Class 6 Civics Ch 3: What is Government? CBSE

Chapter 3: What is Government?

Social Science - Civics (CBSE Class 6)

Chapter Summary

• A government is a group of people and institutions that govern an organized community, generally a state. Its primary role is to make laws, enforce them, and maintain order within its territory.
• Governments are essential for any country because they perform various crucial functions:
  • Protecting the borders of the country and maintaining peaceful relations with other countries.
  • Ensuring good infrastructure like roads, electricity, and postal services.
  • Running public welfare programs such as building schools and hospitals.
  • Providing food and other essentials to the poor.
  • Maintaining law and order and providing justice.
  • Organizing relief and assistance during natural disasters.
• The government makes laws that everyone living in the country must obey. For example, there's a law that driving without a license is a punishable offense. This ensures order and safety.
• Governments function at different levels:
  • Local Level: Governs villages, towns, or localities (e.g., Panchayat, Municipal Corporation).
  • State Level: Governs an entire state (e.g., Government of Uttar Pradesh, Government of Maharashtra).
  • National Level: Governs the entire country (e.g., Government of India).
• Different types of government exist in the world:
  • Monarchy: A type of government where a king or queen has absolute power. They inherit their position and often make decisions without consulting the people (e.g., Saudi Arabia, formerly Nepal).
  • Democracy: A system where the people elect their representatives to form the government. The power ultimately lies with the people. India is a democracy.
  • Dictatorship: A form of government where absolute power is held by one person or a small group. Citizens have very few or no rights (e.g., North Korea).
• In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people. People have the right to express their views and elect their leaders.
• A key feature of modern democracies is Universal Adult Franchise. This means that all adult citizens, regardless of their caste, religion, education, wealth, or gender, have the right to vote.
• Historically, many struggles were fought to achieve universal adult franchise. In India, this right was granted immediately after independence. In countries like the USA and the UK, women and the poor had to fight for many years to get the right to vote (e.g., the Suffragette movement).

Questions and Answers

Q1. What is a government? List any five ways in which the government affects our daily life.

Answer: A government is an authoritative body that makes decisions and implements them for the welfare of the people living within a country. It runs the administration of a country by making laws, maintaining law and order, and providing public services.
Five ways in which the government affects our daily life are:

• It constructs and maintains roads, schools, and hospitals.
• It provides railway and postal services.
• It ensures the supply of electricity and water.
• It protects the borders of the country and maintains peaceful relations with other nations.
• It works to reduce poverty and provides social welfare schemes for the needy.

Q2. What do you understand by the word 'government'?

Answer: The government is a system or a group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. It is responsible for making laws, enforcing them, and ensuring the well-being and security of its citizens. The government makes decisions on behalf of the people regarding various social and economic issues, defense, and infrastructure development.

Q3. List the different types of government. Give an example of each.

Answer: The different types of government are:

• Monarchy: In this type, a king or queen has supreme power. They often inherit their position.
  Example: Saudi Arabia (historically, Nepal was also a monarchy).
• Democracy: In a democracy, the people elect their representatives to form the government. The government is accountable to the people.
  Example: India, USA.
• Dictatorship: A form of government in which political power is concentrated in one person (a dictator) or a small group, and individual freedoms are often suppressed.
  Example: North Korea.

Q4. Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?

Answer: The government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws for several important reasons:

• To maintain order: Laws ensure that there is a systematic way of doing things and prevent chaos and anarchy.
• To ensure justice and equality: Laws apply equally to all citizens, preventing discrimination and ensuring that everyone gets fair treatment.
• To protect rights: Laws safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals, preventing abuse of power or harm from others.
• To resolve conflicts: Laws provide a framework for resolving disputes between individuals or groups peacefully and fairly.
• To facilitate societal functioning: Laws regulate various aspects of society, from traffic rules to business practices, making it possible for people to live and work together smoothly.

Q5. What is Universal Adult Franchise? Do you think it is important to have Universal Adult Franchise in a democracy? Why?

Answer: Universal Adult Franchise means that all adult citizens of a country, regardless of their social status, education, religion, race, gender, or wealth, have the right to vote in elections.

Yes, it is very important to have Universal Adult Franchise in a democracy because:

• Equality: It upholds the principle of equality, meaning every adult citizen is considered equal and has an equal say in choosing their government.
• Representation: It ensures that all sections of society are represented in the government, not just a privileged few.
• Legitimacy: A government elected through universal adult franchise has greater legitimacy because it reflects the will of the majority of the adult population.
• Accountability: When everyone can vote, political leaders are more likely to be accountable to all citizens, not just a select group, as they need votes from across society.
• Justice: It gives a voice to marginalized and less powerful sections of society, allowing them to advocate for their rights and interests through their vote.