Working Of Institutions

Ch 4 Civics

Working Of Institutions

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Working Of Institutions

What is a Government?

A set of institutions that have the power to make, implement and interpret laws so as to ensure an orderly life. In its broad sense, government administers and supervises over citizens and resources of a country.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Few points

1) President is the head of the state and is the highest power in the country.

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2) Prime Minister is the head of the government and actually uses all governmental powers. He takes most of the decisions in the Cabinet meetings.

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3) Parliament consists of the President and two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Prime Minister must have the support of a majority of Lok Sabha members

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

A Controversial Order

On 13 August 1990 the government issued an order. This issued order is called Office Memorandum. Its just a communication which is done by the autorities stating the policy. The order was a major policy decison. It said that 27 per cent of the vacancies in civil posts and services under the Government of India are reserved for the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). That means No one but SEBC, SC ,ST can compete for the reserverd 27% of the govt. jobs.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Decison makers

So do you think that this decison was made by a single person? Well NO! The officers who declared the order of the reservations were just following the instructions given by the Ministery of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions which is the concerned department of it.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Decision Makers

The Government of India had appointed the Second Backward Classes Commission in 1979. It was headed by B.P. Mandal. Hence it was popularly called the Mandal Commission. So it was asked to determine the citeria for classifing people as SEBC and recommend steps for the betterment of these people. The Commission gave its Report in 1980 and made many recommendations. One of it was that 27% reservations.

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Decision Makers

The Report and recommendations were discussed in the Parliament. For several years, many mps and parties kept demanding the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. Then came the Lok Sabha election of 1989. In its election manifesto, the Janata Dal promised that if voted to power, it would implement the Mandal Commission report. The Janata Dal did form the government after this election. Its leader V. P. Singh became the Prime Minister. Several developments took place after that.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

What Changes Did Janta Dal Made?​

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

1. ​The Presedent of India announced thier intention to implement Madal commision's recomendation.

2. On 6 August 1990, the Union Cabinet took a formal decision to implement the recommendations.

What Changes Did Janta Dal Made?​

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

​3. Next day Prime Minister V.P. Singh informed the Parliament about this decision through a statement in both the Houses of Parliament.

4. The decision of the Cabinet was sent to the Department of Personnel and Training. The senior officers of the Department drafted an order in line with the Cabinet decision and took the minister’s approval. An officer signed the order on behalf of the Union Government

Others felt that this was unfair as it would deny equality of opportunity to those who did not belong to backward communities. They would be denied jobs even though they could be more qualified. Some felt that this would perpetuate caste feelings among people and hamper national unity.

​Against It

Some felt that existence of inequalities among people of different castes in India necessitated job reservations. They felt, this would give a fair opportunity to those communities who so far had not adequately been represented in government employment.

​For It

The 2 Sides

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Who Solved it?

The Supreme Court and the High Courts in India settle disputes arising out of governmental decisions. Some persons and associations opposed to this order filed a number of cases in the courts. They appealed to the courts to declare the order invalid and stop its implementation. This case was known as the ‘Indira Sawhney and others Vs Union of India case’.

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The Court's Decision

Eleven judges of the Supreme Court heard arguments of both sides. By a majority, the Supreme Court judges in 1992 declared that this order of the Government of India was valid. At the same time the Supreme Court asked the government to modify its original order. It said that well-todo persons among the backward classes should be excluded from getting the benefit of reservation. Personnel and Training issued another Office Memorandum on 8 September 1993. The dispute thus came to an end

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Need For Political Institution

Governing a country involves various such activities. The government is responsible for ensuring security to the citizens and providing facilities for education and health to all. It collects taxes and spends the money thus raised on administration, defence and development programmes. It formulates and implements several welfare schemes.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Need For Political Insitiution

So some personhasto take decisions on how to go about these activities. Others have to implement these decisions. If disputes arise on these decisions or in their implementation, there should be someone to determine what is right and what is wrong. So if no one is there then how will a country work?

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

What is a political institution?

So, to attend to all these tasks, several arrangements are made in all modern democracies. Such arrangements are called institutions. So in Short the people who attends these tasks mape up the institution.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Different Institutions

1. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are institutions that take all important policy decisions.

2. The Civil Servants, working together, are responsible for taking steps to implement the ministers’ decisions.

3. Supreme Court is an institution where disputes between citizens and the government are finally settled.

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Why Institutions Over 1 Person?

Institutions involve meetings, committees and routines. This often leads to delays and complications. It might feel that it is much better to have one person take all decisions without any rules, procedures and meetings. But Instituion provide representintion to the wider set of peoples. Institutions make it difficult to have a good decision taken very quickly. But they also make it equally difficult to rush through a bad decision. That is why democratic governments insist on institutions over 1 person.

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Quiz Time!

Unit 1: How Is A Major Policy Decison Is Taken?

Multiple Choice

On ________ the Government of India issued The Order O. M. No. 36012/31/90-Est (SCT)? ( HINT: It was that Controversial order!)

• 31/9/93

• 31/12/90

• 08/9/93

• 13/08/90

• NOTA

Multiple Choice

The Prime Minister must have the support of a majority of ______ members.

• Cabinet

• Rajya Sabha

• Lok Sabha

• Union

• Civil

Open Ended

Why is there a need for political institutions? 3M

Answer

• To take decisions : Countries need political institutions to take decisions regarding the welfare of the people. Institutions formulate various policies and programmes.

• Implementation : The decisions which have been taken are to be implemented. So countries need institutions to implement the decisions.

• To solve the disputes : Institutions are also needed to solve the disputes between various institutions.

•  To take right decisions : Institutions help the governments to take the right decisions.

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Open Ended

What was Indira Sawhney and others Vs Union of India case? Explain it as a 2 Marker.

Answer

1) On Aug 13 1990 the indian govt. issued an order which stated that 27 per cent of the vacancies in civil posts and services under the indian govt. are reserved for the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).

2)​ Some persons and associations opposed to this order filed a number of cases in the courts. They appealed to the courts to declare the order invalid and stop its implementation. This case was called Indira Sawhney and others Vs Union of India case.

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Unit 2) Parliament

Working Of Institutions

Why do we need a parliament?

In a democracy elected representatives exercises supreme political authority on behalf of the people. In India such a national assembly of elected representatives is called Parliament. At the state level this is called Legislature or Legislative Assembly.

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Roles of the parliament

1 Parliament is the final authority for making laws in any country. Parliaments all over the world can make new laws, change existing laws, or abolish existing laws and make new ones in their place.

2 Parliaments all over the world exercise some control over those who run the government. In some countries like India this control is direct and full. Those who run the government can take decisions only so long as they enjoy support of Parliament.

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Roles Of The Parliament

3 Parliaments control all the money that governments have. In most countries the public money can be spent only when Parliament sanctions it.

4 Parliament is the highest forum of discussion and debate on public issues and national policy in any country. Parliament can seek information about any matter.​

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The 2 Houses Of The Parliament

The parliament is divided into 2 parts which are called chambers or houses. One House is usually directly elected by the people and exercises the real power on behalf of the people. The second House is usually elected indirectly and performs some special functions. The most common work for the second House is to look after the interests of various states, regions or federal units

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The Indian Parliament

In our country, Parliament consists of two Houses. The two Houses are known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The President of India is a part of Parliament, although he/ is not a member of either House. That is why all laws made in the Houses come into force only after they receive the assent of the President.

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There 250 Members

Min age to be a member is 30

Vice Prescident is the representative​\

It is a permanant body

Elected by State MLAS

They can suggest upon money bill​

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​Rajiya Sabha

There 552 Members

Min age to be a member is 25

The Speaker is the representative​

It is for 5 years

​Directly elected by people​

Money bill can be originated here​

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​Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha Vs Rajya Sabha

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Which One Is More Powerfull?

You may think that Rajiya Sabha is More powerfull as its the upperhouse. But thats juts an old way of speaking. In reality Lok Sabha the lower house has the supreme power.

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​Powers Of Lok Sabha

2 Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes the budget of the government or any other money related law, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes in it. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept these changes.

Subject | Subject

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​Powers Of Lok Sabha

3 Most importantly, the Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. They are the people who run the government. Only a person who enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the Lok Sabha is appointed the Prime Minister. If the majority of the Lok Sabha members say they have ‘no confidence’ in the Council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime Minister, have to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not have this power.

Subject | Subject

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​Powers Of Lok Sabha

Any ordinary law needs to be passed by both the Houses. But if there is a difference between the two Houses, the final decision is taken in a joint session in which members of both the Houses sit together. Because of the larger number of members, the view of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail in such a meeting.

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Quiz Time

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Multiple Choice

What is the length of the term of Rajyasabha?

• 6 years

• Permanent house

• 5 years

• 4 years

Open Ended

What are the various ways by which parliament exercises authority. 3M