MAK LABS — Std 8 Civics Chapter 2 The Indian Parliament

1Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct option.

(1) Candidates to the Lok Sabha are elected through territorial constituencies.
(a) territorial constituencies (b) religious constituencies. (c) local bodies (d) proportional Representation System
(2) India's Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
(a) President (b) Vice-President (c) Prime Minister (d) Chief Justice

2Find and write.

(1) Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are known as

Member of Parliament (MPs)

(2) The responsibility of making laws is with

the Parliament

3Explain following statements with reasons.

(1) Rajya Sabha is a permanent House.

Rajya Sabha is never dissolved completely hence it is called a permanent house.
1/3rd members of total members of Rajya Sabha who have completed their tenure of six years retire after every two years, and an equal number of new members get elected.
Because the limited members of Rajya Sabha retire step by step, the Rajya Sabha can function continuously without ever being fully dissolved.

(2) Lok Sabha is known as the first House.

The Lok Sabha is the lower and the first house of the Parliament of India.
Lok Sabha is the House of Representatives directly elected by the people.
Since it directly represents the citizens of the country, the Lok Sabha is called the 'First' house.

4Answer the following in 25 to 30 words.

(1) How are members of the Lok Sabha elected?

The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly by people from the 'territorial constituencies'.
The elections take place after every five years, and these are known as General Elections.

(2) Explain the functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha functions under the guidance and control of the Speaker.
After getting elected, the Speaker has to conduct the business of the House in an unbiased manner.
The Speaker takes care of the rights and privileges of the Lok Sabha members.
Apart from this, the Speaker maintains the decorum and dignity of the house and interprets the rules of daily functioning.

5Explain the steps involved in the lawmaking process.

In our country, the parliament is empowered to make laws. The steps involved in the law-making process are as follows:

Draft Proposal: A rough draft or outline of the law is prepared initially, which is known as a draft proposal or Bill of law.

First reading: The minister of the concerned department or a member of the parliament presents the bill and briefly explains its nature.

Second reading (Phase 1): The objectives of the proposed Bill are discussed. Supporters give favourable opinions while opponents discuss its defects. If required, the bill is sent to a committee for recommendations.

Second reading (Phase 2): The bill is discussed clause by clause. Members can suggest changes, after which voting is taken in the house.

Third Reading: The bill is discussed briefly again, and voting is taken for approving the Bill. If passed by the required majority, it goes to the other house and undergoes the same procedure.

President's Assent: After getting approval from both houses, the bill is sent for the final assent and signature of the President, after which it is converted into a law.

ProjectProject

The President nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha. Collect information on what are the criteria for their selection.

Note: This is an activity-based project. As per the text, these 12 members appointed by the President are usually experienced and distinguished personalities from the fields of literature, arts, science, sports, and social work.

2. The Indian Parliament