Notes-Class 8-Civics-Chapter-1-Introduction to the Parliamentary System-Maharashtra Board

Branches of the government and their functions :

• Legislature : The function of the Legislature is to make laws.
• Executive : The Executive implements the law
• Judiciary : Judiciary provides justice

The functions of these organs, their jurisdiction and limitations on their power and the interrelationship between these organs are decided by the Constitution.

Types of Government Systems : There are two main types of government systems :

• Parliamentary system
• Presidential system

Contribution of England :

• The Parliamentary System of government developed primarily in England.
• The English Constitution is an unwritten Constitution where governance is carried out in accordance with traditions, customs and conventions.
• The ‘British Parliament’ has evolved over a period of time.
• The Parliamentary System of government having its roots in 'Parliament' is thus considered as a contribution of England.
• Though India has adopted Parliamentary System from England, both the systems tend to differ in certain aspects.

Characteristics of Parliamentary System of India :

The Legislature of Central Government is known as the Parliament.

The following are the characteristics of Parliamentary System adopted by India :

• The Parliament of India is composed of the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Fixed number of members of the Parliament are directly elected by the people.
• All political parties contest elections, which are held at regular intervals.
• The party having majority in Lok Sabha or a coalition government comes into power.
• Sometimes, when no party gets a clear majority, few parties come together and form ‘coalition government’.
• The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister and he selects candidates to form the Council of Ministers.
• The Council of Ministers has to perform dual functions of implementing the laws and to fulfill responsibilities of the Legislature.

Q. Why the Parliament is of great importance in the Parliamentary System of government.

Why has India adopted a Parliamentary System?

Reasons :

• The development of Parliamentary institutions started during the British rule in India.
• The British rulers governed India in accordance with this system.
• Indians were familiar with this system of government.
• The Constituent Assembly adopted this system after a thorough discussion.
• A few changes were made in the parliamentary system to suit the Indian situations.

Characteristics of Presidential System of Government :

• The President is the Executive and elected directly by the people.
• Though the Legislature and Executive are not directly dependent on each other, they keep a mutual check on each other.
• The President has powers to implement laws.
• The United States of America has adopted the Presidential System of government.

France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. have adopted different systems of government, other than the above two. Several countries owing to their unique circumstances have evolved different systems of government.