Class 6 - Civics - Chapter 3 - What is Government?

What is Government?

Class 6 Civics NCERT Chapter Solutions and Q & A

Question 1: What do you understand by the world 'government'? List five ways in which you think the government affects your daily life?

Answer: The government affects our daily lives in the following ways:

① It protects boundaries of the country and maintains peaceful relations with other countries.

② It ensures that there is no food shortage and every citizen gets food to eat.

③ It provides health care facilities to look after the health of the people.

④ In case of natural disasters like Tsunami or an earthquake or emergencies, the government organises aid and assistance for the affected people.

⑤ If there is a dispute or crime, the courts will provide justice.

⑥ It helps in building country's infrastructure e.g. Bharat petroleum, Indian Railways are the institutions run by the government.



Question 2: Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the from laws?

Answer: It is necessary for the government to make rules for everyone in the from laws because:

① It helps in proper functioning of the government.

② It fulfills the assurances set by our constitution i.e. Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

③ It ensures there is crime free society and all citizens lead to peacful life.

④ It prevents authority misusing the powers.



Question 3: Name the essential features of a democratic government?

Answer: The essential features of a democratic government are:

① In democracy, it is the people who give the government this power. Citizens  participate to form a government by election process.

② The government is answerable to the people for its actions and decisions.





Question 4: Name the three levels of government.

Answer: The three levels of government are:
- at the local level (e.g. municipal corporation or village panchayat or district level),
- at state level (e.g. state government)
- at the national level (central government)



Question 5: What do you mean by representative democracy?

Answer: In a representative democracy, people do not participate directly in ruling but, instead, choose their representatives through an election process.


Question 6: Which sections were excluded from the voting rights in the earlier forms of government?

Answer: In their earliest forms governments only men who owned property, were rich and were educated, were allowed to vote. Women, the poor, and the illiterate were discrimated and were not allowed to vote.


Question 7: What was the suffrage movement? What did it accomplish?

Answer:  This movement refers to the participation of women in government all over Europe and USA. The term ‘suffrage’ means right to vote. During the first World War, women's struggle and demand to get right to vote got strengthened.  After a long struggle, the women got their right to vote. In 1920 the American women got their right to vote. In U.K.  the  women got to right to vote in 1928. It ensured both genders have equal rights to form a government. the true meaning of democracy.


Question 8: What is Universal adult franchise? What is the minimum voting age in India?

Answer: Universal Adult Franchise means that all adults in the country are allowed to vote. The voting age in India is 18 years.


Question 9: Ghandiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a lot of people don't share his views Many feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share with the class.

Answer: Those who don't share Gandhiji's views form a sort of discrimination against the poor and illiterate people.

① India became independent after a long struggle. In this struggle a many poor and illiterate people participated and sacrificed their lives. They have right to vote.

② People are illiterate and poor because of inequalities in our society but not by choice. They should be given equal opportunities to prosper in a free country.

③ If the poor and the illiterate are not allowed to vote then it is not universal adult franchise i.e. all adults are allowed to vote.  

④ This type of discrimination is against the central theme of democracy i.e. right to equality.

⑤ Because the people are poor that does not mean that they are inferior to knowledge or less intelligent when compared to the rich and the literate.  In a democratic republic, all citizens have equal rights.


Question 10: Name the different forms of government.

Answer: Governments can be of various types, e.g.
- Monarchy- Ruled by the king or a family
- Democracy- Chosen by the people etc.