The Class 8 is an important year in a student’s life and Maharashtra State Board Social Science Civics is one of the subjects that require dedication, hard work, and practice. It’s a subject where you can score well if you are well-versed with the concepts, remember the important formulas and solving methods, and have done an ample amount of practice. Worry not! Home Revise is here to make your Class 8 journey even easier. It’s essential for students to have the right study material and notes to prepare for their board examinations, and through Home Revise, you can cover all the fundamental topics in the subject and the complete Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Social Science Civics Book syllabus.
Q1. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct option.
(1) Candidates to the Lok Sabha are elected through ………. .
(a) Territorial constituencies
(b) Religious constituencies.
(c) Local bodies
(d) Proportional Representation System
(2) India’s …………. is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
(a) President
(b) Vice-President
(c) Prime Minister
(d) Chief Justice
Answer 1: Candidates to the Lok Sabha are elected through territorial constituencies
Answer 2: India’s Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Q2. Find and write.
(1) Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are known as ……………….
(2) The responsibility of making laws is with …………….
Answer 1: Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are known as Members of the Parliament.
Answer 2: The responsibility of making laws is with the executive branch of the government.
Q3. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) Rajya Sabha is a permanent House.
(2) Lok Sabha is known as the first House.
Answer 1: The upper and the second house of Parliament is the Rajya Sabha. The members of Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected. Rajya Sabha gives representation to 29 states and 7 Union Territories in India. Thus, members of Rajya Sabha work as representatives of the constituent states.
The total membership of Rajya Sabha is 250 members. Amongst them, 238 members are elected from the constituent states and Union Territories. All the constituent states do not get equal representation in the Rajya Sabha. It is proportional to the total population of each of the states. The remaining 12 members are appointed by the President. These members are usually experienced and distinguished personalities from the fields of literature, arts, science, sports and social work. The members of Rajya Sabha are elected through the system of proportional representation.
Rajya Sabha is never dissolved completely hence it is called a permanent House. 1/3rd members of total membership of Rajya Sabha who have completed their tenure of six years retire after every two years and an equal number of new members get elected. Since the limited members of Rajya Sabha retire step by step, Rajya Sabha can function continuously. Any person contesting for the elections of Rajya Sabha must be an Indian citizen and he must have completed 30 years of age. Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are known as Members of Parliament (MPs).
Answer 2: Lok Sabha is the lower and the first house of the Parliament of India. Lok Sabha is the House of Representatives directly elected by the people. Hence, the Lok Sabha is called the ‘First’ house. The members of Lok Sabha are elected directly by people from the ‘territorial constituencies’. The tenure of Lok Sabha is five years. The elections take place after every five years. These elections are known as General Elections. However, there are examples when the Lok Sabha was dissolved before the completion of five years. Elections held in such a case are called mid-term elections.
Lok Sabha is the representative body of the citizens of the country. As per the constitution, there can be a maximum of 552 members in the Lok Sabha. To ensure equal representation to all sections of the community, some seats are reserved for members belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. In case there are no representatives from the Anglo- Indian community, the President can appoint two members from this community to the Lok Sabha.
Q4. Answer the following in 25 to 30 words.
(1) How are members of the Lok Sabha elected ?
(2) Explain the functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Answer 1: Lok Sabha is the lower and the first house of the Parliament of India. Lok Sabha is the House of Representatives directly elected by the people. Hence, the Lok Sabha is called the ‘First’ house. The members of Lok Sabha are elected directly by people from the ‘territorial constituencies’.
Answer 2: In the very first meeting after the elections of Lok Sabha, the members of Lok Sabha elect a ‘Speaker’ and ‘Deputy Speaker’. Lok Sabha functions under the guidance and control of the speaker. Lok Sabha represents the citizens and the Speaker represents the Lok Sabha. After getting elected as Speaker, he/she has to conduct the business of the House in an unbiased manner. Lok Sabha members have some rights and privileges as the representatives of the people. These are taken care of by the Speaker. Apart from this, the Speaker has to maintain the decorum and dignity of the house as well as interpret the rules of daily functioning of the house and work accordingly.
Q5. Explain the steps involved in the lawmaking process.
Answer: In our country, the parliament is empowered to make laws. To formulate them, a certain system has been adopted. This system is known as the law-making process. A rough draft of the law is prepared initially. This draft or outline is known as draft proposal of the law or Bill of law.
There are two types of bills that are primarily introduced in the House of the Parliament.
(1) Money Bill
(2) Ordinary Bill
In order to be converted into an Act (Law), the Bill undergoes the following process.
First reading: The minister of the concerned department/ministry or member of the parliament presents the bill and briefly explains its structure while presenting it. This is called the ‘first reading’.
Second reading: There are two stages of the second reading. In the first stage, the objectives of the proposed Bill are discussed and members in the house express their opinions on it. The supporters of the bill give favourable opinions while the opponents discuss the defects and faults in the bill. After the discussion within the house, as per the requirement, the bill is sent to a committee of the House. The committee report consisting of instructions and recommendations is sent to the House in order to make the bill flawless. Now, the second phase of the second reading begins. In this phase, the bill is discussed clause by clause. Members can suggest changes. After this, voting is taken in the house.
Third Reading: The bill is discussed briefly again during the third reading. Voting is taken for approving the Bill. If the bill gets an assent by the required majority, then the bill is considered as passed by the House.
The bill undergoes the same procedure even in the other house. After getting an approval by both the houses, the bill is further sent for assent by the President. If there occurs a difference of opinion between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over a specific bill, the future of this bill is decided in a joint meeting of both the houses. After the final assent and signature of the President, the bill is converted into the law and the law is made.
Q5. Who controls the Council of Ministers?
Answer: The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are drawn from the Parliament and Parliament exercises control over them. There are multiple ways through which this control can be exercised. It is the responsibility of the Parliament to see that the Council of Ministers does not disregard the Parliament and functions under its supervision.
Q6. Explain amendments of the Constitution?
Answer: The Parliament decides whether to make any amendment to the Indian Constitution. The constitution amendment bill is considered to be an important bill. The Parliament discusses why the amendment is required and decides whether to accept it or not. The Constitution mentions various ways of amending the Constitution. They are as follows- (i) A few provisions in the Indian Constitution are amended by simple majority of the Parliament (ii) Some provisions require special majority (2/3rd) of the Parliament. (iii) A few other provisions are amended by special majority plus consent from more than half of the constituent states.