JK Academy Exercise
1. Choose the correct option and rewrite the statement.
(1) In India, the executive power is vested in the …………….
(President, Prime Minister, Speaker)
Answer: President
(2) The tenure of the President is of ………… years.
(Three, Four, Five)
Answer: five
(3) The Council of Ministers is led by the ………. .
(Party chief, Prime Minister, President)
Answer: Prime Minister
Class 8 Civics Chapter 3 The Union Executive Textbook Questions and Answers
2. Find and write.
(1) The President, the Prime Minister, the Council of Minister are called the –
Answer: Executive
(2) During the parliamentary session the period around 12 noon is known as –
Answer: Zero hour
Maharashtra Board Class 8 Civics Solutions Chapter 3 The Union Executive
3. Write on following concepts in your own words.
(1) Impeachment procedure
Answer: The responsibility of protecting the Constitution is shouldered by the President. But if any act of President violates the Constitution then the Parliament has the authority to remove the President. This process is known as process of Impeachment.
The procedure followed is
(i) Any one House can lay the charge of violation of the Constitution
(ii) The investigation of the charge is carried out by the other House.
(iii) The resolution has to be passed by special (2/3rd) majority of both the Houses of Parliament.
(2) No confidence motion
Answer:
(i) The government stays in power till it enjoys the support of majority in Lok Sabha.
(ii) If the members of Parliament withdraw the support, it may lead to loss of majority and the government cannot stay in power.
(iii) The members of the House can move a no-confidence motion by simply expressing ‘we do not have confidence in the government’.
(iv) If the motion is passed with majority support then the Council of Ministers has to resign.
(3) Jumbo ministry
Answer:
(i) Jumbo Ministry refers to huge Council of Ministers.
(ii) There was a trend to keep large Council of Ministers in our country.
(iii) Later, a constitutional amendment was made to limit the size of the Council of Ministers.
(iv) As per this amendment, the number of ministers in the council should not be more than 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.
Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Civics Solutions Chapter 3 The Union Executive Textbook Exercise
4. Answer in brief.
(1) Enumerate the functions of the Council of Ministers.
Answer: The functions of the Council of Ministers are as follows:
(i) In a parliamentary form of government the Council of Ministers takes initiative in the process of Law-making. The scheme, policy plans etc. are drafted and discussed and then introduced in the House.
(ii) The Ministers of respective departments lay their policy plans in the House to bring about a discussion on it.
(iii) Once the Parliament approves the laws, the Council of Ministers implements them.
(2) How does the Parliament keep a check on the Executive?
Answer: In a parliamentary system of government the legislature tries to keep control over the executive in the following ways:
(i) Debate and discussion among the members of the House are an integral part of the law[1]making process. These debates and discussions help the members to scrutinise the policy proposals and laws and point out the shortcomings.
(ii) During parliamentary sessions, the proceedings of the House begins with questions asked by the members of the House. The concerned ministers are supposed to give satisfactory answers to these questions.
(iii) During the zero hour period, any question of public importance can be raised and discussed.
(iv) The members of the House can move a no-confidence motion by simply expressing ‘we do not have confidence in the government’. If the motion is passed with majority support then the Council of Ministers has to resign.
Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Civics Solutions Chapter 3 The Union Executive
5. Complete the concept picture.
Functions of President in India
(i) summons the meeting of Parliament,
(ii) prorogue the session of Parliament,
(iii) sends messages to both Houses,
(iv) dissolves the Parliament after the tenure is over or even before the tenure gets over.
(v) Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must be signed by the President.
(vi) President appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers on the recommendation of Prime Minister.
(vii) The President appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
(viii) The President also appoints the Governors of States, Chief Election Commissioner and other important officers.
(ix) The President is the commander[1]in-chief of the armed forces. Decisions regarding war and peace are made by the President.
(x) The President has the power to reduce the punishment, grant a respite or commute a sentence of a person or in special circumstances grant pardons on humanitarian grounds.
(xi) President has the power to declare emergency in case of a crisis situation arising in the country.
Project
(1) If you become the Prime Minister what works will you prioritise? Create a priority-wise list and present it in class.
(2) Collect pictures and information of India’s Presidents since independence.
Std 8 History
4. The Freedom Struggle of 1857
5. Social and Religious Reforms
6. Beginning of Freedom Movement
8. Civil Disobedience Movement
9. Last Phase of Struggle for Independence
10. Armed Revolutionary Movement
11. Struggle for Equality
12. India gains Independence
13. Fulfillment of Struggle for Independence
14. Formation of State of Maharashtra.
Std 8 Civics
1. Introduction to the Parliamentary System.
4. The Indian Judicial System
5. The State Government
6. Bureaucracy