EXERCISE

GIVE VERY SHORT ANSWER

Q1. Who was the first political philosopher to classify the government?
Answer: The ancient Greek philosopher Plato was the first to initiate the classification of government.

Q2. Which is the most popular government in the world at present?
Answer: The Parliamentary form of government is the most popular and revered one at present.

Q3. Give the name of a state having Parliamentary form of government.
Answer: The Parliamentary form of government first came into being in England.

Q4. Who is the Head of the government and the Head of the state in the Parliamentary form of government?
Answer: In the Parliamentary form of government, the head of the state (like the President, King, or Queen) is the nominal executive, while the Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is the real or actual executive.

Q5. In what type of government Principle of Separation of Power is found?
Answer: The principle of Separation of Powers is found in the Presidential form of government, where the executive and legislature are separate and independent.

Q6. Give the name of a state having Presidential form of government.
Answer: The United States of America (USA) is a good example of a state with a Presidential form of government.

Q7. Give the name of a state having Unitary form of government.
Answer: States like Britain, France, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands have a Unitary form of government.

Q8. What are the two governments found in the Federal form of government?
Answer: The two types of governments found in a Federal system are the central government and the provincial governments.

Q9. Which type of government is found in Switzerland?
Answer: The federal type of government is found in Switzerland.

Q10. Is there the system of Dual citizenship in India?
Answer: No, there is no dual citizenship in India.

GIVE SHORT ANSWER

Q1. What are the different types of government prevalent in the world at present?
Answer: There are four types of government that are popular at present: Unitary, Federal, Parliamentary, and Presidential. In addition, governments can also be Democratic or Dictatorship.

Q2. Give the two characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government.
Answer: Two characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government are:

1. Two Heads: There is a nominal executive like a President or Monarch and a real executive like a Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
2. Executive are also members of the Legislature: The members of the executive, or the Council of Ministers, are also members of the legislature.

Q3. Write briefly about the two merits and two demerits of the Parliamentary form of government.
Answer:
Merits of the Parliamentary form of government are :

1. Good cooperation: There is a good understanding and close relationship between the executive and the legislature, which helps in solving problems and passing laws easily.
2. Non-dictatorial: The government cannot act in a dictatorial manner because the legislature can remove the executive by a “No Confidence Motion” if they act against the public’s interest.

Demerits of the Parliamentary form of government:

1. Instability: If no single party gets an absolute majority, it can lead to an unstable Alliance government and political crisis.
2. Bureaucratic influence: Ministers may be inexperienced and become highly dependent on bureaucrats, which can lead to the government becoming bureaucratic in nature.

Q4. What is meant by the Principle of Separation of Power?
Answer: The principle of Separation of Power is a feature of the Presidential form of government where the executive and the legislature are separate and independent in their own spheres. The executive is not responsible to the legislature, and members of one branch cannot be members of the other.

Q5. Give the two characteristics of the Presidential form of government.
Answer: Two characteristics of the Presidential form of government are:

1. Single Head: The President is both the Head of the State and the Head of the Government, with no distinction between the two roles.
2. Fixed tenure: The President is elected for a fixed term and cannot be easily removed. The legislature also has a fixed tenure and cannot be dissolved by the President.

Q6. Write briefly about two merits and two demerits of the Unitary form of government.
Answer: Merits of the Unitary form of government are :

1. Effective and strong: The Unitary government is strong and effective because the central government governs the entire state with the same laws, avoiding complexities.
2. Less expenditure: The cost of running the government is less compared to other forms of government, allowing for more funds to be used for developmental work.

Demerits of the Unitary form of government are :

1. Unsuitable for large states: It is not suitable for a very large state.
2. Overburdened central government: The central government is overburdened as it is the only authority running the administration. Regional problems may not get enough importance.

GIVE LONG ANSWER

Q1. Write the merits and demerits of the Presidential form of government.
Answer:
Merits of the Presidential form of government are :

1. Stability: This government is permanent and stable because the President and the legislature have fixed tenures and cannot be easily removed.
2. Quick decision-making: The government is very useful during emergencies because the President holds the actual power and can make quick decisions without obstacles.
3. Strong executive: The executive is strong, which helps in safeguarding the unity and integrity of the state.
4. Free from party influence: The President is not dependent on the majority support of the legislature, which makes the government free from party influence.

Demerits of the Presidential form of government are :

1. Risk of autocracy: Since the legislature cannot control the executive, there is a risk of the President becoming an autocrat.
2. Lack of cooperation: There is a lack of cooperation between the executive and the legislature because of the principle of separation of power.
3. Rigid constitution: The constitution is rigid and difficult to amend, which can hinder progress in changing times.
4. Personal loyalty over merit: In appointments of ministers, personal loyalty to the President is given more importance than eligibility and experience.

Q2. Write the characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government.
Answer: The main characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government are:

1. Two heads: A nominal head (President, King, or Queen) as Head of State and a real executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) as Head of Government.
2. Executive members are also part of the legislature.
3. Close and cooperative relationship between the legislature and the executive.
4. Executive is responsible to the legislature; Council of Ministers must resign if a “No Confidence Motion” is passed.
5. Collective responsibility: If one minister fails, the entire council is accountable.

Q3. Discuss with examples why the Federal form of government has become popular at present?
Answer: The Federal form of government has become popular at present because it is highly suitable for large and diverse states. It allows constituent provinces to have self-rule while remaining part of a strong nation, providing both regional autonomy and national unity. This system is ideal for states with people of different religions, castes, communities, and languages. By dividing power between the central and provincial governments, it reduces the burden on the central government, enabling it to focus on national issues. The distribution of power also limits the risk of autocracy and encourages active democratic participation. Countries like the USA, India, Australia, Switzerland, and some African nations serve as successful examples of the federal system.

Q4. Write the characteristics of the Unitary form of government.
Answer: The characteristics of the Unitary form of government are:

1. Strong central government: All state powers are concentrated in the hands of the central government, making it very powerful.
2. Written or unwritten constitution: The constitution may be written (like in the Netherlands) or unwritten (like in England).
3. Single citizenship: Citizens have only one citizenship, unlike federal systems with dual citizenship.
4. Weak judiciary: The legislature is supreme, and the judiciary generally cannot declare laws unconstitutional.
5. Flexible constitution: The constitution can be easily amended by the central government when necessary.

Q5. Is the Unitary form of government really democratic? Give a critical analysis.
Answer: The Unitary form of government may not be considered truly democratic in all aspects. While it can function efficiently, it has several demerits that raise questions about its democratic nature: