CLASS-VII SOCIAL SCIENCE PART-2 LESSON -6 THE STATE, THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU (LESSON NOTES)

 

CLASS-VII

SOCIAL SCIENCE PART-2 LESSON -6

THE STATE, THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU

(LESSON NOTES)

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v Introduction

Ø Governance is the system through which a country or society is ruled and administered.

Ø Government is an essential institution that ensures order, welfare, and justice in society.

Ø This chapter explains the meaning of the state, government, democracy, republic, and the relationship between citizens and the government.

v What is a State?

Ø A state is a political organisation that has the authority to govern a defined territory and its population.

Ø A state is also referred to as a nation in political science.

Ø There are four main elements of state population, territory, Government, Sovereignty.

 

Ø Essential Elements of a State

1. Population

Ø Population refers to the people who live permanently within the territory of a state.

Ø A permanent population is necessary because a state cannot exist without people.

Ø People living together over time develop a shared culture, society, and identity.

2. Territory

Ø Territory means a clearly defined geographical area with recognised boundaries.

Ø These boundaries are agreed upon by neighbouring states.

Ø A state must have a fixed area over which it exercises authority.

3. Government

Ø Government is the system or group of people that makes and enforces laws for the state.

Ø It manages administration, governance, and public welfare.

Ø Government is only one part of the state and can change through elections.

4. Sovereignty

Ø Sovereignty means the supreme power of the state to make laws and decisions without external interference.

Ø No other country or authority can control the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

Ø Sovereignty is essential for a state to function independently.

v Difference Between State and Government

Ø The state is a permanent entity consisting of population, territory, government, and sovereignty.

Ø The government is temporary and may change after elections.

Ø The state remains the same even when governments change.

Ø Government acts on behalf of the state and represents it in daily affairs.

v What is a Government?

Ø Government is a system that runs the country and manages its daily administration.

Ø It includes elected leaders, ministers, and officials.

v Functions of Government

Ø The government makes laws through the legislature.

Ø The government implements laws and policies through the executive.

Ø The government resolves disputes and ensures justice through the judiciary.

v Organs of Government

1. Legislature

§  The legislature is the law-making body of the government.

§  It represents the people in a democracy.

§  Parliament makes laws for the whole country, while state legislatures make laws for their states.

2. Executive

§  The executive is responsible for implementing laws and making policies.

§  It manages the day-to-day administration of the country.

Ø Political Executive

§  The political executive consists of elected representatives such as the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers.

§  They take major policy decisions and represent the country.

§  Their tenure depends on elections generally 5 years and public support.

Ø Permanent Executive

§  The permanent executive consists of civil servants or bureaucrats.

§  They are appointed through competitive examinations like UPSC.

§  They provide expertise, implement policies, and ensure continuity in administration.

§  In India, the most well-known bureaucracies are the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

§  Some key functions of the bureaucracy are

§  Implementing laws, policies, and schemes: Bureaucrats ensure that laws and government programs and schemes passed by the political executive

§  are appropriately implemented across the country.

§  ƒ Creating a link between citizens and the government: Through various departments and field offices,bureaucrats interact with the public, deliver services such as public schools, roads, and hospitals, and address grievances.

§  ƒ Record-keeping and governance: They keep records of government work, decisions, and procedures.

3. Judiciary

§  The judiciary interprets laws and ensures they are followed.

§  It protects the Constitution and the fundamental rights of citizens.

§  The judiciary is independent of the legislature and executive.

v Police and Administration

Ø The police are part of the state government.

Ø They maintain law and order and protect citizens.

Ø The police work within the limits of the Constitution and respect citizens’ rights.

v Democracy and Republic

Ø Democracy

§  Democracy means rule by the people. (demos = people, kratos = rule).

§  In a democracy, people elect their representatives through free and fair elections.

§  India have the parliamentary democracy which means people elect their representatives for parliament.

§  The government is accountable to the people.

Ø Republic

§  A republic is a form of government where the head of state is elected and not hereditary.

§  Power is limited by the Constitution and laws.

§  All democratic country may not be republic as UK, Canada, and Sweden are democracies but not republics

Ø India as a Democratic Republic

§  India is both a democracy and a republic.

§  The President of India is the head of state who is elected indirectly.

§  The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens.

§  Majority rule is balanced by the protection of minority rights.

v Importance of the Constitution

Ø The Constitution limits the powers of the government.

Ø It ensures checks and balances among the three organs of government.

Ø It protects citizens from misuse of power.

v Protects the Rights of All

Ø India is a democratic republic, and its constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens.

Ø Constitutional provisions and the law ensure that rule by a representative majority does not violate the fundamental rights of any citizen.

Ø The rule of law is more powerful than the wishes of the majority in a democracy. This is how republics like India, France, and the USA defend against the ‘dominance of the majority’. It stops the powerful majority from unfairly hurting the rights of smaller groups.

Ø The Constitution ensures that no part of the government becomes too powerful. The elected leaders cannot pass laws that go against people’s basic rights  like freedom of speech, religion, or equality before the law

v Role of the Government in People’s Lives

Ø The government acts as protector by maintaining law and order.

Ø The government acts as provider by offering education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Ø The government acts as regulator by ensuring social justice and economic fairness.

v How Citizens Engage with the Government

Ø The Government of India plays the triple role of protector (law and defence), provider (public welfare and infrastructure), and regulator (of economic activity and social justice) Though the government is doing above the work even that people encounter many issues as difficult socio-economic conditions, lack of access to good education and healthcare, infrastructure that is of poor quality, inadequate access to government schemes. So the citizens can do these

Ø Grievance Redressal

§  Citizens can file complaints through grievance redressal mechanisms.

§  Online portals allow citizens to register complaints easily.

§  The concerned government department will respond within a specified time period.

Ø Right to Information

§  The Right to Information Act allows citizens to seek information about government actions.

§  It promotes transparency and accountability.

Ø Media

§  Citizens can use print, electronic, and social media to highlight issues.

§  Media plays a key role in democracy by informing people.

Ø Civil Society Organisations

§  NGOs and citizen groups work with and monitor the government.

§  They raise awareness and advocate for public welfare.

Ø Political Participation

§  Citizens can write to representatives and participate in elections.

§  Voting is a key duty in a democracy.

v Judiciary as the Watchdog

Ø In a democracy like India, the judiciary is independent — it is not controlled by the government or politicians. This helps keep justice fair and equal for all.

Ø Protects and defends the laws: It makes sure that the laws are followed properly.

Ø Interprets the laws: It explains what a law means when the wording is complex or when people disagree on its meaning.

Ø Protects the rights and liberty of citizens: It protects the rights and freedoms given by the Constitution. If fundamental rights are violated, we can go to court to address the violations.

Ø  Safeguards the Constitution through judicial review: It acts as a referee when the government or others break the law.

v Tiers of Government in India

Ø Central Government

§  The central government handles national matters like defence, foreign affairs, and currency.

Ø State Government

§  State governments manage subjects like police, health, agriculture, and education within the state.

Ø Local Government

§  Local governments manage village, town, and city-level issues.

§  Panchayats and municipalities form the third tier of government in 1992 by constitution amendment.

v Decentralisation

Ø Decentralisation means distributing power among different levels of government.

Ø Local governments solve local problems efficiently.

Ø Decentralisation strengthens democracy and accountability.

v Importance of Local Government

Ø Local leaders understand local needs better.

Ø People participate directly in decision-making.

Ø Governance becomes more transparent and responsive.

v Summary of the Lesson

Ø A state consists of population, territory, government, and sovereignty.

Ø Government is a part of the state and manages its administration.

Ø India is a democratic republic with an elected head of state.

Ø The Constitution ensures rights, limits power, and maintains balance among institutions.

Ø The legislature, executive, and judiciary are the three organs of government.

Ø Citizens play an active role in democracy through participation and accountability.

Ø Decentralisation strengthens governance by empowering local governments.

Ø In 1782, as the American War of Independence against Britain was ending, with General George Washington leading the American army.

Ø George Washington was chosen as the first President of the United States in 1789.

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Ø Chonira Belliappa Muthamma (1924– 2009), born in Karnataka, became the first woman to clear the examination for public services in 1948 and the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service in 1949.

Ø In 1970, the Kerala Government planned a massive hydroelectric project in the Silent Valley.

Ø One of the Directive Principles of State Policy listed in the Constitution was: “The state shall take steps to organise village panchayats.

Ø Mahatma Gandhi was a strong advocate of decentralisation and strongly believed in largely self-sufficient village governments called grām swarāj.

Ø NCPCR = National Council for the Protection of Child Rights

Ø ** SCPCR = State Council for the Protection of Child Rights