RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 3 How the State Government Works

These comprehensive RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 3 How the State Government Works will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 3 How the State Government Works

→ Who; is an MLA ?

• Every state in India has a Legislative Assembly. Each state is divided into different areas or constituencies. From each constituency, the people elect one representative who then becomes a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
• People stand for elections in the name of different parties. These MLAs, therefore, belong to different political parties.

→ How a government is formed ?

• A political party whose MLAs have won more than half the number of constituencies in a state can be said to be in a majority. The political party that has the majority is called the ruling party and all other members are called the opposition.
• After the elections, the MLAs belonging to the ruling party will elect their leader who will become the chief minister. The chief minister then selects other people as ministers.
• After the elections, it is the Government of the state who appoints the chief minister and other ministers.
• The chief minister and other ministers have the responsibility of running various government departments or ministries.

→ Legislative Assembly : A Legislative Assembly is a place where all the MLAs, whether from the ruling party or from the opposition meet to discuss various things. Hence, some MLAs have dual responsibilities : one as an MLA and the other as a minister.

→ A Debate in the Legislative Assembly:

• This Assembly was going to have a debate on a current problem. During this time, MLAs can express their opinions and ask questions related to the issue or give suggestions about what should be done by the government.
• The minister then replies to the questions and tries to assure the Assembly that adequate steps are being taken.
• The chief minister and other ministers have to take decisions and run the government. However, whatever decisions are being taken have to be approved by the members of the legislative assembly.
• In common usage the word ‘government’ refers to government departments and various ministers who head them. The overall head is the chief minister. More correctly, this is called the executive part of the government. All the MLAs who gather together (assemble) in the legislative assembly are called the Legislature.

→ Working of the Government:

• In a democracy, there are various ways through which people express their views and also take action.
• The people in power like the chief minister and the minister have to take action. They do so through various departments. They also have to answer questions that are asked in the Lagislative Assembly and convince people asking the questions that proper steps are being taken. They organize press talks and also inform the public about their works through the media.
• The act of making laws on certain issues is done in the Legislative Assemble of each state. The various government departments then implement these laws.
• In a democracy, it is the people who elect their representatives as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and, thus, it is the people who have the main authority.