Grassroots Democracy-Chapter Review and Key Points Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 10. Grassroots Democracy

This chapter explains the meaning and importance of governance, government and democracy. It introduces the three organs and three levels of government in India and explains how democratic governance enables citizens to participate in decisions that affect their lives.

Chapter Review

Introduction

• Human beings have been living together in communities for a very long time.
• When many people live together, disagreements and disorder may arise.
• Rules are necessary to maintain order and harmony in society.
• Rules exist at home, in schools, workplaces and on roads.
• Without rules, society would not be able to function properly.
• The process of taking decisions and organising society according to rules is called governance.
• Governance also includes ensuring that rules are followed.
• The group of individuals or system that makes rules and ensures that they are followed is called government.
• Some of the most important rules made by the government are called laws.
• Rules and laws are not necessarily permanent and may be changed when required.
• Citizens can have a say in the laws and rules that govern society.
• Good governance requires proper institutions and systems for making and implementing decisions.
• Modern governments perform different functions through different organs.
• In India, government works at local, State and national levels.
• Democracy provides the overall framework for people's participation in governance.
• In a democracy, people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
• Grassroots democracy encourages ordinary citizens to participate in decisions affecting them.

Important Definitions

Important Terms

• Governance
• Government
• Rules
• Laws
• Legislature
• Executive
• Judiciary
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Three Levels of Government
• Local Government
• State Government
• Central Government
• Democracy
• Voting
• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy
• Grassroots Democracy
• MLA
• MP
• Lok Sabha
• Rajya Sabha
• Vidhan Sabha
• Supreme Court
• High Court
• Nominal Head

Governance and Government

• Governance involves taking decisions and organising the life of society.
• It involves making different sets of rules.
• It also involves ensuring that the rules are followed.
• Government is the group or system responsible for making and enforcing rules.
• Laws are among the most important rules governing society.
• Citizens can participate in discussions and processes that may lead to changes in rules and laws.

Three Organs of Government

• A modern government has three main organs or branches.
• Legislature – Makes new laws and may update or remove existing laws.
• Executive – Implements laws and is responsible for administration and law and order.
• Judiciary – Courts interpret laws, decide whether laws have been broken and determine appropriate action.
• The judiciary may also examine whether executive decisions are appropriate.
• It may also examine whether laws made by the legislature are properly conceived and fair.

Separation of Powers

• The three organs of government are kept separate in a system of good governance.
• They can still interact with one another and work together.
• This arrangement is called the separation of powers.
• Separation of powers helps prevent excessive concentration of power.
• It provides a system of checks and balances.
• Each organ can check the actions of the other organs.
• Checks and balances help restore balance if an organ acts beyond its expected role.

Three Levels of Government

• Democratic government operates at multiple levels.
• In India, government functions at three levels or tiers.
• Local Government – Functions at the town or village level.
• State Government – Functions at the State level.
• Central or Union Government – Functions at the national level.
• Different levels deal with different kinds of matters.
• The three levels can cooperate when a problem is too large for one level to handle alone.

Example of Three Levels of Government

• A flood affecting a small area may be handled by local authorities.
• If the flood affects several towns and villages, the State Government may provide assistance.
• If a massive flood affects a very large area, the Central Government may also provide relief.
• The Central Government may send relief supplies and the army when necessary.
• This example demonstrates the importance of different levels of government.

Functions of the Central Government

• Defence
• Foreign Affairs
• Atomic Energy
• Communications
• Currency
• Inter-state Commerce
• Education
• Formulation of national policies

Functions of the State Government

• Police, law and order
• Adaptation and implementation of Central Government laws at the State level
• Public health
• Education
• Agriculture
• Irrigation
• Local government

Central and State Government Leadership

• At the national level, the President of India is the nominal head.
• The Prime Minister is the executive head of the Central Government.
• The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
• At the State level, the Governor is the nominal head.
• The Chief Minister is the executive head of the State Government.

Legislature at National and State Levels

• At the national level, the legislature consists of two Houses.
• These are the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• They formulate national laws.
• At the State level, the legislature generally has a Vidhan Sabha.
• Most States have a single legislative assembly.
• A few States have two Houses.

Judiciary at National and State Levels

• The Supreme Court of India is the highest court at the national level.
• The High Courts function at the State level.
• Courts decide whether laws have been broken.
• Courts may determine the appropriate course of action or punishment.
• The judiciary can also examine decisions of the executive and laws made by the legislature.

Nominal Head

• The President of India and Governor of a State are nominal heads in the normal functioning of government.
• The President normally does not interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the Central Government.
• The Governor normally does not interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the State Government.
• They may have certain powers under special circumstances.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, in 1931.
• He was a renowned scientist.
• He played an important role in India's space programme, missile programme and nuclear capabilities.
• He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
• He remained deeply connected with people, especially the youth.
• He promoted education, innovation, hard work and dedication.
• His life demonstrates that even a nominal position can be used to inspire and influence millions of people.

Democracy

• The word democracy comes from two Greek words: dēmos meaning people and kratos meaning rule or power.
• Democracy literally means the rule of the people.
• It is not practical for every citizen to directly participate in every decision at the national level.
• Therefore, people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
• At the State level, elected representatives are generally called MLAs.
• At the national level, elected representatives are called MPs.
• Representatives discuss laws, problems and possible solutions in legislative assemblies.
• They use dialogue and debate to deal with different opinions.
• India is a representative democracy.
• All Indian citizens above the age of 18 have the right to participate in elections, subject to the applicable electoral rules.

Direct Democracy

• In direct democracy, people directly participate in taking a decision.
• Voting by students to choose between two picnic destinations is an example of direct democracy.
• The option receiving the larger number of votes is selected.
• Every participant's opinion directly contributes to the final decision.

Representative Democracy

• In representative democracy, citizens elect representatives.
• The representatives take part in decision-making on behalf of the people.
• India follows a representative democratic system.
• MLAs represent people at the State level.
• MPs represent people at the national level.

Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy – Difference

Grassroots Democracy

• Grassroots democracy focuses on the participation of ordinary citizens.
• The word grassroots refers to the base or ordinary people of society.
• Grassroots democracy enables citizens to have a say in decisions affecting them.
• It encourages participation from the local level upwards.
• Citizen participation is an important feature of democratic governance.

Important Mottos

• Satyameva Jayate – “Truth alone triumphs.”
• It is the motto of the Government of India.
• Yato Dharmastato Jayah – “Where there is dharma, there is victory.”
• It is the motto of the Supreme Court.

5 Minute Revision (Quick Revision)

• ✔ Governance = decision-making, organising society and ensuring rules are followed.
• ✔ Government = system or group that makes and enforces rules.
• ✔ Important rules made by government are called laws.
• ✔ Three organs = Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
• ✔ Legislature = makes laws.
• ✔ Executive = implements laws.
• ✔ Judiciary = interprets laws and decides legal disputes and violations.
• ✔ Separation of powers keeps the three organs separate.
• ✔ Checks and balances prevent misuse or excessive concentration of power.
• ✔ Three levels = Local, State and Central/Union Government.
• ✔ President = nominal head of the Union; Prime Minister = executive head.
• ✔ Governor = nominal head of the State; Chief Minister = executive head.
• ✔ Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha = Houses of Parliament.
• ✔ Vidhan Sabha = State Legislative Assembly.
• ✔ Supreme Court = highest court at the national level.
• ✔ Democracy = rule or power of the people.
• ✔ Direct democracy = people directly take part in decisions.
• ✔ Representative democracy = elected representatives take decisions.
• ✔ India is a representative democracy.
• ✔ Grassroots democracy = participation of ordinary citizens in decisions affecting them.

Exam Booster

• Governance और government की definitions और उनके बीच का संबंध समझें।
• Three organs of government और उनके functions अवश्य याद करें।
• Separation of powers और checks and balances का महत्व समझें।
• India में government के three levels—Local, State और Central—याद रखें।
• Central Government और State Government के प्रमुख functions को समझें।
• President, Prime Minister, Governor और Chief Minister की roles में अंतर समझें।
• Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Supreme Court और High Court से संबंधित facts याद रखें।
• Democracy शब्द की Greek origin—dēmos और kratos—याद रखें।
• Direct democracy और representative democracy में अंतर अवश्य समझें।
• MLA और MP के अर्थ तथा उनके levels याद रखें।
• Grassroots democracy की definition और importance समझें।
• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam के President के रूप में योगदान और उनके inspirational role को याद रखें।
• Satyameva Jayate और Yato Dharmastato Jayah के अर्थ याद रखें।

All Topics Chapter Grassroots Democracy

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Governance
• 3. Democracy