SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS- 8: Exploring Society: India and Beyond

CHAPTER-6
(The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive)

1. Find out how many representatives from your state are in each House of the Parliament.

(Based on the state of Rajasthan)

• Lok Sabha (Lower House): 25 members
• Rajya Sabha (Upper House): 10 members

2. What makes the Indian Parliament the “voice of the people”? How does it ensure that different opinions are heard?

The Indian Parliament is considered the "voice of the people" because its lower house (Lok Sabha) consists of representatives directly elected by citizens through voting. It mirrors the diverse realities of the nation's populace.

Different opinions are ensured a platform through these mechanisms:

• Multi-Party System: MPs from various opposition parties present dissenting arguments and alternative viewpoints.
• Parliamentary Devices: Forums like Question Hour and general debates allow members to question government policies and raise public grievances.
• Committee System: Parliamentary committees closely examine bills and seek feedback from experts, civil society, and the general public.

3. Why do you think the Constitution made the Executive responsible to the Legislature?

The Constitution made the Executive accountable to the Legislature for the following vital reasons:

• Preventing Authoritarianism: It ensures that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers cannot act arbitrarily or exercise unchecked power.
• Continuous Accountability: The Executive is constantly monitored through questions, debates, and financial controls rather than just during general elections.
• Democratic Legitimacy: Since the legislature represents the collective will of the citizens, the executive must enjoy the majority confidence of the Lok Sabha to stay in power.

4. Why do you think we have chosen the system of bicameral legislature at the Union level?

A bicameral system (two houses) was chosen at the central level to serve distinct constitutional functions:

• Federal Representation: While the Lok Sabha represents the people directly, the Rajya Sabha represents the interests of the constituent States and Union Territories.
• Check on Hasty Legislation: The Upper House acts as a revising chamber, providing a second look at bills passed by the Lok Sabha to prevent hasty laws.
• Inclusion of Experts: The Rajya Sabha allows for the nomination of 12 distinguished experts from fields like science, arts, literature, and social service.

5. Try to track the journey of a recent bill passed by the Parliament. Identify in which House it was introduced. Were there any major debates or disagreements? How long did it take for the bill to become a law?

Case Study: The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 (Women's Reservation Bill).

• Introduction: It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 19, 2023.
• Disagreements / Debates: While there was near-unanimous political consensus to pass the bill, major debates erupted over the timeline of its implementation. Opposition parties criticized its linkage to the completion of the next population census and subsequent delimitation exercises, arguing it delayed implementation. There were also intense arguments demanding a specific internal quota for women belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• Timeline to Law: The process was exceptionally rapid. It passed the Lok Sabha on September 20, 2023, and the Rajya Sabha on September 21, 2023. It received Presidential Assent on September 28, 2023. It took roughly 9 days from its introduction to officially become a law.

6. Choose a recent law passed by the Parliament. Divide into teams to role-play different parts of the process — MPs debating in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ministers answering questions, and the President giving assent. Present a short skit showing how a bill becomes a law; enact a 'model Parliament'.

(Guidance for a classroom activity script using the Digital Personal Data Protection Act)

• Scene 1 (Lok Sabha): The IT Minister introduces the Data Protection Bill. Opposition MPs argue it violates privacy rights. Government MPs defend it, saying it secures citizen data. A vote is called, and the bill passes.
• Scene 2 (Rajya Sabha): The Bill is debated by regional state representatives. MPs demand stricter penalties for corporate data leaks. After rigorous debate, the bill passes the upper house.
• Scene 3 (Presidential Assent): The Bill is sent to the President of India. The President signs the document, officially turning the Bill into an Act/Law.

7. The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, was passed with wide support. Why might it have taken over 25 years for this bill to be passed, despite being discussed for so long?

The historical delay was primarily due to the following structural and political challenges:

• Lack of Political Consensus: Various regional parties heavily opposed earlier versions, fearing it would reduce the electoral opportunities for male political leaders.
• Demand for "Quota within Quota": Several parties blocked the bill for decades demanding specific internal reservations for women belonging to OBC (Other Backward Classes) and minority communities.
• Coalition Politics: Previous governments relied on multi-party alliances where regional partners threatened to withdraw support if the bill was pushed forward.

8. Sometimes the Parliament is disrupted and does not function for the number of days it is supposed to. What impact do you think this has on the quality of laws and the trust people place in their representatives?

Frequent parliamentary disruptions yield significant negative consequences:

• Poor Quality of Laws: Due to lost time, bills are often passed in a hurry without proper scrutiny, debates, or clause-by-clause evaluation, leading to legal loopholes.
• Erosion of Public Trust: Citizens lose faith in their elected representatives when they see taxpayer money wasted on shouting matches instead of productive governance.
• Wasted Resources: Vital public issues, national emergencies, and crucial economic policies are left unaddressed or delayed.

9. Can you create ‘interest’ groups among students and list questions related to any policy that you may want to ask your MP and / or your MLA? How would these questions be different if it is to the MP instead of the MLA, and vice versa?

Example Interest Group: Student Environment Action Committee.

Questions for the MP (Member of Parliament - National Level):

• What steps is the central government taking to meet carbon emission targets under international climate pacts?
• Will the Union Budget allocate more funds for national solar grid expansion?

Questions for the MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly - State/Local Level):

• Why are the local municipal garbage recycling units in our city district dysfunctional?
• Can the state government mandate rainwater harvesting systems in all local schools?

The Difference: MP questions focus on broad national laws, international treaties, and union budgets. MLA questions target localized execution, regional municipal issues, and state-level policy enforcement.

10. What is the role that the Judiciary plays in Indian democracy? What could happen if we didn’t have an independent judiciary?

The Judiciary acts as the guardian of the Constitution and the protector of fundamental citizen rights.

Without an independent judiciary, the following crises would emerge:

• Rise of Authoritarianism: The Executive and Legislature could abuse their power unchecked, passing arbitrary rules without any legal accountability.
• Loss of Rights: Citizens would have no safe mechanism to protect themselves if the government violates their basic human rights.
• Failure of Federalism: Disputes between the central government and individual state governments would remain unresolved, breaking down national unity.