NCERT Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond Part 1 Chapter 06 The Parliamentary System Legislature and Executive PDF Download

Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive

The Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document; it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of the age. - Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, November 1949, Constituent Assembly Debates

[Figure 6.1: Features of the new Parliament building, See in your textbook]

The Big Questions

1. What is India's parliamentary system, and how is it structured?
2. What are the key functions of the Parliament?
3. What are the roles of the legislature and the executive in India's Parliamentary democracy?
4. How are the legislature and the executive organised at the union and state levels?

The Grade 8 students from Nalanda Vidyalaya were on a school trip to Delhi. Usha, Sukhwinder, Anjali, John, and Farida were especially excited to visit the new Parliament building.

[Figure 6.1: Features of the new Parliament building, showing the three-sided design, green construction details, interior decorations with carvings of peacocks, lotuses, tribal art, temple patterns, freedom fighters, and the Ashokan emblem, See in your textbook]

Introduction

India's independence was achieved through great sacrifices by many people of the country after years of struggle against colonial rule. The citizens of a free country could now make decisions about their own governance. The first important step in this new epoch in the life of our nation was the drafting of the Constitution of independent India. This comprehensive document laid foundational principles for the nation, including that of Universal Adult Franchise which guarantees all adult citizens of the country the right to vote irrespective of their social or economic background, gender, race, or religion.

Teacher's Note

Universal Adult Franchise means every adult citizen can vote, no matter who they are or what their background is. This was a radical idea when the Constitution was written in 1949, because many countries still had age limits, wealth limits, or other rules that stopped people from voting. India chose to include everyone from the start.

The people of India directly elect their representatives who become members of the Lok Sabha. A majority group from among these elected representatives forms the government. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the government (it makes laws for the country). It comprises all elected and nominated representatives of the people and controls and guides the work of the government. The government can therefore be seen as functioning with the people's consent. There have been 17 Lok Sabhas since the first one in 1952. The 18th Lok Sabha was constituted in June 2024.

Teacher's Note

Remember that Parliament and government are not the same thing. Parliament is the law-making body with all the elected members. The government is formed by the majority party or alliance from within Parliament, and it executes those laws. Parliament supervises and controls what the government does.

[Figure 6.2: Our old Parliament (now called Samvidhan Sadan) building was constructed in the 1920s. The Constituent Assembly met there for its deliberations, and it served as Parliament House for over seven decades., See in your textbook]

[Figure 6.3: The Parliament Building (Sansad Bhavan) in New Delhi was constructed to accommodate the growing needs including capacity, technology, sustainability and safety., See in your textbook]

Key Points

• India adopted Universal Adult Franchise in its Constitution, allowing all adult citizens to vote regardless of their background, gender, or economic status.
• The Parliament is the supreme law-making body of India and comprises all elected and nominated representatives of the people.
• The government is formed by the majority group of elected representatives from Parliament and functions with the people's consent.
• Since independence, India has had 17 Lok Sabhas, with the 18th constituted in June 2024.
• Parliament controls and guides the work of the government, making it the most powerful institution in India's democratic system.

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