STATE VS GOVERNMENT
Name the four important parts of a state.
People, a defined territory (land), government, and sovereignty.
Which organ of government makes laws?
The legislature.
In a republic, how does a person become head of state?
The head of state is elected directly or indirectly by the people, rather than inheriting the position as a monarch.
Name the three levels of government in India.
Union (central), state, and local government.
What does sovereignty mean?
The power to make laws and decisions without outside control.
Which organ carries out laws and implements policies?
The executive.
What basic document provides the framework for the structure of India’s government?
The Constitution of India.
Which level usually deals with local services such as streetlights, drainage, parks, and local roads?
Local government, such as a panchayat or municipality.
Why is a government only one part of the state?
The state includes the population, territory, sovereignty, and government; the government runs the country.
Which organ ensures that laws are followed and settles disputes?
The Judiciary.
What does the rule of law mean?
Everyone must follow the law, including the government.
What is decentralisation?
The distribution of power and decision-making rather than concentrating it in one place or group.
In the textbook’s comparison, what does the school represent and what do the principal and teachers represent?
The school represents the state; the principal and teachers represent the government.
What is the term for the judiciary’s power to check whether government action or laws violate the Constitution?
Judicial review.
Why should the powers of elected representatives be limited by a Constitution or laws?
To prevent unchecked power and protect people’s rights.
Why is decentralisation useful in a large and diverse country like India?
Local representatives understand local needs, people can participate more directly, and local issues can be addressed more quickly and accountably.
A government changes after an election, but the country continues to exist. What distinction does this illustrate?
The government can change, while the state remains.
Why is an independent judiciary important in a democracy?
It protects rights, checks unfair actions, resolves disputes, and helps ensure that everyone—including the government—follows the law.
Is every democracy necessarily a republic?
No. Democracy describes rule through people’s participation or representation; a republic specifically has a head of state who does not inherit the position. The terms are related but not identical.
Fill in the Blanks
1. MP stands for __________________.
2. MLA stands for_____________________.
3. Who heads the Gram Panchayat?
4. ______________ minimum no of ward panch are there in gram panchyat.
5. Block-level government is known as___________________.
1. Member of Parliament.
2. Member of the Legislative Assembly.
3. Sarpanch
4. 5
5. Gram Panchayat.