RBSE Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 5 Legislature

Rajasthan Board RBSE Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 5 Legislature Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Solutions Chapter 5 Legislature

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Legislature InText Questions and Answers

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING 

Question  1.
Name the two Houses of the Parliament.    
Answer:

1. Lok Sabha. 
2. Rajya Sabha 

Question 2.
Which one House of the Union Parliament is more powerful?
Answer:
Lok Sabha is more powerful than the Rajya Sabha.

Question 3.
How many members can be nominated in Lok Sabha by the President?
Answer:
Two members from Anglo-Indian Community.

Question 4.
How many members are nominated in Rajya Sabha by the President?
Answer:
12 members are nominated in Rajya Sabha from amongst the scholars, artists and social workers by the President.

Question 5.
How are the members of Lok Sabha elected?
Answer: 
The members of Lok Sabha are elected directly by the people. Every citizen of 18 years and above has a right to vote.

Question 6.
What is the total strength of Rajya Sabha?
Answer: 
The maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is 250 members.

Question 7.
What does PAC stand for?
Answer: 
Public Accounts Committee

Question 8.
What is the present strength of Lok Sabha?
Answer:
The Lok Sabha consists of 545 members - 543 elected and 2 nominated from Anglo- Indian community.

Question 9.
Who is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha 
Answer:
Speaker is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha. 

Question 10.
Who is the presiding officer of Rajya Sabha?
Answer:
The vice-President is the presiding officer of Rajya Sabha. 

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Legislature Textbook Questions and Answers 

Question 1. 
Alok thinks that a country needs an efficient government that looks after the welfare of the people. So, if we simply elect our Prime Minister and Ministers and left to them the task of government, we will not need a legislature. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: 
We agree with Alok that a country needs an efficient government that looks after the welfare of the people. For this purpose, we need a legislature. Legislature is not merely a law making body. Law making is only one function of the legislature. In fact, legislature is the centre of all democratic and political processes. It is a deliberative body.

All problems of the nation are thoroughly discussed in the Parliament. If we simply elect our Prime Minister and Ministers and leave to them the task of government, they will become despots. There will be a rise of dictatorship. Moreover, the legislature is a big check on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Prime Minister and the Cabinet have to face the Parliament and are responsible for all their actions. Legislature is a true representative body of the nation.

Question 2. 
A Class was debating over the merits of a bicameral system. The following points were made during the discussion. Read the arguments and say if you agree or disagree with each of them, giving reasons.
(a) Neha said that bicameral legislature does not serve any purpose.
(b) Shama argued that experts should be nominated in the second chamber.
(c) Tridib said that if a country is not a federation, then there is no need to have a second chamber.
Answer: 
(a) We disagree with Neha’s view. Bicameral legislature serves many purposes. It prevents hasty and ill considered legislation. Moreover, it checks on the despotism of the Lower House.
 
(b) We agree with Shama that experts should be nominated in the second chamber. Persons who have distinguished themselves in the field of art, literature, science, social services, etc., should be nominated to the second chamber.

(c) We disagree with Tridib’s view. Even in a Unitary state, a second chamber is required. Unitary state, like England and Japan are having a second chamber. Bicameral legislature is in accordance with the democratic principle. The second chamber is essential to serve as a check on hasty, rash and ill- considered legislation passed by the lower chamber.

Question 3. 
Why can the Lok Sabha control the executive more effectively than the Rajya Sabha?
Answer: 
In a Parliamentary system, the executive is responsible to the legislature for its actions and policies. But in practice, it is answerable to the Popular House. Thus, according to the Constitution of India, the Council of Ministers has been made collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. No doubt, the Rajya Sabha can exert its influence on the Government in a number of ways and it may even put the Government in an awkward position, but it cannot remove the Government from its office. 

This power belongs to the Lok Sabha only. This power of the Lok Sabha is exclusive and not concurrent. The Governments must enjoy the confidence of the Lok Sabha or else it has to resign. The Lok Sabha can express its lack of confidence in a number of ways for example, by rejecting a Government Bill, a Money Bill or by passing a no¬confidence resolution. Thus, the Government must either be in tune with the Lok Sabha or face expulsion. One point may be noted here that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Constitution does not speak of individual responsibility.

Question 4. 
Rather than effective control of the executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments and people’s expectations. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Answer: 
We completely agree with the statement that rather than effective control of the executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments and people’s expectations. Lok Sabha is a deliberative body. It is the best forum for the expression of public matters. The representatives of the people express the difficulties of the people of their constituencies. 

They draw the attention of the Government towards the grievances of the people. Apart from debating on bills, the Question Hour, Zero Hour, Half-an-hour discussions on matter of public importance, adjournment motions, etc., are some important ways to express the popular sentiments on important public matters.

Question 5. 
The following are some proposals for making the Parliament more effective. State if you agree or disagree with each of them and give your reasons. Explain what would be the effect if these suggestions were accepted.
(a) Parliament should work for longer period.
(b) Attendance should be made compulsory for members of the Parliament.
(c) Speakers should be empowered to penalise members for interrupting the proceedings of the House.
Answer: 
(a) We agree that the Parliament should work for longer period. The sessions of Parliament should be for a longer period. At present, many bills are passed without thorough discussion. By increasing the time, members will get more time for discussion and public interest will be protected in a better way.

(b) We agree that attendance should be made compulsory for the members of the Parliament. No member should be allowed to remain absent without the permission of the Speaker of the House. Compulsory attendance will increase the strength of the members and it will be helpful for discussion.

(c) No member should be allowed to interrupt the proceedings of the House. Interruption means wastage of time of the House. Speaker should be empowered to penalise members for interrupting the proceedings of the House.

Question 6. 
Arif wanted to know that if ministers propose most of the important bills and if the majority party often gets the government bills passed, what is the role of the Parliament in the law making process? What answer would you give him?
Answer: 
No doubt, a majority of the bills are introduced in the House by the ministers and through them, explain the policy and the purpose of the bills to the Parliament. Since the majority supports the bills introduced by the ministers, they are generally passed by the Parliament. But still, Parliament plays an important role in the law-making process. At the time of general discussion of the bill, the main principles underlying the bill are discussed. At the committee stage, the bill is thoroughly discussed and examined clause by clause. 

At the report stage, members of the Parliament thoroughly discuss the bill. The members have the right to propose any amendment. Each amendment and clause is to be voted by the House. The amendments form a part of the bill if they are accepted by a majority of members present and voting. When a bill is passed by the House, it is then sent to the other House for its concurrence. In this way, the Parliament plays an important role in passing the bill.

Question 7. 
Which of the following statements you agree with the most? Give your reasons.
(i) Legislators must be free to join any party they want.
(ii) Anti-defection law has contributed to the domination of the party leaders over the legislators.
(iii) Defection is always for selfish purposes and therefore, a legislator who wants to join another party must be disqualified from being a minister for the next two years.
Answer: 
We agree with the statement that defection is generally for selfish purposes. Hence, a legislator who wants to join another party must be disqualified from being a minister for the next two years. Under 91st Amendment, if it is proved that a member has defected, then such member loses his membership of the House.

Question 8. 
Dolly and Sudha are debating about the efficiency and effectiveness of the Parliament in recent times. Dolly believed that the decline of Indian Parliament is evident in the less time spent on debate and discussion and increase in the disturbances of the functioning of the House and Walkouts etc. Sudha contends that the fall of different governments on the floor of Lok Sabha is a proof of its vibrancy. What other arguments can you provide to support or oppose the position of Dolly and Sudha?
Answer: 
We fully agree with the view expressed by Dolly. It is pity that the nation has been seeing a decline in the functioning of the Parliament. Rather than growing in influence and exercising power on behalf of the people it is supposed to represent, it has been suffering from progressive corrosion and debility.

Intolerance of other’s views, daily walkouts, uproars, hitting below the belt, exchange of invective at times spiced with abuse and the storming of the pit of the House have become a common sight and have replaced serious deliberations of public affairs and policy in both Houses. It is unfortunate that in 2004, the Lok Sabha sanctioned money for the government without any scrutiny, with the opposition boycotting most of the Budget session, picking up the issues of tainted ministers.

Question 9. 
Arrange the different stages of passing of a bill into a law in their correct sequence.
(a) A resolution is passed to admit the bill for discussion.
(b) The bill is referred to the President of India-write what happens next if she/he does not sign it.
(c) The bill is referred to other House and is passed.
(d) The bill is passed in the House in which it was proposed.
(e) The bill is read clause by clause and each is voted upon.
(f) The bill is referred to the sub-committee-the committee makes some changes and sends it back to the House for discussion.
(g) The concerned minister proposes the need for a bill.
(h) Legislative department in Ministry of Law drafts a bill.
Answer: 
(a) Legislative department in Ministry of Law drafts a bill.
(b) The concerned minister proposes the need for a bill.
(c) A resolution is passed to admit the bill for discussion.
(d) The bill is referred to the sub-committee the committee makes some changes and sends it back to the House for discussion.
(e) The bill is read clause by clause and each clause is voted upon.
(f) The bill is passed in the House in which it was proposed.
(g) The bill is referred to other House and is passed.
(h) The bill is referred to the President of India. The President may give his assent or withhold it. If the Parliament passes the Bill for the second time by simple majority, the President cannot veto it for the second time. The President can also send the Bill both for reconsideration suggesting amendment in the Bill. The parliament is not bound to take into consideration the amendments proposed by the President. After having got the assent of the President, the Bill is published in the Gazette of India. The Bill becomes a law.

Question 10. 
How has the system of Parliamentary Committee affected the overseeing and appraisal of legislation by the Parliament?
Answer: 
Parliamentary committees play a very important role in law-making. Since 1983, India has developed a system of Parliamentary Standing Committees. The Committee system has reduced the burden on the Parliament. It examines the Bill thoroughly and in detail, clause by clause. The members of the Committee have complete freedom to express their views and opinions on the Bill. The Committee can propose amendments or revision of any clause or clauses. The Committee is to submit its report to the House within the prescribed period.