Federalism - Class 10th - pol.science

                                                            Chapter-2

Federalism

Q1. Explain the meaning of federalism.

Ans. a) Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between central authority and various constituent units of the country.

b) A federation 2 levels of government.

c) One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few common subjects of common national interest.

d) The others are government at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day to day administering of their state.

e) Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other.

Q2. Distinguish between a unitary and federal government.

Ans. a) Unitary government-  i. Under the unitary system, either there is only 1 level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central government.

ii. The central government can pass orders to the provincial or the local government.

b) Federal government-  i. In a federal government, the central govt. cannot order the state govt. to do something.

ii. State govt. has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central govt.

Q3. State the main features of federalism.

Ans. 1. There are 2 or more tiers of government.

2. Each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.

3. The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.

4. The fundamental provisions of the constitution require the consent of both the levels of govt.

5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers to settle the disputes among different levels of govt.

6. Sources of revenue for each level of govt. are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.

Q4. What are the dual objectives of the Federal system? What are their importances?

1.    The federal system has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country while at the same time accommodates regional diversity. Therefore, two aspects are crucial for the institutions and practice of federalism.

2.    Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power sharing. They should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement.

3.    An ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together.

Q5.  Explain the two types of federal system?    or

Distinguish between holding together and coming together federations? or

“The exact balance of power between the central and state government varies from one federation to another “Explain?

                                                Or

Explain the 2 kinds of routes (or basis) through which federations have been formed, with examples.

Ans.  Holding Together – 1) In a holding together federations a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent states and the national government.

2. For example India, Spain and Belgium.

3. In this federation, the central government tends to be more powerful vis a vis the states.

4. Some units are granted special powers.

Coming Together – 1) In a coming together federations it involves independent states come together on their own to form a bigger unit.

2) By pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.

3) This type of coming together federations include the USA,SWITZERLAND, and AUSTRALIA.

4) In this first category of federations, all the constituent states usually have equal powers.

Q6. Explain the 3-fold distribution of legislature power between the Union and the State government as prescribed in the Constitution of India?

Ans. Union List – Union list includes subjects of national importance.

2. It includes defence of the country, foreign affairs,banking, communications and currency.

3. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union list.

2. State List –1) State list contains subjects of state and local importance.

2). It includes police,trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.

3) The state government alone make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the state list.

3. Concurrent List – 1) Concurrent list includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Government.

2) Example are education, forest, trade, unions,marriage,adoption, and succession.

3) Both the union as well as the state Government can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list.

4). If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

Q7. What are Residuary Subjects. Who has the powers to make laws on the residuary subjects?

Ans. All those subjects that came up after the constitution was made are called Residuary Subjects. For ex – Computer software. The Union Government has the power to make laws on this Residuary subjects.

Q8. What special provisions are given to states of Jammu and Kashmir in India? Or

Justify with example that all states in India don’t have identical powers?

Ans. Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution.

2. Many provisions of the Indian constitution are not applicable to this state without the approval of the State Assembly.

3). Indian who are not permanent residents of this state cannot buy land and house there.

Q9. Why were Union territories created in India after Independence? Which government has the power to run these areas?

Ans. 1) There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power.

2) These are areas which are too small to become an independent state but which could not have merged with any of the existing states.

3) Foe ex. Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry, and the capital city of Delhi etc.

4) The central government has special powers in running these areas.

Q10. How can we make changes in the power sharing arrangement between the union and states government in India?

 Ans. It is not easy to make changes to the power sharing arrangement between the Union and state government.

2) The parliament alone cannot make changes in this arrangement.

3)  Any changes to it has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-third majority.

4) Then it has to be rectified by the legislatures of

Q11. Describe the role played by Judiciary in India?

Ans. 1. The judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.

2) In case of any dispute about the division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court make a decision.

Q12. What factors make India a federal country?  or

State the main features of Indian federalism?   or

Justify that India has a holding together federations?

Ans. 1. India is a federal country because in India government operates at three levels, a central government for the entire country a state government for each state and a local government for each region in a state.

2. The powers and functions of each level are clearly prescribed in the constitution of India under Union state and concurrent list.

3. India has a holding together federation where by the central government has more powers than the state government and some states in India enjoy privileges which other states do not have.

4. Any change in the power sharing arrangement between the central and the state government in India can only be made by the consent of 2/3rd majority in parliament and by the rectification of at least 50 percent states of India.

5. Any dispute in the power sharing arrangement between the central and the state government is settled by the supreme court, the highest court in India.

6. Sources of intervene of each level of government is clearly mentioned in the constitution of India.

Q13. “Constitutional provisions are necessary for the success of federation but are not sufficient “Justify?

Ans. 1. If the federal experiment has succeeded in India, it is not merely because of the clearly laid out constitutional provisions.

         2. The real success of federalism in India can be attributed to the nature of emocratic policies in our country.

         3. This ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and desire for living together became shared ideals in our country.

Q14. What was the first and the major test for democratic politics that Indian federalism has to face? What was the result of this test?

Ans.1. The creation of linguistic states was the first and a major test for democratic politics in our country.

         2. When the demand for the formation of states on the basis of language was raised some national leaders eared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country. 

         3. The central govt. resisted linguistics states for some time. But the experience has shown that the formation of linguistic states has actually made the country, more united. It has also made administration easier.

Q15. What was the main criteria followed by the leaders for the formation of sates in India and why? Name 3 states which were not formed by using this criteria?

Ans. 1. The main criteria was language.

2. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same state.

         3.  some states were created not on the basis of language but to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.

         4. These include states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

Q16. State the main features of the language policy of India.

Ans. 1. Our constitution did not give the status of national language to any 1 language.

        2. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the constitution.

       3. A candidate in an examination conducted for the central gov. positions may opt to take the examination in any of these languages.

      4. States too have their own official languages.

      5. Much of the govt. work takes place in the official language of the concerned state.

Q17. Example with example how the flexibility show by Indian leaders helped India to avoid civil war like Sri Lanka ?

Ans. Unlike Sri Lanka , the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi .

2) According to the constitution, the use of English for official purpose was to stop in 1965.

3) Many non-Hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English must be continued .

4) In Tamil Nadu , this movement took a violent form.

5) The central government responded by arguing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.

6) Thus the flexibility shown by Indian political leaders helped our country avoid civil wars as it happened in Sri Lanka.

 Q18. Explain why India undermine the spirit of federalism before 1991?

Ans. 1) For a long time after India’s independence the same party ruled both at the centre and in most of the states.

2) This meant that the state government did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units.

3) As and when the same ruling party at the state level was different, the parties that ruled at the centre tried to undermine the power of the states.

4) The central government would often misuse the constitution to dismiss the state governments that were controlled by rival parties.

5) This undermined the spirit of federalism.

Q19. What changes came in Indian Federation after 1991?  or

“Federal power sharing in India is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into force”.Explain.

Ans. 1) The period after 1991 saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.

2) This was also the beginning of the era of centre.

3) This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of state government.

4) This trend was supported by a major judgement of the supreme court that made it difficult to the central government to dismiss the government in an arbitrary  manner.

5) Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into forces.

Q20. What was the rationale need for decentralisation of powers in India?

Ans. 1) A vast country like India cannot be run only through the two-tires.

2) States in India are as large as independent countries of Europe.

3) In terms of populations, Uttar Pradesh is bigger than Russia, Maharashtra is about as big as Germany.

4) Many of these states are internally very diverse.

5) There is thus a need for power sharing within these states.

6) This is the rationale for decentralisation of power in India.

 Q21. What is decentralisation?

Ans. When power is taken away from central and state government and given to local government, it is called decentralisation.

Q22. Examine the need for local government in a country? Or

“Local government is the best way to realise the important principle of democracy namely local self government”. Explain

Ans. 1) The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level.

2)People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.

3) They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently.

4) At the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decisions making which helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation.

Q23. Justify with 3 points that there was little decentralisation in India before 1992?

Ans. 1)During the early year of decentralisation, although Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas were set up in all the states but these were directly under the control of state governments.

  2) Elections to these local governments were not held regularly.

3) Local governments did not have many powers or resources of their own.

4) Thus, there was very little decentralisation in effective terms.

Q24. How did the constitutional amendment of 1992 made the third tier (local government) more powerful and effective in India?

Ans. In 1992, the constitution was amended to make the third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

2) Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

3) Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

4) At least one third of all positions are reserved for women.

5) An independent institution called the state election commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.

6) The state government are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.

Q25. State the main features of local government bodies in rural areas. Or

Define the following OR 

Write a short note on:-

Ans. 1)GRAM PANCHAYAT – 1) Each village or a group of villages has a gram panchayat.

2) This is a council consisting of several wards members, often called panch, and a president or sarpanch.

3) They are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village.

4) It is the direction making body for the entire village.

2) GRAM SABHA – 1) . It is the village parliament (legislature).

2) All the voters in the village are the members of Gram Sabha.

3) It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

3) PANCHAYAT SAMITI – 1) A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form a panchayat samiti or block or mandal.

2) The members of this representative body are elected by all the panchayat members in that area.

4) ZILA PARISHAD – 1) All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the zilla (district) parishad.

2) Members of the theLok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members.

3) Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla parishad.

Q26. State the main features of local government bodies in urban areas in India’s? or

Distinguish between Municipal Corporation and municipality?

Ans. MUNICIPALITY

1)The local government government of small towns is called municipality.

2) The head of the municipality is called the chairperson.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

1)                  The local government of big cities is called municipal corporation.

2)                  The head of municipal corporation is called mayor.

Both municipalities and municipal corporations are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representation.

Q27.  Flexible language policy of government of India and Indian constitution has minimized conflicts among states and centre in India. Justify.

1.    Our constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages.

2.    Besides Hindi there are 21 other languages recognized as Scheduled languages by the constitution.

3.    States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned states.

4.    According to the constitution, the use of English for official purposes was stopped in 1965. However, many non-Hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English continues. In Tamil Nadu this movement took violent form. The central government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purposes.

5.    Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official policy of the Government of India. Promotion does not mean that the central government can impose Hindi on states where people speak a different language.   

Q28. How has federal power sharing became more effective in India after 1990(or Today)?

1.    Things changed significantly after 1990. This period saw the rise of regional political parties in many states of the country.

2.    This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the centre.

3.    Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the centre. This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of state government.

4.    This trend was supported by a major judgment of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for the central government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.

5.    Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today then it was in the early years after the constitution came into force.

Q29. State any difference between the local government before and after 73^rd Amendment Act 1992.

A29.  A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992.The constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

1.    Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

2.    Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

3.    At least 50% of all positions are reserved for women.

4.    An independent institution called the state election commission has been created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.

5.    The state governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local governments bodies. The nature of sharing varies state to state.

Q30. Briefly explain the levels of rural local government in India.

OR

 How has Panchayat Raj system been organized?

 Rural local government is popularly known by the name of Panchayati Raj

A.   VILLAGE LEVEL

1.    Each village or a group of villagers in some states has a gram panchayat. This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch and a president or sarpanch. All the adult population living in that ward or village directly elects them.

2.    The Panchayat work under the overall supervision of the gram sabha. All the voters in the village are its members. It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat and to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

B.   BLOCK LEVEL

A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat samiti or block or mandal. All the panchayat members in that area elect the members of this representative body.

C.   DISTRICT LEVEL

All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the Zilla (district) parishad. Most members of the Zilla parishad are elected. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLA’s of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members. Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla parishad.

Q31. How are local bodies organized in urban areas?

A31. Local government bodies exist for urban areas as well

1.    Municipalities are set up towns

2.    Big cities are constituted into Municipal Corporation.

3.    Elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives control both municipalities and municipal corporations.

4.    Municipal chairperson is the political head of the Municipality.

5.    In a municipal corporation such as officer is called the mayor.