It can remove the government through a no-confidence motion.
Parliament has financial powers such as passing the budget and approving
taxes. It represents the will of the people of India. Important national issues
are discussed in Parliament. Parliament also has the power to amend the
Constitution. Through these functions, Parliament ensures accountability.
Thus, Parliament plays a vital role in democratic governance.
OR
Explain the role of the President of India in the functioning of the executive.
The President is the nominal head of the executive in India. He or she
appoints the Prime Minister and other members of the Council of Ministers.
All executive actions are taken in the name of the President. The President
summons and dissolves Parliament. He or she appoints judges of the
Supreme Court and High Courts. The President can issue ordinances when
Parliament is not in session. However, these ordinances are temporary in
nature. The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers. He does
not exercise real powers independently. Thus, the President plays an
important constitutional role.
20. Describe the structure and responsibilities of the Council of Ministers in
India.
The Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of the
executive. It is headed by the Prime Minister. It consists of Cabinet
Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. Cabinet Ministers take
important policy decisions. Ministers of State assist Cabinet Ministers. The
Council of Ministers formulates government policies. It implements laws
passed by Parliament. It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. If the
Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion, the Council must resign. Thus,
the Council of Ministers runs the administration of the country.
OR
Explain the importance of an independent judiciary in a democratic system.
An independent judiciary is essential for the success of democracy. It
protects the Constitution and Fundamental Rights of citizens. Judiciary
ensures equality before the law. It prevents misuse of power by the
legislature and executive. Judges are not influenced by political pressure.
This allows fair and impartial judgments. Judicial review ensures that laws
do not violate the Constitution. It builds public trust in the justice system.
Citizens can approach courts for justice. Therefore, an independent judiciary
strengthens democracy.