NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 5 - Legislature

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86. Alok thinks that a country needs an efficient government that looks after the welfare of the people. So, if we simply elected 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.

Ans. No, I do not agree with Alok because leaving the whole task of the government with the Prime Minister and the ministers would hamper the essence of democracy. Such a setup would reduce the representation of people in the government. The members of the Legislature who do not represent the majority would not have the opportunity to present the views.

The decisions made by the cabinet would not be accountable, as the ministers would not have to explain their decision to the Legislature. The task of Legislature also includes law making which is a complex process that requires opinion of all sections of the society and that would also be missing in such a scenario.

87. A class was debating 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.

Ans. (a) I disagree with Neha's view because by bicameral legislature serves many purposes as it helps in representation to all the sections of the society and a bicameral legislature makes it possible to have every decision reconsidered. Every decision taken by one house goes to the other house for its decision and also provide effective check an government conduct and also provide effective check on goverment conduct.

(b) I agree with Shama that the experts should be nominated in the second chamber because the first chamber is the House of Representatives where members are elected by the people directly so, the persons who are experts in the fields of art, literature, science and social science except should be nominated in the second chamber because in this house the members are elected indirectly and they can provide technical knowledge and give national suggestion for policy making.

(c) I disagree with this because even in a unitary state a second chamber is required for example-a unitary state like England or Japan is having a Second Chamber. The bicameral legislature is in accordance with the democratic principle. The Second Chamber is essential as it keeps a check on hasty, rash and ill-considered legislation pass by the lower chamber.

88 Why can the Lok Sabha control the executive more effectively than the Rajya Sabha can?

Ans. In a Parliamentary form of Government, the executive is responsible to the legislature for its actions and policies. But in practice it is answerable to the popular house i.e. Lok Sabha.

As per the constitution of India, the Council of Ministers has been made collectively responsible to Lok Sabha. Though the Rajya Sabha can exert its influence on the government in a number of ways but it cannot remove the government from its office.

This power belongs to Lok Sabha only. This power of the Lok Sabha is exclusive and not concurrent. Lok Sabha has crucial power in controlling the finance as it can reject money bill but Rajya Sabha cannot reject the money bill.

89. 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.

Ans. Yes, I completely agree with the above statement that rather than the effective control of Executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments of people’s expectation. As Lok Sabha is a deliberative body and it is the best forum for the expression of public matters. The representative of the people expresses the difficulties of people of their constituencies. They draw the attention of the government towards the grievances of the people.

Apart from debating on Bills, special provisions such as the Question Hour, the Zero Hour or the adjournment motion are adopted to discussion on the matters of public importance.

90. 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 Parliament.

Ans. (a) I agree to the above statement that the Parliamentary sessions should work for a longer period. At present many bills are passed without thorough discussions and such decisions sometime lead to riots among the citizens and the opposition. By increasing the time, the members will get better opportunity for discussion and public interest will be protected in a better way.

(b) I agree that the attendance should be made compulsory for all the members of the Parliament. No member should be allowed to remain absent without the permission of the speaker of the house. Compulsory attendance and maximum strength of the parliament will be helpful for better discussion making.

(c) Yes, the speaker should be empowered to penalise members for interrupting the proceeding of the house, as interruptions leads to wastage of time due to which many important decisions are delayed.

91. 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?

Ans. Yes, this is true that the ministers propose most of the important bills and the majority party often gets the government bills passed but this doesn't mean that the role of the parliament in the lawmaking process has no importance. Since the bill has to undergo various stages and not just for approvals or rejection.

(a) At the first stage general discussion of the bill is done where the main principle underlines the bill are discussed.

(b) At the committee stage the bill is thoroughly discuss and is examined clause by clause.

(c) At the report stage, the members of the Parliament only discuss the bill. The members have the right to propose any amendment, if required.

(d) Next, each amendment and clause are to be voted by the House, if they are accepted by a majority of members present and voting then the bill is send to the other house for its concurrence.

In this way Parliament place a very important role in passing the bill.

92. Which of the following statements you agree with the most? Give your reasons.

(a) Legislators must be free to join any party they want.

(b) Anti-defection law has contributed to the domination of the party leaders over the legislators.

(c) 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.

Ans. (a) I do not agree with the above statement as I believe that the legislators should not be free to join any party because this could lead to corruption, as the party could bribe the leader for a good post or use money power to drag them into their party legislators.

(b) It is incorrect that the anti-defection law has led to the domination of party leaders over legislatures. The legislatures are allowed to defect as long as they have the support of a minimum number of members from their own party.

(c) I do not agree with the above situation because defection is always not for selfish purpose as a leader may use defection to show his/her disapproval towards a party decision. Without knowing the reason for defection, a legislature should not be disqualified.

93. 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 positions of Dolly and Sudha?

Ans. I believe that Dolly's point of view about the decline of parliament is correct up to some extent. The times spent on debate has decrease and many times, the Parliament have passed the bill without discussion due to disruption of one party or the other. This has somehow affected the lawmaking process as many important legislative decisions which are pending or being postponed for a long time. However, the effectiveness of the Parliament as an institution is undermine, as it remains the supreme law-making body in the country. Thus, major decision related to the national interest still required the approval of the Parliament.

Sudha’s view about the fall of different government on the floor of Lok Sabha is proof of its vibrancy is also partially correct. The fall of different government on the floor of Lok Sabha is a reminder that no government can afford to take its existence for granted. The Lok Sabha is the body that controls the finances of the government. A government cannot survive by acting against the wishes of the majority of elected representatives. This has checked the access concentration of power in the Council of Ministers. However, instability must not be mistaken with vibrancy. In the age of coalition government at the centre, stabilities important for achieving the goal of development.

94. 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 s/he does not sign it.

(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 subcommittee – 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.

Ans. (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 s/he does not sign it.

(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 subcommittee – 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.

95. How has the system of parliamentary committee affected the overseeing and appraisal of legislation by the Parliament?

Ans. Parliamentary committee has played a very crucial role in law making since 1983, India has developed a system of parliamentary standing committee. The committee system has reduced the burden of 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 amendment or revise any clause or clauses. The committee is to submit its report to the house within the prescribe period.