Que: What do you understand by the word ‘government’? List five ways in which you think the government effects your daily life.
Ans:
The word government refers to a governing body that makes decisions and gets things done for the welfare of its citizens.The government provides legal supports to its citizens against any discrimination and injustice.
(i) It maintains peace and so keeps society in order.
(ii) It controls crime.
(iii) It assists people to lead proper life.
(iv) In the event of natural calamities, the government provides all emergency assistance to the affected people.
Que: Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
Ans:
The government needs laws to maintain peace and order in society. Law establishes justice. It is mend to achieve constitutional ideas Le. equality and right against discrimination. Law makes it compulsory for the people to obey it.
Que: Name two essential features of a democratic government.
Ans:
Two essential features of a democratic government are :
(i) Democracy is a rule by the people. It is people who rule themselves by participating in the making of these rules.
(ii) In a democracy people have the power to elect their leaders. These leaders or representatives meet and make decisions for the entire population.
Que: What was the suffrage movement? What did it accomplish?
Ans:
The movement for voting rights to women came to be known as the suffrage movement. All over Europe and USA, women and the poor have had to fight for participation in the government. Women’s struggle to vote got strengthened during the first world war. During the War, many men were away fighting and because of this women were called upon to do work that was earlier considered men’s work. Thus, women got opportunity to show their capability. People as a whole got disillusioned. They began demanding the right to vote for all women. The result was positive. American women got the right to vote in 1920 while women in the UK got the right to vote on the same terms as men some years later, in 1928.
Que: Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don’t share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class.
Ans:
All citizens are equal. The constitution aims at providing all equality to all its citizens.
- We have no right to discriminate any one on the basis of poverty.
- An illiterate is also a citizen of India. He should not be debarred from voting right on the basis of his illiteracy.
- Our constitution provides equal voting rights to all its citizens.
- As ideal citizens we all have to abide by the constitutional provisions. We must honour human dignity and legal provisions.
