Chapter Notes

From the Rulers to the Ruled: Types of Government

The government plays a vital role in any country. It is responsible for maintaining order, ensuring the safety of its citizens, and promoting their welfare. But what exactly is government, and what are the different forms it can take? This chapter will explore these questions.

What is Government? What are its Functions?

The government has many important roles in our lives. These include:

• Maintaining law and order in society.
• Ensuring peace, stability, and security for the people.
• Managing relationships with other countries.
• Taking care of national defence.
• Delivering essential goods and services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• Managing the economy and economic activities.
• Working for the welfare and improving people's lives.

Just like a student committee in a school, a government needs to create rules, implement them, and make sure everyone follows them. These three responsibilities are known as the functions of government.

• Legislative function: Creating rules, which serve as the framework for running the country.
• Executive function: Implementing these rules and administering the country according to them.
• Judicial function: Ensuring that the rules are followed.

Democracy is defined as the 'rule of the people.' In a democracy, people choose their representatives to govern them.

What Makes Governments Different?

Governments differ from country to country, shaped by their unique history, culture, and aspirations. Some key differences include:

1. Who decides that 'this is the government'? This is about the source of authority and power.

   • In a democracy, the people decide.
   • In a theocracy, religious beliefs and the head of a religious institution are the source of authority.

2. How is the government formed?

   • In a democracy, it is usually through elections.
   • In kingdoms or monarchies, power is usually inherited within a family.

3. What are the different parts of the government and what do they do?

   • The legislative, executive, and judiciary functions can be performed by separate bodies or the same body.
   • The system of government can be written down in a constitution (as in most democracies) or decided by a king or queen (as in monarchies).

4. What is the government working for? What goals is it trying to achieve?

   • Some governments aim for equality and prosperity for all.
   • Others may be designed to benefit only certain families or groups.

Democratic Governments Around the World

Democracy is the most popular form of government today. There are different kinds of democratic governments, but they all share some fundamental principles.

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

• Equality: Every person has the right to be treated equally, with equal access to facilities like education and healthcare, and equality before the law.
• Freedom: Citizens have the right to make their own choices and express their opinions.
• Representative participation: Every person has the right to choose and elect their representatives through elections. Elected representatives become part of the legislature.
• Universal adult franchise: Every citizen (above a certain age) has the right to vote to choose their representative.
• Fundamental rights: Citizens have rights such as the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, and protection against exploitation.
• Independent judiciary: This ensures that every citizen's fundamental rights are protected and that laws are followed by everyone, including the government.

Different Forms of Democratic Governments

1. Direct democracy: All citizens are directly responsible for all the rules, regulations, and functions and participate directly in all decisions.

   • This is difficult to carry out in practice, especially in larger countries.

2. Representative democracy: People elect their representatives through universal adult franchise.

   • The people do not directly govern, but the government is accountable to them.
   • Elections are held regularly. In India, general elections are held every five years.

Accountability in democracy means that the government is answerable to the people who have elected them.

Most democracies today are representative democracies. There are two main forms:

a. Parliamentary democracy: * The members of the executive are also part of the legislature. * The council of ministers are accountable to the legislature and continue working as long as they have the confidence of the legislature. * In this form, people elect the legislature, and selected members of the legislature become ministers. * India is an example of a parliamentary democracy.

b. Presidential democracy: * The executive works independently of the legislature. * The president is elected by the people and does not need the confidence of the legislature.

Key terms:

• Executive: The organ of the government responsible for implementing the law.
• Legislature: The body of the government responsible for making laws. In India, it is called Parliament; in the USA, it is called Congress.
• Upper House and Lower House: In most countries, the Lower House is elected by direct voting and is generally more powerful than the Upper House. In India, the Lower House is called the Lok Sabha, and the Upper House is called the Rajya Sabha.
• Separation of Power: The three organs of the government—Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary—work independently and do not interfere in each other's functions.

A Peek into History

Early Republics

A republic is a form of government in which the head of state is elected and is not a hereditary monarch.

In ancient India, the Vajji (or Vriji) mahajanapada, the Lichchhavi clan practised collective decision-making, and leaders were chosen based on merit rather than birth. Key positions were filled through elections, and representatives from various clans met regularly to address issues and develop solutions to ensure the people's welfare.

In the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, Rome and Greece also had republics.

Other Forms of Government

Democracy is the most popular form of government today, but other forms exist.

1. Monarchy:

   • Headed by kings or queens.
   • In ancient India, kings were often guided by the sabha or samiti.
   • The king was expected to make decisions while staying within the limits of rajadharma, ruling according to dharma and ensuring the welfare of all people.

2. Monarchies Today:

   • Monarchs inherit their position from their family.
   • Sovereign indicates that the source of power of a country is independent from external influence.

   a. Absolute monarchy: The monarch has complete control in making and enforcing laws. Saudi Arabia is an example.

   b. Constitutional monarchy: The head of state is a king or queen, but they have only nominal power. The real power is exercised by an elected parliament and a prime minister. The United Kingdom is an example.

3. Theocracy:

   • A form of government where the country is ruled by the rules of religion and religious leaders.
   • Iran is an example, with a system combining theocratic and democratic governance, where the Supreme Leader has ultimate authority.
   • Afghanistan and Vatican City are other theocracies.

4. Dictatorship:

   • One person or a small group possesses absolute power without limits imposed by a constitution or law.
   • Adolf Hitler in Germany and Idi Amin in Uganda are examples of dictators who created extremely difficult circumstances for the people.

5. Oligarchy:

   • A type of government where a small, powerful group makes all the important decisions.
   • Usually, these are wealthy families or influential people.
   • In ancient Greece, aristocratic families ruled as oligarchies.

Why Democracy Matters

Democracy is considered a better form of government than others.

In a genuine democracy:

• People can lead their lives as they want.
• They can choose what to speak, wear, and believe.
• The government is accountable for protecting the rights of its people and providing basic needs.
• If the government does not perform its functions properly, the people can change their representatives through elections.

Citizens need to remain vigilant and minimize these issues.