CLASS – 10 POLITICAL SCIENCE

L – 2 FEDERALISM
Q1. What do you mean by Federalism?
Ans Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between central
authority and various constituent units of the country.
Q2. Describe the different features of a federalism.
Ans The different key features of federalism are –
1. There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government.
2. Different tires of government govern the same citizens, but each tire has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3. The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tires of government are specified in the
constitution. And the existence and authority of each tier of government are specified in the
constitution. So, the existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally
guaranteed.
4. The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one
level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels of government.
5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of
government. The highest court acts as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels
of government in the exercise of their respective powers.
6. Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its
financial autonomy.
7. The federal system thus has dual objectives to safeguard and promote unity of the
country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity. An ideal federal system
has both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together.
Q3. Describe the three-fold distribution of legislative power between union government
and state government.
Ans The three-fold distribution of legislative power between union government and state
government are –
1. Union List – This list includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the
country, foreign affairs, banking, communication and currency. They are included in this list
because we need a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country. The Union
government alone can make laws relating to subjects mentioned in the union list.
2. State List – It contain subjects of state and local importance such as police, trade
commerce, agriculture and irrigation. The state government alone can make laws relating to
the subjects mentioned in the state list.
3. Concurrent List – This list includes the subjects of common interest to both the union
government as well as the state government, such as education, forest, trade unions,
marriage, adoption and succession. Both the union as well as the state government can
make laws on the subjects mentioned in the list. If their laws conflict with each other, the
laws made by the union government will prevail.
Q4. Differentiate between coming together federations and holding together federations
with examples. Also tell India comes under which federation.
Ans

Coming together federation Holding together federation

1. Independent states come together on 1. Division of power between different
their own to form a bigger unit. constituent states and the national
government.
2. By pooling sovereignty and retaining 2. In this federation large country divides its
their identity they can increase their power.
security.
3. All the constituent states usually have 3. Different constituent units of the
equal power and are strong. federation have unequal powers.
4. For example-USA, Switzerland, Australia. 4. For example – India, Spain, Belgium.
Yes, India is a federal country and it comes under holding together federations.
Q5. What special provisions are provided to some states of India?
Ans The special provisions are provided to some of the states of India are –
Most of federation that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not have identical powers.
Some states enjoy a special status, like Jammu and Kashmir which has its own constitution.
Many provisions of the Indian constitution are not applicable to this state without the
approval of state assembly. Indians who are not the permanent residents of this state
cannot buy house here.
Q6. Write a short note on following:
i) Central – State Relations – For a long time, the same party ruled both at the centre and in
most of the states. This meant that the state government did not exercise their rights as
autonomous federal units. This was also the rise of regional political parties in many states
of the country. This was also the beginning of the era of coalition government at the centre.
Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to
enter into alliance.
ii) Language Policy in India – Our constitution didn’t give the status of national language to
any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother
tongue of only about 40 percent of Indians. Therefore, there were many safeguards to
protect other languages. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as
scheduled languages by the constitution. States too have their own official language.
Promotion of Hindi does not mean that the central government can impose Hindi on states
where people speak a different language.
Q7. (i)What is meant by decentralisation?
(ii) Write the steps taken in 1992 to make the third tier of democracy more powerful.
(iii) State any two achievements.
Ans.(i) Decentralisation means that some powers of central and state government, is given
to the third tier of government i.e local government. This is known as decentralisation..
(ii) The major steps taken in 1992 to make the third tier of democracy more powerful are –
* It is constitutional mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
* Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for
the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
* At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
* An independent institution called the state election commission has been created in each
state to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
* The state governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local
government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from state to state.
(iii) The two achievements are –
1. It has increased representation of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women as well.
2. The introduction of local government has helped to deepen the roots of democracy in
India.
Q8. Describe the function and composition of rural local government.
Ans The functions of rural local government are –
1. The local government is a three-tier structure. At the top is the district or zila Parishad,
few blocks form a Zila, so blocks have block or mandal and then few villages form a block
and a village panchayat.
2. The smallest unit of our country is a village and at the village level, we have gram
panchayat, which is run by a head called ‘Sarpanch’ with his team of representatives. A few
gram panchayats fall under a block. At block level, we have a panchayat samiti or block
committee.
3. All panchayat samitis of a district are under a district having a local government called Zila
parishad. Members of Lok Sabha and MLA’S of that district also become the members of Zila
Parishad.
Q9. Write difference between federal form of government and unitary one. Explain with
example.
Ans .(i)Federal government is a type of national government in which government has
powers to delegate the power to other elected members of the states and will have other
tiers of government.
(ii)Unitary government is a kind of government system in which a single power controls the
whole government.
(iii) In India, there is a system of central list, state list and concurrent list which divides
power among the centre and state while in UK, the Royal government is the sole power.