Class 10 Civics CH-2 FEDERALISM Important Questions

Class 10 Civics CH-2 FEDERALISM Important Questions

Class 10 Civics CH-2 FEDERALISM

Q1. Define

a.    Federalism - Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between central authority and various constituent units of the country.

b.    Jurisdiction - The area over which someone has legal authority. The area may be defined in terms of geographical boundaries or in terms of certain kind of subjects.

c.    Coalition Government – A government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties. Usually partners in a political alliance and adopt a common program.

Q2. What are the key features of Federalism?

There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government.

• Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
• The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the constitution. So the existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.
• The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels of government.
• Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of government. The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of their respective powers.
• Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
• The federal system thus has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity.

Q3. What are the dual objectives of the Federal system? What is their importance?

           The federal system has dual objectives:

          1. to safeguard and promote unity of the country while at the                  same time accommodates regional diversity. Therefore, two              aspects are crucial for the institutions and practice of                   federalism.

2.    Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. They should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement.

3.    An ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together.

,Make a list of Jurisdiction.

Union List: Union List includes subjects of national importance; such as defense of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency. They are included in this list because we need a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union List.

State List: State List contains subjects of State and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. The State Governments alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the State List.

Concurrent List: Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments, such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession. Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list. If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

Residuary List: Anything out of purview of above mentioned list is taken as residuary subject. Union Government has the power to legislate on these subjects.

Q4  Write a note about special jurisdiction of Jammu and Kashmir

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 are not permanent residents of this State cannot buy land or house here. Similar special provisions exist for some other States of India as well.

 Q5 What do you mean by sharing of power between the Union Government and the State governments

There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power. These are areas which are too small to become an independent State but which could not be merged with any of the existing States. These areas, like Chandigarh, or Lakshadweep or the capital city of Delhi, are called Union Territories. These territories do not have the powers of a State. The Central Government has special powers in running these areas.

This sharing of power between the Union Government and the State governments is basic to the structure of the Constitution. It is not easy to make changes to this power sharing arrangement. The Parliament cannot on its own change this arrangement. Any change to it has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-thirds majority. Then it has to be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total States.

Q6 Why is India called a successful Federalism Country?

Reasons for Success of Federalism in India

Linguistic States: The creation of Linguistic States was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State. Some States were created not on the basis of language but to recognise the differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography, e.g. Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
Language policy: A second test for Indian federation is the language policy. Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. Hindi was not imposed on non-Hindi areas for most of the period after the independence.
Centre-State relations: Restructuring the Centre-State relations is one more way in which federalism has been strengthened in practice

Q7 Bring out the contrast between Federal and unitary government?

. In this sense federation are contrasted with unitary governments –

1.    Under unitary system either there is only one level of government or the subunits are subordinate to the central government.

2.    The central government can pass orders to the provinces or the local government. But in the federal system, the central government cannot order the state government to do something.

3.    State governments have powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central government. Both these governments are separately answerable to the people

Q8 How has federal power sharing became more effective in India after 1990(or Today)?

1.    Things changed significantly after 1990. This period saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.

2.    This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the centre.

3.    Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the centre. This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of state government.

4.    This trend was supported by a major judgment of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for the central government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.

5.    Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into force.

Q9 State any difference between the local government before and after 73^rd Amendment Act 1992.

A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992.The constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

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 50% 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 governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local governments bodies. The nature of sharing varies state to state.

Q10 How has the Amendment Act of 1992 made the third-tier democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?

1.    Now t is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local govt.  Bodies.

2.    Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of this institution for the scheduled castes, STs and OBC’s.

3.    At least 50% 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 governments are required to show some powers and revenue with local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from state to state.

Q11 Briefly explain the levels of rural local government in India.     OR

 How has Panchayat Raj system been organized?

Rural local government is popularly known by the name of Panchayati Raj

A.   VILLAGE LEVEL

1.    Each village or a group of villagers in some states has a gram panchayat. This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch and a president or sarpanch. All the adult population living in that ward or village directly elects them.

2.    The Panchayat work under the overall supervision of the gram sabha. All the voters in the village are its members. It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat and to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

B.   BLOCK LEVEL

A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat samiti or block or mandal. All the panchayat members in that area elect the members of this representative body.

C.   DISTRICT LEVEL

All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the Zilla (district) parishad. Most members of the Zilla parishad are elected. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members. Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla parishad.

Q12 How are local bodies organized in urban areas?

Local government bodies exist for urban areas as well

1.    Municipalities are set up towns

2.    Big cities are constituted into Municipal Corporation.

3.    Elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives control both municipalities and municipal corporations.

4.    Municipal chairperson is the political head of the Municipality.

5.    In a municipal corporation such as officer is called the mayor.

Q13. What is gram sabha?

It is the village parliament (legislature). The panchayat under overall supervision of the gram sabha. All the voters in the village are its member .it has to meet at least twice or thrice n a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat and to review the performance of the gram panchayat.