NCERT Book Class 6 Social Science Grassroots Democracy Part 1 Governance PDF Download

Chapter 10: Grassroots Democracy - Part 1 Governance

[Figure: Word cloud showing key terms including governance, democracy, law, legislature, executive, judiciary, assembly, parliament, and Lok Sabha, See in your textbook]

Introduction

Human beings have been living in communities for a long time. When a large number of people live together, there can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become necessary to maintain order and harmony in the society.

There are probably some simple rules at home that you are expected to follow. The school where you study has rules too - some for students, others for teachers. In higher classes, students appearing for examinations must follow certain rules. Drivers on the road are expected to obey traffic rules. People employed in all kinds of jobs also need to follow the rules set by their employer, while the employers must also follow rules which they have committed to their employees.

What would happen if no one followed those rules? A simple answer is that society would not be able to function.

Let's Explore

• Describe the two pictures given in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 - what differences do you see between them?
• How do you connect this with our discussion on rules?
• What are some of the rules in your school? Who made them?

Who makes the rules and why? How are they made? These are some of the questions we will explore in this chapter. The process of taking decisions, organising the society's life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are followed, is called governance. The group of individuals or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they are followed is called a government. Some of the more important rules are called laws.

Teacher's Note

Notice that governance, government, and laws are connected but different things. Governance is the process or activity; government is the group of people or system doing it; and laws are the most important rules. Think of it like this: the government governs through governance by making laws. When you see these three words in exam questions, check which one the question is really asking about.

This does not mean that rules and laws are set once and for all. Just as you might discuss a particular rule at home with your parents, or as a student body might ask the school or university management to change a rule, citizens also have a say in the laws and rules governing the society. We will see how this takes place.

[Figure 10.1: Two scenes showing regulated and chaotic traffic situations, See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

When you see pictures or diagrams comparing two situations (like ordered and chaotic scenes), they are showing you why rules matter. Always ask yourself: what rules or system is making the difference? This skill helps you connect real life examples to the concepts you are learning.

Key Points

• Governance is the process of making decisions and creating rules to organize society; government is the group or system that carries out governance; and laws are the most important rules.
• Rules and laws are necessary to maintain order and harmony when many people live together, and without them society cannot function properly.
• Rules are not fixed forever; citizens can discuss and ask for changes to laws and rules, which means people have a say in how their society is governed.

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