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The NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 5: Legislature from the textbook Indian Constitution at Work explores the significance of the legislature as a key organ of democracy, responsible for law-making, representing public opinion, and controlling the executive. It discusses the structure of legislatures (unicameral and bicameral systems), the functions of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in India, and the role of parliamentary committees in ensuring effective governance. This section provides detailed solutions to the chapter’s exercise questions, offering clear explanations to help students understand the complexities of the legislative process and prepare for exams.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 5: Legislature
This section provides clear solutions for Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 5: Legislature. The detailed explanations below help students understand the subject thoroughly.
Exercise
1. Alok thinks that a country needs an efficient government that looks after the welfare of the people. So, if we simply elected our Prime Minister and Ministers and left to them the task of government, we will not need a legislature. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
2. A class was debating the merits of a bicameral system. The following points were made during the discussion. Read the arguments and say if you agree or disagree with each of them, giving reasons.
- Neha said that a bicameral legislature does not serve any purpose.
- Shama argued that experts should be nominated in the second chamber.
- Tridib said that if a country is not a federation, then there is no need to have a second chamber.
3. Why can the Lok Sabha control the executive more effectively than the Rajya Sabha can?
4. Rather than effective control of the executive, the Lok Sabha is a platform for the expression of popular sentiments and people’s expectations. Do you agree? Give reasons.
5. The following are some proposals for making the Parliament more effective. State if you agree or disagree with each of them and give your reasons. Explain what would be the effect if these suggestions were accepted.
- Parliament should work for longer period.
- Attendance should be made compulsory for members of Parliament.
- Speakers should be empowered to penalise members for interrupting the proceedings of the House.
6. Arif wanted to know that if ministers propose most of the important bills and if the majority party often gets the government bills passed, what is the role of the Parliament in the law making process? What answer would you give him?
7. Which of the following statements you agree with the most? Give your reasons.
- Legislators must be free to join any party they want.
- Anti-defection law has contributed to the domination of the party leaders over the legislators.
- Defection is always for selfish purposes and therefore, a legislator who wants to join another party must be disqualified from being a minister for the next two years.
8. Dolly and Sudha are debating about the efficiency and effectiveness of the Parliament in recent times. Dolly believed that the decline of Indian Parliament is evident in the less time spent on debate and discussion and increase in the disturbances of the functioning of
the House and walkouts etc. Sudha contends that the fall of different governments on the floor of Lok Sabha is a proof of its vibrancy. What other arguments can you provide to support or oppose the positions of Dolly and Sudha?
9. Arrange the different stages of passing of a bill into a law in their correct sequence:.
- A resolution is passed to admit the bill for discussion
- The bill is referred to the President of India – write what happens next if s/he does not sign it
- The bill is referred to other House and is passed
- The bill is passed in the house in which it was proposed
- The bill is read clause by clause and each is voted upon
- The bill is referred to the subcommittee – the committee makes some changes and sends it back to the house for discussion
- The concerned minister proposes the need for a bill
- Legislative department in ministry of law, drafts a bill
10. How has the system of parliamentary committee affected the overseeing and appraisal of legislation by the Parliament?
Also Read:
- NCERT Notes Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 3: Election and Representation (Free PDF)
- NCERT Notes Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory Chapter 7: Nationalism (Free PDF)
Solutions:
- I disagree with Alok’s view that electing a Prime Minister and Ministers eliminates the need for a legislature. The legislature is a cornerstone of democracy with critical functions beyond what the executive can perform:
- Law-making: The legislature (Parliament in India) enacts laws (Article 245), ensuring they reflect public needs and undergo debate, unlike the executive, which only proposes bills.
- Representation: It represents diverse public opinions, ensuring policies align with people’s interests, which an elected executive alone cannot guarantee.
- Executive Accountability: The legislature controls the executive through mechanisms like question hour and no-confidence motions (Article 75(3)), preventing misuse of power.
- Deliberation: It provides a platform for discussion, ensuring laws and policies are scrutinized, unlike an executive-driven system that risks authoritarianism.
Without a legislature, the executive could become unaccountable, undermining democracy and welfare.
- Neha’s Argument: Disagree. A bicameral legislature serves multiple purposes. The second chamber (e.g., Rajya Sabha) ensures checks and balances by reviewing bills passed by the lower house, preventing hasty legislation. It represents diverse interests, such as states in a federation (Article 80), and provides continuity, as it is not dissolved like the Lok Sabha. For example, the Rajya Sabha’s role in federal representation strengthens India’s unity in diversity.
Tridib’s Argument: Disagree. While federal countries often have bicameral legislatures to represent states (e.g., Rajya Sabha in India), non-federal countries also benefit from a second chamber. It provides a platform for sober second thought, expert input, and prevents majoritarian dominance. For instance, the UK’s House of Lords, in a unitary state, refines legislation. A second chamber ensures broader representation and legislative scrutiny, regardless of federalism.
Shama’s Argument: Agree. Nominating experts to the second chamber, as done in India’s Rajya Sabha (Article 80(3)), enhances legislative quality. Experts bring specialised knowledge, enriching debates on complex issues like technology or economics. However, their influence should be balanced with elected representatives to maintain democratic accountability.
- The Lok Sabha controls the executive more effectively than the Rajya Sabha due to its constitutional powers and democratic structure:
- Direct Elections: Lok Sabha members are directly elected by the people (Article 81), making it the primary representative of public will, unlike the indirectly elected Rajya Sabha (Article 80).
- No-Confidence Motion: The Lok Sabha can move a no-confidence motion (Article 75(3)) to remove the government, a power the Rajya Sabha lacks, ensuring stronger executive accountability.
- Money Bills: Only the Lok Sabha can initiate and pass Money Bills (Article 109), giving it greater control over financial policy, a key tool to influence the executive.
- Dissolution: The Lok Sabha can be dissolved, aligning the executive’s tenure with its confidence, while the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body, reducing its leverage. These powers make the Lok Sabha the dominant chamber in executive oversight.
- I partially agree that the Lok Sabha is a platform for expressing popular sentiments, but it is also effective in controlling the executive.
- Expression of Sentiments: As a directly elected body (Article 81), the Lok Sabha reflects public opinion through debates, question hour, and discussions on issues like unemployment or farmers’ welfare. For example, MPs raise constituency concerns during Zero Hour, amplifying people’s expectations.
- Executive Control: The Lok Sabha exercises significant control through no-confidence motions (Article 75(3)), budget approval (Article 112), and scrutiny via committees. For instance, rejecting a Money Bill can destabilise the government.
While expressing public sentiments is a key role, the Lok Sabha’s constitutional powers ensure it also effectively controls the executive, balancing both functions.
- Here are my opinions for my given statement
- Parliament should work for a longer period: Agree. Extending Parliament’s working days would allow more time for debates, bill scrutiny, and addressing public issues. Currently, sessions are often short, limiting legislative output. Effect: More comprehensive law-making, better oversight of the executive, and increased public engagement, though it may increase operational costs.
- Speakers should be empowered to penalise members for interruptions: Agree. Disruptions like walkouts reduce Parliament’s efficiency. Empowering Speakers to impose penalties (e.g., suspension) would ensure discipline. Effect: Smoother proceedings and focused debates, but excessive penalties could curb legitimate dissent if not balanced.
- Attendance should be made compulsory: Agree. Low attendance undermines Parliament’s role in representation and oversight. Mandatory attendance would ensure MPs fulfill their duties. Effect: Enhanced legislative participation and accountability, though enforcement must avoid infringing MPs’ autonomy.
- The Parliament plays a crucial role in the law-making process, even if ministers propose bills and the majority party supports them:
- Scrutiny and Debate: Parliament debates bills clause by clause, ensuring they align with public interest. Opposition MPs raise concerns, refining legislation (Article 107).
- Committee Review: Parliamentary committees scrutinise bills, suggesting amendments for clarity and fairness.
- Public Representation: MPs reflect diverse public views, ensuring laws address varied needs, beyond the government’s agenda.
- Checks and Balances: Parliament prevents hasty or biased legislation, as bills require approval from both houses (except Money Bills). For example, the Finance Bill undergoes extensive debate, ensuring fiscal policies are scrutinised. Parliament’s role is to refine, legitimise, and democratise the law-making process.
- I agree most with the statement: Anti-defection law has contributed to the domination of the party leaders over the legislators.
- Legislators must be free to join any party: Disagree. Unrestricted defection undermines voter mandates and party stability. The Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule) prevents this by disqualifying defectors, ensuring democratic accountability.
- Defection for selfish purposes and disqualification from ministerial posts: Partially agree. Defections are often driven by personal gain, but a two-year ministerial ban is arbitrary and may not address root causes. The Tenth Schedule already penalizes defection effectively.
- Anti-defection law and party leader domination: Agree. The Anti-Defection Law binds legislators to party whips, reducing their independence (Tenth Schedule, Article 2(1)(b)). This strengthens party leaders’ control, limiting MPs’ ability to vote based on conscience or constituency needs, as seen in cases where dissent is stifled.
- Supporting Dolly’s Position (Decline of Parliament):
- Reduced Productivity: Frequent adjournments due to protests reduce legislative output. For example, data shows Parliament sessions often lose hours to disruptions.
- Weakened Deliberation: Limited debate time compromises bill scrutiny, leading to poorly drafted laws.
- Public Perception: Walkouts and chaos erode public trust in Parliament’s ability to address issues like inflation or unemployment.
Opposing Dolly’s Position: - Robust Opposition: Disruptions reflect active opposition, ensuring diverse voices challenge the government.
Supporting Sudha’s Position (Vibrancy of Parliament): - Executive Accountability: The fall of governments (e.g., 1999 Vajpayee government) via no-confidence motions shows the Lok Sabha’s power to hold the executive accountable (Article 75(3)).
- Dynamic Debates: Even disruptions highlight engagement with critical issues, reflecting democratic vibrancy.
Opposing Sudha’s Position: - Instability: Frequent government collapses can destabilise governance, delaying policy implementation.
- Focus on Politics: Floor tests often prioritise political manoeuvring over public welfare.
Both perspectives highlight Parliament’s challenges and strengths, but its effectiveness depends on balancing debate with discipline.
- Correct Sequence:
- The concerned minister proposes the need for a bill.
- The legislative department in ministry of law, drafts a bill.
- A resolution is passed to admit the bill for discussion.
- The bill is referred to the subcommittee – the committee makes some changes and sends it back to the house for discussion.
- The bill is read clause by clause and each is voted upon.
- The bill is passed in the house in which it was proposed.
- The bill is referred to other House and is passed.
- The bill is referred to the President of India.
If the President does not sign the bill: Under Article 111, the President may: - Assent: The bill becomes law.
- Withhold Assent: The bill fails (rare, except for Money Bills).
- Return for Reconsideration: For non-Money Bills, the President can return it to Parliament with suggestions. If both houses pass it again (with or without amendments), the President must assent.
- The system of parliamentary committees significantly enhances Parliament’s oversight and appraisal of legislation:
- Detailed Scrutiny: Committees (e.g., Standing Committees) examine bills clause by clause, identifying flaws and suggesting amendments, ensuring better-quality laws.
- Expert Input: They consult experts and stakeholders, enriching legislative understanding, as seen in committees like the Public Accounts Committee.
- Reducing Workload: By handling detailed analysis, committees allow Parliament to focus on broader debates, improving efficiency.
- Executive Oversight: Committees like the Estimates Committee monitor government spending and policies, ensuring accountability.
- Bipartisan Approach: Committees work in a less adversarial setting, fostering consensus and reducing political bias. For example, the committee on the GST Bill ensured comprehensive stakeholder consultation, leading to refined legislation. Overall, committees strengthen Parliament’s legislative and oversight roles.
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Also Read:
- NCERT Solutions Class 11 Political Science: Political Theory Chapter 7 Nationalism (Free PDF)
- NCERT Solutions Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 2: Rights in the Indian Constitution (Free PDF)
Download the Solutions of Other Chapters of Class 11 Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work
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