Class 6 Social Science Chapter 10 Notes Grassroots Democracy Part 1: Governance
→ Rules are necessary to maintain order and harmony in society.
→ Without rules, society would not be able to function.
→ Governance involves taking decisions, organizing society, and ensuring rules are followed.
→ The group or system that makes and enforces rules is called a government.
→ Important rules are called laws.
→ The legislature makes new laws or updates/removes existing laws.
→ The executive implements the laws and includes the head of state, ministers, and law enforcement agencies.
→ The judiciary decides whether someone has broken the law and what action to take.
→ Governments operate at local, state, and national levels.
→ Local issues are dealt with by local authorities.
→ State governments handle more extensive issues affecting multiple towns and villages.
→ The Central Government handles massive issues affecting vast areas.
→ The Government of India’s motto is “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs). ’
→ The Supreme Court’s motto is “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” (Where there is dharma, there is victory).
→ Democracy means ‘rule of the people.’
→ In a democracy, representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.
→ India is the world’s largest democracy with around 970 million voters in 2024.
→ Indian citizens above the age of 18 have the right to vote.
→ Voting is a process where people raise their hands or cast ballots to make decisions.
→ Grassroots democracy encourages ordinary citizens to participate in decision-making.
→ Modem governments have three organs: legislative, executive, and judiciary.
→ The Indian government functions at three levels: Centre, State, and local.
→ Democracy functions through elected representatives at State and national levels.
→ Community : A group of people living together in a shared environment.
→ Governance : The process of making decisions, organizing society, and ensuring rules are followed. The group or system that creates and enforces rules and laws.
→ Laws : Important rules that govern society.
→ Legislature : The branch of government that makes or changes laws.
→ Executive : The branch of government that implements and enforces laws.
→ Judiciary : The system of courts that interprets laws and decides legal disputes.
→ Local Government : The administrative body for a small geographic area, such as a city or district.
→ State Government : The administrative body for a larger area, such as a state or province.
→ Central Government : The national administrative body.
→ Democracy : A system of government where the people have the power to make decisions.
→ Elections : The process by which citizens vote to choose their representatives.
→ Representative democracy : A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
→ Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAS) : Elected representatives at the state level in India.
→ Members of Parliament (MPs) : Elected representatives at the national level in India.
→ Voting : The process of casting a ballot to make a decision or choose a representative.
→ Grassroots democracy : A system that encourages the participation of ordinary citizens in decision-making.
→ Legislative Assembly : A body of elected representatives who make laws at the state level.
→ Parliament : The national legislative body in India.
→ Head of state : The leader of a country, such as a president or prime minister.
→ Assemblies : Groups of elected representatives who discuss and make laws.