Class 9 : Social Science (In English) – Lesson 9. Working of Institutions
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
📍 1. Why Do We Need Political Institutions?
⚖️ Institutions are structured bodies that perform government functions.
🏛️ Without institutions, decisions would depend only on individuals, risking misuse of power.
📋 They ensure rules, continuity, and accountability.
👥 Examples: Parliament, Prime Minister, Judiciary, Civil Services.
🏛️ 2. Parliament – The Supreme Law-Making Body
👥 Parliament consists of Lok Sabha (House of the People) + Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
📜 Functions:
Makes laws for the whole country.
Controls money matters (passes budget).
Holds government accountable (through Question Hour, motions, debates).
Represents people’s will.
🗳️ Lok Sabha → directly elected; Rajya Sabha → indirectly elected, representing states.
⚖️ In joint sessions, Lok Sabha’s decision prevails due to larger strength.
👤 3. Political Executive – Who Runs the Government?
🌟 Political executive = elected leaders (President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers).
📜 Real power lies with political executive, not permanent civil servants.
⚖️ Permanent civil service advises, but final decision rests with elected leaders.
👥 Advantage → political executive represents people’s will.
🇮🇳 4. The President of India
🏛️ Head of State; Supreme Commander of Armed Forces.
📋 Elected indirectly for 5 years by MPs and MLAs.
⚖️ Powers:
Appoints PM, ministers, judges, ambassadors, governors.
Gives assent to bills, issues ordinances.
Summons and dissolves Parliament.
👤 Functions as constitutional head; acts on advice of Council of Ministers.
👨⚖️ 5. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
🌟 Prime Minister = Head of Government, real executive authority.
📊 Powers of PM:
Decides policies and agenda of government.
Leads Council of Ministers.
Represents country internationally.
Advises President in all appointments.
👥 Council of Ministers:
Cabinet Ministers (senior, head important ministries like Defence, Finance).
Ministers of State.
Deputy Ministers.
🏛️ Collective responsibility → all ministers responsible to Lok Sabha.
🏛️ 6. Judiciary – Guardian of the Constitution
⚖️ Independent from executive and legislature.
👨⚖️ Supreme Court → highest authority, headed by Chief Justice of India.
📋 Functions:
Interprets Constitution.
Protects Fundamental Rights.
Resolves disputes between centre and states.
Exercises judicial review (can strike down unconstitutional laws).
🕊️ Ensures rule of law and equality before law.
📊 7. Example of Decision-Making – Mandal Commission Case
📅 1990: Government decided to reserve 27% jobs for OBCs.
⚔️ Debate and protests followed.
🏛️ Parliament discussed it; Judiciary reviewed it.
⚖️ Supreme Court upheld reservations but fixed 50% overall cap.
📌 Shows: decisions pass through institutions (Parliament, Executive, Judiciary).
⚔️ 8. Why Are Institutions Necessary?
🕊️ Ensure balance of power.
📜 Provide transparency and accountability.
👥 Represent people’s voices.
🔁 Prevent arbitrary rule by one person.
⚖️ Ensure stability, continuity, and legitimacy of democracy.
📝 Summary (~200 words)
The chapter “Working of Institutions” explains how decisions are taken and implemented in India through political institutions. Parliament is the supreme law-making body, representing people, controlling money, and checking the government. The President is the constitutional head, while the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers hold real power and take day-to-day decisions. The Judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court, is independent and ensures laws and government actions follow the Constitution.
The Mandal Commission case illustrates how issues pass through institutions, ensuring debate, judicial review, and legitimacy. Institutions are essential because they prevent misuse of power, distribute authority, provide accountability, and strengthen democracy. Together, Parliament, Executive, and Judiciary make India’s democracy functional and trustworthy.
⚡ Quick Recap (~100 words)
🏛️ Institutions = bodies like Parliament, Executive, Judiciary → make and implement decisions.
📜 Parliament → makes laws, passes budget, holds govt accountable.
👤 President → Head of State, acts on advice of ministers.
👨⚖️ PM & Council → real executive, decide policies, run govt.
⚖️ Judiciary → independent, protects Constitution & Fundamental Rights.
📊 Example: Mandal Commission → shows decisions go through multiple institutions.
👉 Importance → prevent arbitrary rule, ensure accountability, strengthen democracy.
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QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK
🔵 Question 1. If you are elected as the President of India which of the following decisions can you take on your own?
(a) Select the person you like as Prime Minister.
(b) Dismiss a Prime Minister who has a majority in Lok Sabha.
(c) Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both Houses.
(d) Nominate the leaders of your choice to the Council of Ministers.
🟢 Answer: (c) Ask for reconsideration of a bill passed by both Houses.
🔵 Question 2. Who among the following is part of the political executive?
(a) District Collector
(b) Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Home Minister
(d) Director General of Police
🟢 Answer: (c) Home Minister
🔵 Question 3. Which of the following statements about the judiciary is false?
(a) Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval of the Supreme Court.
(b) Judiciary can strike down a law if it goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
(c) Judiciary is independent of the Executive.
(d) Any citizen can approach the courts if her rights are violated.
🟢 Answer: (a) Every law passed by the Parliament needs approval of the Supreme Court.
🔵 Question 4. Which of the following institutions can make changes to an existing law of the country?
(a) The Supreme Court
(b) The President
(c) The Prime Minister
(d) The Parliament
🟢 Answer: (d) The Parliament
🔵 Question 5. Match the ministry with the news:
a. A new policy to increase jute exports → iv. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
b. Telephone services to rural areas → v. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
c. Price of rice/wheat under PDS goes down → ii. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution
d. Pulse polio campaign → iii. Ministry of Health
e. Allowances of soldiers at high altitudes → i. Ministry of Defence
🔵 Question 6. Of all the institutions, name which exercises power on:
(a) Decision on allocation of money for roads, irrigation, welfare → The Parliament
(b) Considers recommendation of a Committee on a law to regulate stock exchange → The Parliament
(c) Decides on a legal dispute between two state governments → The Supreme Court
(d) Implements decision to provide relief for earthquake victims → The Civil Services (Executive)
🔵 Question 7. Why is the Prime Minister in India not directly elected by the people?
🟢 Answer:
In a Parliamentary democracy, only the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha becomes Prime Minister.
Direct election would require huge expenditure and may destabilise the system.
Lok Sabha can remove the PM through no-confidence, ensuring accountability.
👉 Hence, option (a) and (b) are most appropriate.
🔵 Question 8. Film showed hero becoming CM for a day and making changes. Imran liked it, Rizwan called it personal rule, Shankar said it was fantasy. What is your reaction?
🟢 Answer:
Personal rule without institutions is dangerous.
No minister can make big changes alone; decisions pass through Parliament, Cabinet, Judiciary.
Shankar’s view is correct: governance requires institutions, not one-day rulers.
🔵 Question 9. A teacher asked students to act as leaders of two political parties in mock parliament. Option: majority in Lok Sabha or majority in Rajya Sabha. Which would you choose and why?
🟢 Answer:
Majority in Lok Sabha is more powerful.
Government survives only if it has majority support in Lok Sabha.
Rajya Sabha can delay bills, but Lok Sabha controls money matters and confidence vote.
🔵 Question 10. Reservation order example: students gave views. Which is correct?
(a) Srinivas: Judiciary not independent because it agreed with govt.
(b) Anjaiah: Judiciary independent because it could have given verdict against govt.
(c) Vijaya: Judiciary is neither conformist nor rigid; it mediates fairly.
🟢 Answer: (c) Vijaya’s view is correct — Judiciary balances interests, strikes down unconstitutional actions, acts as mediator.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS
🌟 SECTION A — Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
🔵 Q1. Who is the real head of the Indian government?
(A) President of India
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Chief Justice of India
(D) Speaker of Lok Sabha
🟢 Answer: (B) Prime Minister
🔵 Q2. The President of India is elected by:
(A) Direct vote of all citizens
(B) Lok Sabha only
(C) MPs and MLAs jointly
(D) Supreme Court judges
🟢 Answer: (C) MPs and MLAs jointly
🔵 Q3. Which House of Parliament is more powerful in money matters?
(A) Lok Sabha
(B) Rajya Sabha
(C) Both equally powerful
(D) President
🟢 Answer: (A) Lok Sabha
🔵 Q4. Who presides over the joint session of Parliament?
(A) Vice President
(B) President
(C) Speaker of Lok Sabha
(D) Prime Minister
🟢 Answer: (C) Speaker of Lok Sabha
🔵 Q5. Who appoints the Prime Minister of India?
(A) Lok Sabha
(B) President of India
(C) Rajya Sabha
(D) Supreme Court
🟢 Answer: (B) President of India
🔵 Q6. The Mandal Commission was related to:
(A) Electoral Reforms
(B) Caste-based Reservation
(C) Women Empowerment
(D) Judicial Reforms
🟢 Answer: (B) Caste-based Reservation
🔵 Q7. Which organ of government interprets the Constitution?
(A) Parliament
(B) Supreme Court
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Election Commission
🟢 Answer: (B) Supreme Court
🔵 Q8. Who is the constitutional head of the State?
(A) Governor
(B) Chief Minister
(C) President
(D) Prime Minister
🟢 Answer: (C) President
🔵 Q9. Collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers is to:
(A) President
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Lok Sabha
(D) Rajya Sabha
🟢 Answer: (C) Lok Sabha
🔵 Q10. Which institution has the final authority to interpret the Constitution?
(A) Parliament
(B) President
(C) Supreme Court
(D) Prime Minister
🟢 Answer: (C) Supreme Court
🔵 Q11. What is the tenure of the Rajya Sabha?
(A) 5 years
(B) 6 years, 1/3rd members retire every 2 years
(C) 6 years, all retire together
(D) 4 years
🟢 Answer: (B) 6 years, 1/3rd members retire every 2 years
🔵 Q12. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court?
(A) Parliament
(B) President of India
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Chief Justice
🟢 Answer: (B) President of India
🔵 Q13. Which House is called the “House of the People”?
(A) Rajya Sabha
(B) Lok Sabha
(C) State Assembly
(D) Legislative Council
🟢 Answer: (B) Lok Sabha
🔵 Q14. The minimum age to contest Lok Sabha election is:
(A) 18 years
(B) 21 years
(C) 25 years
(D) 30 years
🟢 Answer: (C) 25 years
🔵 Q15. Which of these institutions ensures that laws are implemented?
(A) Executive
(B) Legislature
(C) Judiciary
(D) Election Commission
🟢 Answer: (A) Executive
🔵 Q16. Which body resolves disputes between Union and State governments?
(A) Lok Sabha
(B) Rajya Sabha
(C) Supreme Court
(D) Prime Minister
🟢 Answer: (C) Supreme Court
🔵 Q17. Who is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha?
(A) President
(B) Speaker
(C) Vice President
(D) Prime Minister
🟢 Answer: (C) Vice President
🔵 Q18. Who among the following is part of the permanent executive?
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Members of Parliament
(C) Civil Servants
(D) Governor
🟢 Answer: (C) Civil Servants
🔵 Q19. Which institution has power to amend the Constitution?
(A) Parliament
(B) Supreme Court
(C) Prime Minister
(D) President
🟢 Answer: (A) Parliament
🌟 SECTION B — Very Short Answer (2 marks each)
🔵 Q20. What do you mean by political executive?
🟢 The group of elected leaders (Prime Minister, President, Council of Ministers) who take final decisions in governance.
🔵 Q21. What is meant by collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers?
🟢 The entire Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. If Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion, the whole Council resigns.
🔵 Q22. Who presides over the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament?
🟢 The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
🔵 Q23. Who is the real executive authority in India?
🟢 The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
🌟 SECTION C — Short Answer (3 marks each)
🔵 Q24. Mention three functions of the Parliament.
🟢
Makes new laws and amends existing ones.
Controls money matters, passes the budget.
Exercises control over the government through debates, motions, and questions.
🔵 Q25. How is the Prime Minister appointed in India?
🟢
President appoints the PM.
Usually leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha is chosen.
If no clear majority → President invites leader who can prove majority support.
🔵 Q26. Distinguish between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
🟢
Lok Sabha → directly elected, 543 members, 5-year term, controls government.
Rajya Sabha → indirectly elected, 245 members, 6-year staggered term, reviews bills.
🔵 Q27. Give three reasons why institutions are necessary in a democracy.
🟢
Prevent misuse of power by one person.
Ensure debate, transparency, and accountability.
Provide stability and continuity in governance.
🔵 Q28. Why is judiciary called the guardian of the Constitution?
🟢
It interprets the Constitution.
Protects Fundamental Rights.
Exercises judicial review, can strike down unconstitutional laws.
🌟 SECTION D — Long Answer (5 marks each)
🔵 Q29. Explain the powers and functions of the President of India.
🟢
Constitutional head of state.
Appoints PM, ministers, judges, ambassadors, governors.
Summons and dissolves Parliament.
Assents to bills, issues ordinances.
Supreme Commander of Armed Forces.
👉 Functions as nominal head, acts on advice of Council of Ministers.
🔵 Q30. Describe the role and powers of the Prime Minister in India.
🟢
Head of government and real executive authority.
Leads Council of Ministers and allocates portfolios.
Decides policies and agenda of government.
Represents India at international forums.
Advises President in appointments.
🔵 Q31. What are the powers of the Supreme Court?
🟢
Original jurisdiction → disputes between centre and states.
Appellate jurisdiction → hears appeals against High Courts.
Guardian of Fundamental Rights.
Judicial review of laws.
Advisory role to President.
🔵 Q32. “Parliament is the supreme law-making body in India.” Justify.
🟢
Can make new laws or amend existing ones.
Controls budget and public money.
Represents will of the people.
Can amend the Constitution.
Holds the executive accountable.
🌟 SECTION E — Case/Source-Based (4 marks each)
🔵 Q33. Case: In the Mandal Commission case, government decided to give OBC reservations. Protests followed, Supreme Court reviewed it.
(i) Which institution took the decision? (1)
(ii) Which institution reviewed it? (1)
(iii) What does this show about institutions? (2)
🟢 Answer:
(i) Executive (Government).
(ii) Judiciary (Supreme Court).
(iii) Shows that decisions pass through multiple institutions ensuring checks, debate, and legitimacy.
🔵 Q34. Source: A Prime Minister enjoys majority in Lok Sabha but loses confidence motion. What happens?
🟢 Answer:
PM must resign.
Entire Council of Ministers also resigns.
New government formed or fresh elections held.
🔵 Q35. Case: Parliament passes a law, President gives assent, Supreme Court declares it unconstitutional.
🟢 Answer:
Shows judiciary’s power of judicial review.
Ensures supremacy of Constitution.
Demonstrates separation of powers.
🌟 SECTION F — Map/Skill (5 marks)
🔵 Q36. On an outline map of India, mark and label the following institutions’ locations:
🟢 Answer:
Parliament House → New Delhi
Supreme Court of India → New Delhi
Rashtrapati Bhavan → New Delhi
Prime Minister’s Office (South Block) → New Delhi
🔵 Q37. For visually impaired candidates: Write four reasons why the Prime Minister is the most powerful institution in India.
🟢 Answer:
Leader of majority in Lok Sabha.
Controls Council of Ministers.
Decides government policies.
Represents India at global level.
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